What Happend To My Love Of The NHL?

When I was kid growing up in Canada I spent alot of time shooting a dirty green half chewed tennis ball into a hockey net in my driveway. I can't tell you how many times I won the Stanley Cup for my imaginary team or how many times I broke my own goal record.

I used to try to freeze the driveway come winter much to the dismay of the grownups who had to park a car in my arena.

When a heavy snow came I would spend all my energy shoveling until I had no energy left, but I always found a second wind to play for hours afterwords.

At night I used to pretend I couldn't sleep when my dad was watching hockey late at night and lie facing a mirror on his bed in which I could catch the game.

These are fond memories I have of the game.

But then something changed.

I became a fan of the NFL.

As a Canadian I should still be in love with the game right?

Well after watching what I could digest of the NHL playoffs this year I've come up with a few conclusions about the NHL and my lack of interest.

First off the NHL season is way to long at 82 games and only gets interesting in the last 20 games or so.

Second off the commentating hasn't changed since the last ice age and is just downright annoying "Holy Mackana Darcy Tucker" whatever that is.

Thirdly there are not many character coaches or players left.  Only a few old schoolers kicking around.

What happened to the bench clearing brawls or the devastating hits that set the tone for two teams for years to come.

Most likely the team to raise the Stanley Cup this year will be the Detroit Red Wings a team which has shown it is willing to show outbursts of the talent it has then bore fans to death with a keepaway game.

On the other hand, the NFL is on once a week at the end of the week except for Monday Nighters and the odd Thursday and Saturdays.

The commentating is laden with ex-players and coaches with character and knowledge.

Although there can't be bench clearing brawls, every player on the field is taking some sort of punishment.

The rivalries in the NFL are legendary and as fresh as an open wound.

Bottom line is I can't stand watching a bunch of guys have a faceoff at center ice then pass dump go get it pass dump oh here is a chance it whistles wide all the way to the other side of the rink go get it pass dump off to the bench for a breather all night long.

The only way to for me to enjoy the NHL anymore is to either gamble on the game or go get some beers EH?