Posted by Mike Ewer on 03 March 2000 at 19:03 GMT
Posted from 205.138.138.135 (rhea.novagate.com)
In reply to Re: What do Europeans think of Canadian hockey? posted by Carl Johnstone on 02 March 2000 at 11:14 GMT:
The UK game cannot be described as European. And when Storm played HIFK for example they met the most North-American of any team from the major nations. Some leagues especially those from semi-major or minor nations within the EU where the number of North Americans with EU forefathers is unlimited (such as the DEL, the former Italian league, Austria, etc) play a very North American style.
The true European style can be found in the Czech and Russian leagues and to the most part the Finnish and Swedish leagues.
Most coaching now is switching over to a more generic style to enable all sorts of players to fit in. Europeans are being taught to toughen up, while North Americans are having to learn the skills to compete with Jagr, Selanne and co.
I like to see a hard-hitting game. I hate it when you think you turned up at an All-Star game by mistake. Some games in the UHL are like that...
As for violence, it has no place in the game. Check someone senseless as long as it's fair. Bash them on the boards not a yard away from it where they can end up in a wheelchair. Fight them in a traditional face-to-face, Queensbury rules style fight rather than cross-check them in the back of the neck.
That's my tuppence worth... any other opinions?