I just ordered an industrial-size vat of Crisco. See your future, be your future.
Traditionally it was "the fat kid" who played goal, since anybody who could skate would rather put the puck in the net than get whaled in the nords.
I believe this changed when modern netminders brought more skill, athleticism, and even dignity (really) to the position. Plus, people love all the cool-looking gear.
I played hockey for 22 years. The beautiful thing about it is that fighting is the great equalizer. There are unwritten rules that you must follow to avoid getting stomped by a toothless caveman. For example, if you shadow their star player, you will get dropped. If you are a 2000 lb goalie, you will get drawn into a fight and at least thrown out and at worst hurt. Allowing a little fighting makes the game better b/c the rules don't have to be so explicit. One goon willing to drop his gloves is a more effective way of toning down the dirty side-play than 10 more refs.
This is a point that I wish the article had chosen to make: if someone figures out how to bend the rules to gain an immense advantage and unbalance the game, all that happens is that the rules get changed. It's not as if the size of a hockey goal is determined by the laws of physics.
And, indeed, unwritten rules are handy because they can be changed on the fly as necessary.
Traditionally it was "the fat kid" who played goal, since anybody who could skate would rather put the puck in the net than get whaled in the nords.
I believe this changed when modern netminders brought more skill, athleticism, and even dignity (really) to the position. Plus, people love all the cool-looking gear.