Who can object to old time hockey?

by Brandt Corbin

  

        While some may frown upon it, who’s kidding who, we all love old time hockey. I think there are several terms for “Old time hockey” mainly rivalries that mean something. The players go to the rink with a nervousness but some excitement, the fans go to those games with knowing its not if but when something will happen. I’ve played the odd game like that. Back 15 years ago my team had a bench clearing brawl against our arch rival. Five days later we went into their barn, without our 2 tough guys, they on the other hand all of their enforcers dressed. I was sick to my stomach going into the game, but some how some way, there was little if not any rough stuff that night.

Addicted to Old time hockey

        You can call me the mayor of old time hockey. In my hockey central (my basement) I’ve got a loaded library of VHS tapes (200 or more). I started recording games in 1993, and thanks to NHL Classics (NHL Network & ESPN Classics) you can PVR games the early 80’s, 90’s etc. You can even call me addicted to Old time hockey. There have been some days, I cannot think of anything but the game that night. Use February 11th, Penguins-Isles this year, especially when the Islanders recalled Michael Haley, that game lived up to its billing. 

        Some of the best guarantees of old time hockey nowadays are the Habs-Bruins, Ducks-Kings, Penguins vs Caps, and Flyers vs Rangers just to name a few. One of the main reasons for this is the closeness in proximity, plus it helps that some of these teams have had heated battles going back 30 years or more. Then you have the characters involved. Use the Flyers and Rangers as an example, you’ve got Daniel Carcillo fighting Marian Gaborik then every year Brandon Dubinsky and Mike Richards have a set to.

Started with Rangers-Isles in 1994

        I’ll try and explain to you as best as I can. I got 100% addicted to hockey and old time hockey in 1994. The Rangers-Isles, first round series in 1994, Rangers best team throughout regular season, the Isles limped into the playoffs. It was game 3 at Nassau Coliseums, the Islanders had gone over 145 minutes without a goal in the series. Isles Ray Ferraro got a breakaway but did not score, for the next 85 seconds the Isles hemmed the Rangers in their own zone. Rangers goaltender Mike Richter and defenseman Kevin Lowe both had broken their sticks, the Isles had five “grade a” scoring chances. Finally after a failed clearing attempt, Ferraro finally buried it to give the Islanders their first goal of the series, “Woo ha the boys are alive,” declared TSN play by play announcer Jim Hughson.

        In the late 90’s the Battle of New York got more and more intense hitting the powder keg April 4, 1998. Seven fights in all, including a five on five line brawl, seeing Dan Cloutier pounded on Islander goaltender Tommy Salo. In 2002 Islander great Bryan Trottier became Rangers coach, to Islanders fans that was betrayal, they became happy half way through that season when Trottier was subsequently fired. Still to do this day, despite the Islanders struggles, that rivalry still remains one of the best.

Av’s vs Red Wings

        Has there ever been a more classic rivalry ever in the NHL? Two great teams, both loaded with skill, grit, size and great goaltending. The best thing is they hated each others guts and then some. Claude Lemieux’s hit from behind on Kris Draper started it all, then there was March 26, 1997. That game remains likely the most classic regular season game in decades. Early in the contest Darren McCarty beat up Lemieux blooding him up, he only received a double minor for roughing. Over the course of the game 10 fights broke out during the first half of the game, McCarty then scored the overtime winner beating the Av’s 6-5.

Go back with old schedule

        Just my opinion but I prefer the schedule of three-four years ago, the schedule where divisional rivals play eight times a season. By the last three games of the eight game series, it was back to old school hockey. Compare that to where a team like Florida, Carolina or the Islanders go into Vancouver, Nashville or Columbus once every second season, compared to every third season.

        My preference for the schedule is to play divisional rivals eight times a year, keep it the way east plays west, then as an example Central Division teams would play one game less per season against the Pacific. As a Flyers fan would you not rather see the Rangers, or Penguins one more time compared to Minnesota or Edmonton?