A larger ice surface is not going to happen.  Funny
that you ask that question though.  In yesterdays USA
Today Kevin Allen asked Gary Betman the exact same
question:
 
"Q: Some say hockey has to move to a bigger surface to
accommodate the speed and size of the players.
 
A: Our game is physical. Our game is fast. Our game
gets its excitement from sustained pressure. The
larger ice surface cuts against those things. The
corners are farther away from the goaltender. It's
easier to get the puck out of the defensive zone.
There is less physical contact."
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ccovtue.htm
 
There you have it from the horses mouth.  I guess the
bottom line is that body checks sell as many tickets
as goals.
 
When comparing the skill levels of the NHL players -v-
College players.  There is no comparison.  After
watching the NHL playoffs, the strength, speed, and
skill levles of even the checking/"goon" lines would
outshine 99% of our beloved college players.  Watch
the Stanlely Cup Finals, every pass hits the tape,
every player can shoot, and the teams cycle the puck
perfectly.  To steal a line from the PGA, "these guys
are good".
 
In the playoffs pro players take it to a next level.
It is hard to believe but Brett Hull even back-checks
in the playoffs.
 
--- Marty Kline <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> From Clay Satow: "I think it's just a fact of life
> now that the Frozen Four will
> need to be in an NHL sized rink."
>
> This is really a shame.  One of the best things
> about college hockey is that
> Olympic sized rinks promote a more exciting, skating
> style of play versus the
> NHL.
>
> The trend in building new college hockey arenas is
> to have the larger ice
> surface, but the big boys still build their tiny ice
> sheets.  I assume that the
> current NHL rules demand that new arenas must be 200
> x 85, but has the NHL ever
> considered easing this restriction?  I can think of
> several advantages to
> playing on the larger surface including:  promoting
> a more exciting style of
> play; limiting the prevalence/effectiveness of the
> "enforcers" who can't skate
> well; and most importantly, more advertising space
> on the boards, and more arena
> seating closer to the ice surface which means teams
> could have more prime (ie.
> expensive) seating.
>
> I realize this breaks away from pure college hockey
> discussion, but it should be
> a nice respite for all of us from face shields and
> Title IX.
>
> HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;
> send information to
> [log in to unmask], The College Hockey
> Information List.
>
 
 
 
 
===
Matt Sullivan
Group Insurance Specialist
The Sullivan Agency, LTD.
www.sullivanagency.com
 
University of Minnesota Duluth, 1998
BU-LL-DO-G-S  GOOOOO Bulldogs!!!!
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HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
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