Two things...
 
1) Pucks being shot "deliberately" into the crowd.
 
Remember that during warmups, particularly when everyone is shooting pucks
at the net one right after another, players often try to pick their shots
and sneak one just inside the crossbar.  More often than not, they miss and
shoot it out of play.  Visiting players also shoot pucks off various parts
of the backboards and even sideboards to determine the angles and how much
of a rebound the boards/glass give.  Just like they often miss the net when
they have a clear shot and you tend to think *no one* could have missed, they
often miss these shots in warmups and shoot it into the crowd.  I think
incidents of players deliberately firing pucks into the crowd are extremely
rare and difficult to prove.  Just keep your eyes open.
 
2) Domes, etc.
 
These are all nice ideas, but I know that I hate watching a game through glass
or a net if I can help it.  This is why I don't like the press boxes at places
like BU and Union.  Looking through the glass is like watching the game on tv.
(Not to mention that these press boxes are located at the end of the rink; not
much of a choice at these places, but anyone building a new rink should put
it at center ice.)
 
Watch the Beanpot Monday night to see high glass; the Garden has it as do many
pro rinks.  Not many college rinks in this area have it; maybe BC.  RPI may
have it, I don't remember - never thought to look - but it would make sense
since the ice surface is sunk below floor level.
 
For the Beanpot, it's BU-NU at 6 pm, BC-Harvard around 9.  NESN carries both
and it may be picked up elsewhere in the country, particularly by Prime.
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Mike Machnik    [log in to unmask]   mikem@{beanpot,bubba}.ma30.bull.com