With all due respect to Canada- I think "hockey culture" is reminiscent of
when Churchill became head of the British Admiralty and instituted some
reforms- old liners accused him of upsetting the traditons of the Royal Navy
to which he replied that the only traditions he was aware of were flogging
and grog (rum). Canadian hockey is epitomized by "if you can't beat em in the
alley you can't beat em on the ice". Sad to say the best and purest hockey
ever played was by the Soviet National Team. I would think that many of us
who like college hockey is that college hockey with no offsides pass; no
fighting; emphasizes skill and finesse. The NHL with clutching and grabbing
and premediated goonery cannot grow beyond the WWF part of the audience.
Wayne Gretzsky was every bit as exciting to watch as MJ in basketball but all
the clutching and grabbing and stupid "traps" just make for awful hockey
(unless that is what you like). All the Juniors are is a Canadian serf system
(albeit much better than it once was) to groom players for the NHL. Again
just look at the demographics of who plays north and south of the 49th
parallel. In the US it is strictly a middle class and above sport and the
opposite is true in Canada.