>> All this talk about how good hockey East is.  What about the WCHA?
>>     some stuff deleted
>> You hockey east fans play your little wimpy clutch and grab, while we play
>> good old fashioned hard playing hockey.
 
I've been a PC Friar fan for some 20 years.  I've watched the Friars back in
their old ECAC days, seen the birth of Hockey East with it's WCHA connection
(remember back in 86, 87 when we played each other?) and have gradually watched
the "evolution" of eastern hockey to the clu
wimpy clutch and grab you describe.  I'm afraid I must agree with you.  The
style of hockey played by many of the WCHA teams is, for the most part, more
enjoyable than what I see every weekend in Hockey East.  They've gone to great
lengths to eliminate good old fashioned hard-hitting "Big Bad Bruins" style
hockey.  By so doing, they've instituted "clutch and grab".  IMHO, it's sloppy,
not very enjoyable to watch, and detrimental to the league as a whole.  As you
pointed out, come playoff time it's the western teams that advance.  I don't
believe this is due to more talented players -- we have a lot of talent in the
East -- but is a reflection on the style of play.  Maine-Orono was an exception
last year, but they tend to play a more aggressive style of hockey.  As much as
I dislike the team (old rivalry <grin>), as a hockey fan I enjoy watching their
style.
 
One other point regarding the prejudice we HE fans tend to have towards our
league...  I can't speak for the other HE areas, but here in Providence the
Providence Journal does not provide ANY coverage of the WCHA and CCHA.  That's
one major reason I joined this list.  There's some EXCELLENT hockey being
played out there and we never see it.  I attend the NC$$ East Regionals every
year (looking forward to the Knickerbocker Arena this year <grin>) and end up
seeing some excellent western teams about whom we know absolutely nothing.
 
The style played in the east must change if we are to be competative nationally.I hope it changes soon.  There was a time when the ECAC and HE teams played a
very aggressive and hard-hitting style.  That's the kind of hockey I enjoy
watching and I hope to see it again...
 
-- Ron
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