Despite my inability to play most sports, I've always enjoyed them as a spectator. When you are born into a Welsh family, you are bound by blood and thousands of years of violent history to root for Wales in all things and against all foes, but especially against the English*, particularly when it comes to rugby union. A rough, highly physical sport where success is determined as much by the strength of the scrum as the cunningness of the coaches play, I am always at the ready to cheer from the sidelines as "my boys" duck up and under and hurtle themselves down the field on the way to victory.
The problem is, Wales doesn't often do this, and when the finally do I am not there to see it. Because I live in Australia.
So this year, sick of being unable to properly participate in being a Sports Fan, I decided that I would introduce myself to a new sport, and teach myself to understand and love it as I do with union. Being me, of course, I had to make it tricky and choose Ice Hockey, a sport Australia doesn't really *do*, on account of its being played indoors and involving ice that isn't expressly used for keeping beer cold. But with a little help from a friend, and the absolute amazingness that is the internet, I've managed to see live three games so far.
I liked them.
Hockey is, obviously, incredibly different from union. A few of the differences, though, have struck me more than I expected that they would, and are taking me longer to adjust to than I first thought. Firstly and foremostly, the speed at which hockey is played is phenomenal. Sometimes I swear it's like the puck is teleporting itself at random about the rink. Another thing is the very obvious differences in playing styles between the teams, something which isn't quite so apparent in union. Having watched the Ducks v Flames game, I was surprised at how much more physical the Blues v Blackhawks game was, and how differently each team played. There's also definitely far less of an emphasis on brute strength in hockey, and much more importance placed on strategy, the ability to react instantaneously, and to feint successfully against the other team.
But there are similarities as well, and those, I think, are helping me to understand and appreciate hockey. They do share some (albeit universal) rules, such as the offside rule, a 'don't hit people in the head' rule, and those who start/are involved in violent altercations are punished because violence is bad, mmmkay, so in many ways the basic groundwork is the same. A ref awarding a penalty because a player is offside is something that I can understand, even if I am still learning what 'offside' looks like on the rink. While brute strength doesn't seem to play as big a part, there's still an immense physicality required that, at times (like when they run, not skate, down that ice like it were grass and they were in runners, not skates), takes my breath away. Perhaps skating ability is not so impressive to those of you born and raised with hockey, but it's knocked my socks off every time. The crowd involvement is reassuringly the same (though lacking in hymns), and on an entirely superficial level - the jerseys are the same colour.
Two of the three games I've seen have involved the Calgarly Flames, whose jersey is the same red as my Dragons. It's easy for me to barrack for the men in red, second nature. I don't have to think about it, I just do it. Even more like Wales, the Flames (from what I have thus far seen) try very hard, have some brilliant moments, show they have the ability to and seem on the point of claiming victory...then don't. I can support that sort of team, and easily, because I've been doing so my entire life.
It's the very beginning of the season. My interest in hockey is brand new and shiny enough to see your reflection in. Perhaps this disqualifies me in some ways from talking about it, and maybe I'll look back on this post in a few months and cringe. I hope not. What I am hoping for is that, at the end of this season, I'll not only know and understand hockey, but that I'll love it as I love rugby union, excitedly, passionately, and wholly (and that the Flames will have won something).
*except if they play Australia.
The problem is, Wales doesn't often do this, and when the finally do I am not there to see it. Because I live in Australia.
So this year, sick of being unable to properly participate in being a Sports Fan, I decided that I would introduce myself to a new sport, and teach myself to understand and love it as I do with union. Being me, of course, I had to make it tricky and choose Ice Hockey, a sport Australia doesn't really *do*, on account of its being played indoors and involving ice that isn't expressly used for keeping beer cold. But with a little help from a friend, and the absolute amazingness that is the internet, I've managed to see live three games so far.
I liked them.
Hockey is, obviously, incredibly different from union. A few of the differences, though, have struck me more than I expected that they would, and are taking me longer to adjust to than I first thought. Firstly and foremostly, the speed at which hockey is played is phenomenal. Sometimes I swear it's like the puck is teleporting itself at random about the rink. Another thing is the very obvious differences in playing styles between the teams, something which isn't quite so apparent in union. Having watched the Ducks v Flames game, I was surprised at how much more physical the Blues v Blackhawks game was, and how differently each team played. There's also definitely far less of an emphasis on brute strength in hockey, and much more importance placed on strategy, the ability to react instantaneously, and to feint successfully against the other team.
But there are similarities as well, and those, I think, are helping me to understand and appreciate hockey. They do share some (albeit universal) rules, such as the offside rule, a 'don't hit people in the head' rule, and those who start/are involved in violent altercations are punished because violence is bad, mmmkay, so in many ways the basic groundwork is the same. A ref awarding a penalty because a player is offside is something that I can understand, even if I am still learning what 'offside' looks like on the rink. While brute strength doesn't seem to play as big a part, there's still an immense physicality required that, at times (like when they run, not skate, down that ice like it were grass and they were in runners, not skates), takes my breath away. Perhaps skating ability is not so impressive to those of you born and raised with hockey, but it's knocked my socks off every time. The crowd involvement is reassuringly the same (though lacking in hymns), and on an entirely superficial level - the jerseys are the same colour.
Two of the three games I've seen have involved the Calgarly Flames, whose jersey is the same red as my Dragons. It's easy for me to barrack for the men in red, second nature. I don't have to think about it, I just do it. Even more like Wales, the Flames (from what I have thus far seen) try very hard, have some brilliant moments, show they have the ability to and seem on the point of claiming victory...then don't. I can support that sort of team, and easily, because I've been doing so my entire life.
It's the very beginning of the season. My interest in hockey is brand new and shiny enough to see your reflection in. Perhaps this disqualifies me in some ways from talking about it, and maybe I'll look back on this post in a few months and cringe. I hope not. What I am hoping for is that, at the end of this season, I'll not only know and understand hockey, but that I'll love it as I love rugby union, excitedly, passionately, and wholly (and that the Flames will have won something).
*except if they play Australia.
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