‘Head man the puck’.
An exhortation from coaches and fans that spoke to the essence of Montreal Canadiens hockey – the importance of passing the puck to a teammate to advance towards the other team’s zone. A bygone term for the game perhaps stemming from the past when there were 7 players on the ice – one a Rover – and forward passes weren’t even allowed. ‘Head man the puck’ came as an innovation.
Every team has their own style of play. Coaches are encouraged to create identities for their times. But there are identities and styles of play emblematic of organizations.
The Big Bad Bruins
The Broad Street Bullies
The Flying Habs
Firewagon Hockey – Oilers
The way a team plays is really their brand of hockey.I am fascinated to watch these competing styles and the progress during the Stanley Cup playoffs. Will it be the Bruins physically intimidating style of play that wins, or the gritty yet smoother style of play of the Canadiens.
Will the LA Kings unrelenting checking in the offensive and defensive zones prevail or will the fast skating, innovative playmaking of the Ducks emerge to stimulate a comeback.
And of course it could be the Hawks – the closest team to the firewagon hockey days of the 80’s Oilers but more disciplined – with them lengthening the ice on their opponents with numerous stretch passes.
Yes, there are teams competing on the ice. But it is also a competition of styles or traditions borne of the standards of play established by the players that came before, the players who made the teams what they are today. As they say on Hockey Night in Canada
‘The Tradition Continues’……….at least for another 3 years with Rogers Media anyways!
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