Hockey Research Papers

The National Hockey League postseason is one of the most exciting sporting periods in the world with people from all over North America and Europe taking part in the action. For the fans, it is a time for them to come together and support their team as they try and win the sixteen games necessary to hoist what many call the hardest trophy is major sports to win. For the players and team organization, it is a chance for them to make a statement of their ability and prove that hard work and sacrifice can pay off. Like all sports, the NHL players surround themselves all season with superstition and habits that they feel help them to be ready come game time. As soon as early April comes around, the sixteen teams lucky enough to make the postseason …show more content…
Even though it is common for players in all sports to shake hands after a playoff series, hockey is the only major sport in which every player formally shakes every opposing player's hand. The main reason behind this is a sign of respect to the opposing team for a hard fought series. It is extremely common for a playoff series to get filled with hate and cheap shot due to the intensity of play and having to see the same opponent as many as seven times in a row. The handshakes show that even though the game may get out of hand, the men who play it are still gentlemen and that in the end, they all have respect for each other. When asked about the reason behind this ritual, Boston Bruin forward Brad Marchand said, "To show each other that respect at the end and realize that everything that’s happened is just because we both want to win—it’s definitely a great tradition." Since hockey is the only full contact sport that has such a long playoff season, it is the only sport that every player comes into serious contact with every other on the opposing team. This is the main reason why it is important to respect all opposing player in this for, it is also a reason why all other major US sports don’t see the need to perform this