As a former player, coach and even administrator of hockey on several levels, I hold the sport very close to my heart. But there are times when I have to show the game a little bit of tough love. I'm sorry, hockey. But you're getting a spanking today.
Well, not as much the actual sport of hockey, but rather the leagues running the show and their befuddled marketing directors who reek of desperation trying to woo new fans. In their attempts to make the game more marketable to a wider audience, they have instead made certain traditional elements confusing and even laughable.
Case in point...
Tonight the American Hockey League will hold its annual All-Star Game, which deserves much attention for two reasons. One, the league is very talented and entertaining with a lot of players who will certainly by the future of the sport. And two, the NHL will not be holding its All Star game this year, as its players will instead be participating in the Winter Olympics. Last night the Skills Competition was televised on Fox Sports Net, and I cringed when I discovered the names of the squads competing tonight:
"Team Canada" versus "Team Planet USA."
What?! Did I accidentally change the channel to 'Space Jam?' Why in the world do hockey leagues come up with these insane team designations? They're destroying the identity of the event and making it confusing to the outside hockey fan.
The obvious answer is because they want to showcase the fact that the game is an international sport and to keep things fresh. What they don't realize is that these decisions cause the All Star Game to stray from the original concept. The league is made up of teams, not countries. So, All Star candidates are players who stand out as top performers on their own teams, not based on what nations they hail from.
All of this started when the NHL experimented with its All Star Game back in the 90s, and changed it from a Western Conference vs Eastern Conference affair, and replaced it with North America vs The World. For a couple years, the concept was applauded. But like any form of novelty, the shine wore off and the format reverted back to East/West.
Sadly, the minor leagues didn't follow suit. Instead they presented more crazy ideas just to grab the attention of the one-time hockey-goer. Some were original and clever, but they all presented more cons than pros.
Example #1: 2000 IHL All Star Challenge: Houston Aeros vs. IHL All Stars
At the time this event took place, I was an excited 19-year-old Aeros fan who followed the home team and could still feel the excitement of the squad's Turner Cup victory the year before. And, I thoroughly enjoyed the game, as it was a close one with Houston winning 5-3. But in retrospect, I now realize some flaws this format presented. For one, it was a thrill for Houston fans to have the All Star Game pitting the home team against the best of the league. But I'm sure it alienated all of the other local hockey markets in the league, and probably some deserving players were not selected to the roster.
Example #2: 2010 CHL All Star Game: South Texas vs. Team CHL
First off, to a casual hockey observer, the name "Team South Texas" in a hockey game invokes a sense of shock and confusion. Hosted in Laredo, the format of this all star event took the better players from the three Central Hockey League franchises located in South Texas (Corpus Christi, Laredo and Rio Grande Valley) and matched them up with the better players from the rest of the league. Like the previously mentioned Houston scenario, I'm sure a lot of other franchises in the league were scorned by this format, and it was obvious that the "game" was more of a spectacle catered to the local fan base. Is it a coincidence that the home team almost always wins in this kind of format?
It's all about appealing to the new money and corporate sponsors, and it takes away from the tradition of the event. Remember, the All Star Game is supposed to be a celebration of the sport and the league's best players.
If you want an international feel to the sport, remember that there is a tournament every two years called the Junior Worlds, and it's probably the most entertaining tournament out there.
But don't give me a 'Team Canada' and a 'Team Planet USA', host the game in Portland, Maine, and then tell me it's special.
Oh yeah, and don't even get me started on that horrific production that was the Skills Competition last night.
AX
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