Generation Z is in search of authenticity. Unlike previous generations, they crave authenticity above all else. They are quick to see inauthentic and fake personalities. They are drawn to prioritize transparency, social justice, and honest personalities.
I really like this sensitivity in young people, it’s truly inspiring for us older folks formed in another sensibility where being competitive was the social trend.
Recently I noticed that this sensitivity among young people permeates various spheres of society and is even found in violent sports such as hockey.
Hockey is the national sport in Canada, and in Quebec. This modern sport on ice was developed in Canada, mostly in Montreal where the first indoor game was played on March 3, 1875.
This spring, hockey fans were thrilled across Canada. The Montreal Canadians made the National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup East Division playoffs. There are 32 teams in the NHL. The teams represent the major cities in the United States and Canada.
The playoff series between the Canadians, the Sables of Buffalo, and the Hurricanes of Carolina broke viewership records, more than 2 millions viewers in Quebec alone each game.
I’m not a hockey fan. I don’t like the violence between players and the hits they take; it’s practically gladiatorial combat on ice. These guys are skating 30 km/h to 40 km/h – imagine for a moment being hit by a player with a stick whose skates have blades that slice the ice—it’s incredibly dangerous. Even if the players are wearing protective gear like armor and helmets. In every game there are many injuries and during the playoffs there’s more injuries, and this violence is part of the game.
But besides the violence, I always like the game and the team spirit in hockey. Like hundreds of thousands of other young people, I grew up in Northern Quebec playing with the kid neighbors on the frozen rivers and lakes in the winter time. During our hockey games pushing and body contact weren’t allowed.
During the playoff series a few weeks ago, I was pleasantly surprised by the Montreal Canadiens’ games, tactics, strategies, and their team spirit. They were different from the other teams. During interviews with the Canadiens players, several said they especially enjoyed playing with their teammates and were constantly learning. They never verbally attacked their opponents.
Quickly the Canadiens players become role models for hundreds of thousands of kids in Canada. During the playoffs, teachers across Quebec noticed that children were very tired the day after a game. The games were broadcast in the evening and often ended around 10:30 p.m.
During the games against the Sabres of Buffalo it was like two worlds were clashing on one other. The Sabres, representing the world of brutes charging and hitting other players. Sabres were much bigger, robust, older and more experienced. Then the world of the Canadiens, being the youngest team in the NFL, completely immersed in the authenticity of the game. It’s like if the Canadians learned to play hockey on video games! Their style of playing allowed them to win the series against the Sabres.
But subsequently, the team found themselves up against the hulking of the Hurricanes of Carolina. Once again, the Canadiens faced more experienced and, above all, relatively aggressive players. The Hurricanes didn’t miss an opportunity to hit hard against the players who were scoring during the series. They especially intimidated the Canadiens’ goaltender and the defenders.
Ultimately, by constantly pinning the Montreal Canadian players along the rink boards and hitting them, the Hurricanes won the series. Sure the Hurricanes had an interesting game, but it was primarily their aggressive and intimidating tactics that allowed them to win. Meanwhile, the Canadians remained true to their tactical approach.
After the series, we learned that Lane Hutson, a 22-year-old Montreal Canadiens defender weighing only 158 lbs, was heavily targeted by his opponents, who often weigh 200 pounds or more. Hutson received a total of 46 hits during the regular season and 19 hits during the playoffs.
A hit in hockey is a defensive technique that involves using one’s body (shoulders, hips, or torso) to collide with an opponent. The main objective is to slow them down, intimidate them, or separate them from the puck to regain control of the game.
In the first two games of the playoffs alone, the Hurricanes delivered 90 hits compared to 34 for the Canadiens.This technique has drawn considerable criticism from those who advocate for a less violent sport.
But when you bring up the issue of violence in hockey, you’re quickly put in your place by old mentalities: ‘that’s just how hockey works, all players get hit. Body checking is part of the game’. Violence is accepted, fully endorsed by the NHL
The NHL even keeps track of all player injuries. If you visit the league’s website, you can access spreadsheets detailing each team’s injuries—it’s hilarious!
Compared to athletes who play other sports, hockey players are at higher risk of overuse injuries and injuries caused by early sports specialization by teenagers.
One of the leading causes of head injury is body checking from behind. Due to the danger of delivering a check from behind, the NHL have made this a major and game misconduct penalty but other body checking are accepted.
The technique of body checking is maybe effective in the short term. The team that delivers the most hits has a better chance of winning. But in the long run, the quality of the game suffers. Indeed, by injuring the best players, the best defenders and offensive, the league deprives itself of the more skillful and intelligent players.The more violence there is, the further the league moves away from true hockey, from its point of origin.
Violent body checking in hockey began to be allowed in the NHL in 1951 and from that moment on, hockey lost some of its strategic edge and lost some of its intelligence.
The days following the Canadians’ defeat, virtually every sports commentator said the team needed to add more physical and combative players.
While the older generation still craves the physical game. The younger generation like my nephews, my son, and most of his friends continue to say there’s too much violence in hockey. Perhaps this new sensibility will eventually change the old NHL mentality as other youth will join the teams of the NHL.
It’s obvious the younger generation want to play authentic, smarter, and more strategic hockey.
The Montreal Canadiens are the most successful team in the history of the NHL, with a total of 24 championships since their inception in 1909.
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Source: Wikipedia, NHL website
