The NHL All-Star game[wiki] was this past Sunday. In case you failed to notice, you probably are not alone. Personally, I liked the festivities, no matter how confusing or dribbling you think it might have been. Even though the Eastern Conference won with just twenty seconds left in the game at a score of 8-7, the action went all the way to the end, not to mention that hat trick that Rick Nash pulled off.
While I’m at it, I love the players being wired during the game. It wasn’t just periodically hearing what the guys were saying on the ice during stoppage of play. They were talking to the players, mainly the goalies, during game play. I found that fascinating, no matter how trivial it might have been. Maybe it’s the Boston rubbing off on me from Rebecca, but I like Tim Thomas a little bit, more so when he did that break dance spin move during the Superskills Competition the night before.
And Chris Pronger falling on his face? Priceless.
I’ve been hearing from a variety of people that all of this stuff is pointless, and the All-Star game should go away. There isn’t a point, it’s boring, or something along the lines that no one cares. Honestly, I like the whole idea of the games biggest names getting together on the ice for a good game of stick and puck once a year.
The other morning, I had the idea about what the All-Star game should be, and that’s a return to its original roots. Thanks to the CBC’s People’s History of Hockey, I recalled how the first all-star games were actually charity benefits, not massive marketing stunts at all.
The first All-Star game in ice hockey predates the NHL. It was played on January 2, 1908 before 3,500 fans at the Montreal Arena between the Montreal Wanderers and a team of All-Stars players from the teams the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association. It was held in memory of Montreal Wanderers player Hod Stuart, who had drowned three months after the Wanderers won the Stanley Cup in 1907. The proceeds of that game (over $2,000) went to Stuart’s family. [wikipedia]
And actually, the game that I heard about in that TV documentary is something that might be all too needed in today’s NHL with the amount of nasty hits resulting in some stiff punishments.
On December 12, 1933, a tragedy occurred as Toronto’s King Clancy tripped Boston’s Eddie Shore, and, in retaliation to being tripped, Shore hit Ace Bailey from behind flipping him over backwards. Bailey hit his head so hard on the ice that a priest in attendance gave him last rites. Bailey lived, but his playing career was over. Shore was suspended for 16 games of a 48 game season for the hit. As a benefit for Bailey and his family, the first ever National Hockey League All-Star Game was held on 14 February 1934.
The game was held at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, during which Bailey’s #6 uniform was retired by the Leafs. It was the first number to be retired in the NHL. The game saw the Leafs battle against an All-Star team made of players from the other seven teams, which the Leafs won 7-3. One of the more memorable moments before the game was when Bailey presented Shore with his All-Star jersey, showing to the public that Bailey had clearly forgiven him for his actions. Bailey also presented a trophy to NHL President Frank Calder before a game in the hope that the trophy would go to the winner of an annual All-Star Game for the benefit of injured players. [wikipedia]
It’s a long shot, but why not push this concept back into the league and focus more on charities for the All-Star game? The current mindset is to promote the league and spread the game into markets that need to have its popularity, or lack thereof, boosted. There are underlying charities, but they are not at the forefront of the event. Right now, the only, real benefit of the NHL All-Star game is the NHL.
Take the game back to where it began. Make it a charity driven event. Feed the hungry, give money to help fight disease, clothe the hungry, help rebuild towns from disaster, etc. Say what you will about NHL commissioners or owners, but the heart that can come from helping more than just the NHL will help promote the game better than any self-promoting TV broadcast.
From a hockey perspective, this was one of the better All-Star games in recent memory. Good pace, good goals and even one (accidental) hit.
There was at least one small hint of charity in the game. Jerome Iginla pledged to donate $5000 for every goal he scored to KidsSport. He also said he’d donate a minimum of $5000 even if he failed to score.
Granted it’s something he does for regular season games as well but it’s still a great gesture on his part. I really would like to see the league do something like this on a league-wide basis. Like you said, this kind of publicity can only help the game.
The actual game was good to watch. NHL all-stars actually seem to be having a good time with the weekend, differentiating it from other sports.
The skills competition though, was incredibly poorly thought out by the NHL (surprise, surprise), and the Versus coverage was incredibly bad. It was like there was no rehearsal to see what those (camera) shots were going to look like.