Roaming The Rinks

As we sit here the last couple weeks listening to the Democrats talk endlessly about change things keep plugging along here at RTR.

I have a couple recent arena visits to update, and have photos now to add a Lewiston Colisee review. I also need to muster enough composure to add some retro reviews of arenas I had visited last season, and a couple arenas I have attended with some regularity in nearby Elmira.

Since we're on the subject of change here are 3 changes I would like to see:

1- Have the NCAA get rid of the silly rule that requires players to wear the full cage.  Lets think about this for a few minutes-  I have attended college games this year at Elmira, Morrisville, Colgate, Oswego State, and Cortland.  Each game had teams made up of about half, and in some cases 75% of players who prior to attending college played Junior A in Canada.  If these guys could play with just a visor starting at age 16 in Canada why is it unsafe for them to do so now?  I gotta think that the Canadians arent too fond of the full cage, and neither am I.

2-  Lets get rid of Gary Bettman.  I am tired of hearing how we need to attract new fans to hockey.  Whats is wrong with the fan base the sport has had for the last 30 years or more?  By watering down and wussifying the current game they seem to be alienating their core base of fans, yet do not seem to be attracting too many new folks.  If its fancy skating Euros you want go to the Icecapades!  I dont have a whole lot of interest in spending $50-$75 or more to sit in the cheap seats to watch the NHL anyway.  The minors and Junior leagues do it for me, and the atmosphere at most College rinks certainly cannot be duplicated at a 18000 seat corporate palace. 

3- Lets get back to the old days of marketing the rough stuff!  Although overall fighting majors seem to be slightly up this year in most leagues there is still too much NHL influence on the game.  I would like to see some US teams market their tough guys just like they do in the LNAH.  Whats wrong with using the enforcer as the main ambassador for the team?  Shouldn't the newspaper and print adds play upon prior fights in rivalry match ups?  I guess I am just hoping the fighting aspect of the game is not lost.

I will be sure to watch the upcoming debates and see if any of the above become campaign promises.  If not I will keep rolling along enjoying every minute of hockey season.