The State of Hockey

When I decided to go to college in Iowa, one of the things I knew I would miss most was hockey. The fact that Luther did not have a hockey program almost contributed to my decision of whether or not to attend. Many of my friends at Luther from neighboring states didn't understand our affinity for hockey. They would say, "Minnesota loves their hockey. I don't see what's so great." I would just ask if they had ever been to a hockey game because then they would know why for Minnesotans, hockey is life.

I have always been a sports junkie, since about the time that my step dad came into the picture. He taught me all about ESPN and what "yards rushing" meant. Before that I usually chose my favorite team based on which uniform I liked the best and which team had the most attractive players. Well, that is still a big deciding factor. But there was always something different about hockey. Hockey is more than a sport in Minnesota, it is a way of life. You can more times than not recognize a hockey player out of uniform. He's a little rough; swears a lot; drinks; he is known for the longer, shaggy hair that I refer to as hockey hair; and tends to be a ladies man (or so he thinks). I hate to stereotype but most hockey players would probably agree with this.

For the first time in the U.S., Red Bull Crashed Ice came to Saint Paul, Minnesota. Red Bull Crashed Ice is a combination of ice hockey and downhill skating that features some of the toughest and best hockey players in the world. The sport has only been around for 10 years. There are participants from 30 nations. The rules are very simple: four athletes line up at the start and the first one across the finish line wins. Skaters reach speeds of up to 40 mph, so courage and perseverance are something that these athletes are not lacking. This is the pure excitement, pure thrill that Minnesota hockey fans/ players live to experience.

So let me just ask those who don't understand the thrill of hockey: Would you race down 1300 feet of icy hills, jumps, twists and hairpin turns?