Page 33 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 76

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #76 March 2019 33

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The NHL annual all-star game has evolved into a fun weekend event with a skills
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competition and 4 – 4 tournament. Some players miss this event and are handed a one

game suspension in regular season play. Do you feel the NHL is correct to do this?
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Gilles Gaudet - Sports Enthusiast - I think that the NHL is correct in suspending, for one game, players that are
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unwilling to participate in the all-star game. For Price and Ovechkin it was also worthwhile for them to take the extra
game off, and the penalty wasn’t too severe. If certain players have injury issues or as in Ovechkin’s, case advanced
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age is a factor, a rest is well deserved. In my opinion the NHL’s version of the all-star game is actually superior to the
other leagues by a long shot. The 4-on-4 format is exciting and having the winning team share in a million dollar pot
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is a brilliant idea. Add to that the fact that most of the skills competition works really well and is good entertainment
for the fans. Compare that to watching the pitiful NFL all-star game, which is an atrocious, futile, and inept effort
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on the part of North America’s most successful league at showcasing its best players. The NHL also uses the all-star
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game to highlight non-traditional hockey markets such as, San Jose, Nashville, and Tampa to name a few. The NHL
brain trust does it right when it comes to the all-star game, with or without Price and Ovechkin.
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Jake Lapierre - Conditioning Coach - The NHL annual all-star game is a valuable event for a lot of reasons.
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There’s a ton of value holding this event every year that isn’t measurable in sponsorship dollars or TV ratings; it’s
about the fans, fans young & old, and everyone in-between. It’s about the awe-struck kids and their smiling parents,
waiting 30 minutes to an hour + for a 20-second interaction with their hockey hero. It’s about the long line of kids
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and adults waiting even longer just for a quick picture with the Stanley Cup. It’s about the kids closely focusing
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on and studying the newest acrobatic stick handling tricks or skating moves during skills competitions & 4-on-4
tournaments, and envisioning themselves performing the same moves in their minds. It’s about the little ones, the
3 or 4 year old boys and girls in attendance becoming fans for life because they remember the thrill and excitement
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of the event with mom or dad.
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The NHL recognizes the importance of nurturing the fan base and keeping it alive and healthy. The league’s top
players are the ambassadors and key to the weekend’s success; the event only works if these players participate. Most
players recognize the importance of the event and are happy to participate because they know its great fun for them
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and their families. That said there are some players who may not share the same opinions which is why the league
needs incentive for its players to participate and that is why the rule is in place. Some folks think the rule is dumb,
and you can’t blame them for thinking that; why punish players (and their teams) who are legitimately hurt or ill and
can’t participate in all-star events? Yes, some players are legitimately injured or ill and need recuperation time but
without the rule, more players wouldn’t give the weekend the priority it deserves and the purpose of the event would
crumble. I believe this is one rule that makes sense because it supports the fans and promotes the league.

Jim Riddell - Seaway Karate Club - The NHL all-star game provides a marketing opportunity for the league to
showcase its best players. The all-star weekend also generates a substantial amount of sponsorship and merchandizing
revenue and any of the big names skipping the event will have a negative impact on the bottom line. To understand
the NHL’s reasoning for issuing a suspension, let’s take a look at the National Football league. The NFL which
has no penalty in place for those opting out of its all-star game equivalent – the Pro Bowl, recently had 37 players
decline. No one should be upset with any banged-up players that choose to serve the suspension, rest up, and
prepare for the second half of the season. The one game suspension is not a very severe penalty, but it does allow
the NHL to maintain a bit of control, and the all-star weekend is better because of it.