The ‘segment’ numbers in the hundreds of thousands. The ‘segment’ is prevalent not only at high school and college games in North America, but throughout Northern and Eastern Europe where the game is played in a manner that allows speed and skill to truly flourish.

Rusty, I don’t know what you mean by the outcome of a college game is predictable. I would give up blogging and head to Vegas!

Product is my buzz-word du jour. Yesterday it was rubbydub.

P.S. David Stern & Gary Bettman would be proud of your use of the word ‘product’!

Just a couple of comments on the comments:

Having watched several other levels of hockey, and a ton of NHL games, I can guarantee you there is way more clutching and grabbing in the college game. Its not even close. Take a guy like Matt Greene for example, good shut down defender in college and had a very difficult time adjusting to the NHL rules. Check out his penalties in this first year with the Oilers. Obstruction, obstruction, obstruction.

The overhead cameras are not that expensive. Every USHL team was required to install them, and all were able to comply. There is no reason the NCAA cannot do it.

Lastly, we are very pleased to have Goon on board. His insights into the college game are very valuable, and thought provoking. The college game itself has been static for some time now, and these ideas are all fresh, doable and likely to improve the product.

That premise on its face is false; if the refs called the game like the NHL does they won’t have much room on their rosters for goon/enforcer only type players. The emphasis is on more skill and offense. Also cracking down on the after the whistle B.S. would help as well.

The argument for getting rid of the progressive DQ will not give people a green light per see it will just keep people more honest. You’re still getting thrown out of the game for the rest of the game.

A lot of players in the NHL will tell you if you take fighting out of the game the game would get a lot dirtier. Half of the crap that goes on in college hockey wouldn’t happen if the threat of getting their nose busted was more of a reality. For example; if I come in and crash the goal and run over the goalie or leg check an opposition player I deserve a beat down. The fact that stuff goes on answered actually causes more unnecessary acts of violence.

2. I do not think placing a different color patch and a particular word on the back of jerseys will create the desired outcome. Again, use progressive game disqualifications to motivate players and coaches.

3. Fighting does not need to be part of hockey nor any sport. Fighting is part of hockey because the repercussions for fighting make it worthwhile. Removing the progressive game disqualification will increase fighting and do more to encourage teams to place enforcers in their lineups. Because enforcers are not noted for their speed and skill, the game will suffer a bit for each enforcer that is in a lineup. Patently bad idea. Stick with the NHL if you care for that version of the sport.

4. Giving out 2 points in some games (non-overtime) and 3 points in others (overtime games) is intellectually flawed and leads to artificially tight races for playoff spots by rewarding the losing team with a point. If the game must include the spectacle of a shootout to increase attendance; give out 2 points to the winner so that it really means something. No need to always copy the NHL game (it might very well be a better game if it borrowed ideas from the college game.) …Consider a second 5 minute overtime prior to the spectacle if ties are known to reduce attendance.

5. Skill and speed should indeed be rewarded. Referees should enforce the rules and eliminate as much fighting as possible to do just that.

7. Are you getting paid per word? …Let the players continue to chose their own sticks. The players are capable of deciding which stick to use.

You put your list up there. I calmly (really? you think I was screaming?) refuted them one by one. Yes … I did mix in adjectives to clearly paint the picture of your ineptitude with regard to even the most basic understanding of the NCAA game.

Deal with it.

You apparently believe this has something to do with UAA and UND? LOL.

“you’re blog” ?¿? …. “none the less” ?¿? …. “true to forum” ?¿? … “over grown” ?¿?

next time try … “your blog” … “nonetheless” … “true to form” …. “overgrown”

Not sure I agree with #3. I think fighting is a necessary part of the game for the pros, but I fear that the kind of unnecessary brawls like we recently saw between Minnesota & North Dakota would become too commonplace in heated rivalry matchups.

I completely disagree with #4. I don’t care for shootouts as I believe that hockey is a team game. I would support making OT 4×4 for 10 mins, but then you’d probably run into concerns from ECAC & Hockey East spectators about occasional weeknight OT games taking too long.

I agree with #5. #6 would be good, but going beyond the standard overhead cam setup may also prove to be expensive.

#7, I can’t really comment on.

1. As an amateur league the NCAA is responsible for injuries and should protect the players in every way possible. NCAA players in the NHL pretty much all have their teeth. Applying standards used by professional teams is just dumb.

2. Hitting from behind is no more common in the NCAA than it is in any other league, including the NHL. You start with a flawed assumption and then incorporate a ridiculous idea to correct it.

3. See #1. Why they let you on this otherwise fine blog is a mystery. The last thing the NCAA needs to do is start giving scholarships to thugs and goons and that is exactly what would happen.

4. You’re answer is proof you’re a completely unsophisticated fan. Again … it’s an amateur sport. I know you folks in Fargo-land think you have a mini-NHL franchise but you don’t. A tie means that two teams were equal on that night. Shootouts are to satisfy the ignorant mob and they’re fine in an 82 game NHL season. 34 games is too few to be giving extra points because one team has players that are good at one aspect of the game.

5. Flawed assumption again. Two years ago the NCAA began stricter enforcement and last year was the first year with two referees. And already you’re whining? Clutching and grabbing was never that bad in the NCAA and what remains is certainly not noteworthy.

6. It’s an amateur sport with 58 teams of varying financial capabilities. How is every team going to pay for this unfunded mandate? I knew you liked unfunded mandates … closet liberal.

7. Players can use ANY stick they want. All sticks break. Did you watch any hockey in the 20th century? I didn’t think so.