don't know about where you live, but where I come from, most of the people take their hockey very seriously. I'm not just talking about the players. In some of the smaller communities, when winter rolls around, they live for Friday night hockey.

Take that, you rascal, you

It's a night out, the work week is over, and they get to watch a smash-'em-up hockey game with maybe a good fight or two. On the ice or in the stands: It doesn't really matter.

These hockey games aren't held in facilities that could be called arenas or stadiums. They're hockey rinks. They're old and small, and the fans are close to the action. I can remember one old referee telling me this story that should illustrate just how close the fans were to the action. Bear in mind this happened quite a few years ago, and I in no way endorse what this referee did.

Continued...