Please subscribe to my newsletter on Substack: https://rothsteina.substack.com/ The 1980s were filled with dominance. The New York Islanders would win four Stanley Cups in a row. The Edmonton Oilers would also win four Stanley Cups in the decade. Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky were two of the best players, leading…

Hockey has always been known as a spectator sport. For the longest time, it was very difficult to watch hockey on television. The cameramen had difficulty following the puck because both the puck and the players moved very quickly. Broadcasting was also an issue. From the 1940s to the 1980s…

When it comes to hockey, we often forget some important pieces. Those pieces are both the referees and linesmen. If there aren’t any referees on the ice, there is no one to verify who scored the goals, verify the assists, and when to call penalties. Referees keep the game fair…

The wooden stick was a part of hockey from the very begging. Before the late 1990s, most players were still using wooden sticks. Wayne Gretzky even played most of his career with a wooden stick. Should we train with wooden sticks? I would argue yes. Wooden sticks are heavier and…

Glenn Hall was the first goaltender to ever do a ‘butterfly’. Even though this wasn’t exactly like a modern-day ‘butterfly’. This technique led to what we now know as the modern-day ‘butterfly’. Before this, every goaltender played with a ‘stand-up’ style. The ‘stand-up’ style involved a goalie standing up and…

Wayne Gretzky was never the greatest hockey player. Let me explain. Wayne Gretzky started his professional hockey career in the WHA. He was only 17 years old at the time. The WHA consisted of veteran players such as Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe. At the time, Hull and Howe were…

Pond hockey is a unique version of hockey. Playing outside is rare. For outdoor hockey games, you either have artificial ice such as synthetic ice, or need to be in a cold climate to play pond hockey. It is the first version of ice hockey ever created. The game has…

Alex Ovechkin has nine 50-goal seasons. Most players would be happy with a 30-goal season. Ovechkin has achieved this milestone, which only a few other players have. …

The start of sports season. We’ve all been there. You know the feeling. Especially if you are a parent. Sports equipment can be the biggest cost for you for the sports season. Hockey is one of the most expensive sports. Especially for youth sports. …