Login

***HabsFanFromOntario*** · 12-02-2021, 11:43 AM

Good morning and welcome to this week's deep dive into the Simulation Major Junior Hockey League where we pose the question: Do hits matter? Looking at the league, the league leader in hits is Big Newff with an absolutely staggering 296 hits thrown so far. That's 122 more than the next leading hitter, an absolutely wild amount. His team, the Maine Timber, are 5th in the league and doing pretty well this year, staying in competition with a solid thirty five wins, 18 losses and 5 overtime losses record that lends them squarely in a competitive spot for the upcoming playoffs. Our next two players, Sam Stone and Daniel Merica both play on the St. Louis Scarecrows. Stone, with 174 hits and Merica, with a season that has him garnering some Most Valuable Player recognition, with 158. The Scarecrows have an abysmal record this season of 15 wins, 39 losses and 3 overtime losses. Not a great showing to be sure this year, but the SMJHL is cyclical after all, right Newfoundland? In fourth in hits in the entire league is Russian player Vasily Arkhangelsky, playing on the Detroit Falcons. For those who don't know the Detroit Falcons have been, to say the least, abysmal. With an embarrassing showing of just a measly five wins, an absurd 51 losses and 4 overtime losses for 14 points in 60 games, it is more than fair to say that the Detroit Falcons downright suck, and that's putting it politely. As you continue down the list, time and time again you see a repeated pattern, big hit totals end up playing on team with not fantastic record. Big Newff is the sole player in the top 10 in hits on a top 5 team in the league. This draws a very simple conclusion, that hits do not lend to winning or are conducive to winning, so what's the point. What's the point of physicality, and playing hard and old school if it ends up costing your team games and making everything they do terrible? Well, the answer is much more intangible than wins and losses deriving from hits. Yes, singular hits by themselves don't change a game or add anything to the team. They're not going to score a goal, or fix your team's defensive positioning. But where a hit can count is when you need to shift momentum, when you need to be on the ice and pump up your team to get them over the last little hump to victory and show them you are here to play and they better god damned bring it so you can make the playoffs. Hits and physical play seem to be dying in this age of statistical analysis and skill based hockey, and while the new emphasis on skill is leading to some beautiful hockey, there's nothing like watching a Maine player get !chopped or just seeing a beautiful open ice hit. Just because skill is increasing these days does not mean that physical play should die out.

*CptSquall* · 12-03-2021, 10:08 PM

Approved, +5 TPE to @HabsFanFromOntario

DeletedAtUserRequest · 12-03-2021, 10:20 PM

They matter.

Sincerely,

Mike Izzy -
The All Time Hits leader

|

|

|

|

Navigation

Extra Menu

About us