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Arkiv » Övrigt Bloggande » O´hara Shipes egna ord !
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When asked to write a few words about the differences between North American hockey and Swedish hockey, visions of the brute physicality of the North American game and the finesse of the European game came flooding into my mind. However, just like technology and culture have been subject to globalization, hockey too has changed. The importation of foreign players has blurred the line between the traditional, opposing styles of east and west. One merely needs to look at Laumann bingo as a prime example of this change. The Swedish game is no longer only about brilliant passing and play making but also about the enforcer or “thumper” as we call it in the US. These changes extend to the European women’s game where it is standard practice to have a checking line whose sole purpose is to contain the other team’s deadliest scorers.
Interestingly, last year’s Olympics were a great show of how there has been a change in approach to the women’s game in North America. In past years, Canada and the US were known for brute strength not necessarily speed but the 2010 Olympics showcased the new North American style: speed and finesse.  European teams were overwhelmed by blow-out scores like 18-0. Watching the games and talking to a few of the Swedish Olympians, it was clear that North America’s new style had surprised their European counterparts who focused more on strength than speed leading up to the Vancouver Olympics. Lesson learned. In the near future I think we will see more parity in the international field as the Europeans return to their roots in finesse.
I have witnessed first-hand this return to traditional hockey training while getting ready for the 2010-2011 LHC Dam season. Pre-season training was nearly singularly focused on short sprints meant to increase speed and endurance. The little weight lifting that did occur was more of a formality than anything else. The real meat of our training was about speed. This is not to say that we don’t still rely on our checking line but their role is less physical than the traditional North American thumper. Rather than physicality, our checking line approaches their job of wearing out the other team from the position of speed kills.
Naturally there are more differences between the North American and the European game that could be explored. However, in my opinion the most important and crucial difference has always been North America’s focus on weight lifting and strength and the European focus on skills and speed. With the melding of the two styles I think we will begin to see a new breed of hockey where position specialization is no longer permitted. The thumper of tomorrow will become the goal scorer of today. Only time can tell if this prediction will come to fruition. Either way, I foresee the future of women’s hockey as a viable and exciting option for even the staunchest of men’s only hockey fans.

By: O’Hara Shipe

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