Just the Facts
Maybe it’s just me, but I’m getting the feeling that ice times are becoming an issue. So before anybody gets too worked up about it, let’s address it here.
Oh, and if you’re wondering about the 3 -stars for “That Game”, well, there won’t be any further acknowledgement of “That Game” from this moment forward. I’ve stricken it from Grinder record and as of now it officially doesn’t exist and never happened.
As for the length of shifts? Since we all operate at different levels of cognitive ability and perceive our place in the world through different coloured glasses, I’ve given 4 different reasons why our shift changes should be down to less than a minute; Sexual, Observational, Statistical, and Economical
Sexual
Shift lengths. Ever since we were little boys we’ve been told “length matters.” Boys, start listeneing to Dr. Ruth, it’s girth that counts, and you can say the same thing about hockey too. If you go out there and have a big phat shift full of hustle and energy, great positioning, causing turn-overs and setting up chances in 45 seconds, it’s way more satisfying to all involved than 120 seconds of hesitation, watching and waiting for “just one more” opportunity to get deep.
Observational
You may recall an article about a year ago entitled 13 Signs It’s Time for a Shift Change. No? Too lazy to click the link? OK, here’s some of my favourites:
#3: “But I’m not tired” Then you didn’t skate hard enough, so Change so that someone who is going to hustle gets a chance to play.
#9: “But I thought I could get the puck and have a chance on goal.” No, you are too damn tired from playing positional and aggressive defense to skate faster than them. They will get the puck, control it, move it into our zone and you will be trapped again for another minute, lungs and legs burning and completely useless, simply hoping they don’t score: So Change
#12: “But I’m not tired.” Good! Before you get tired, and before you make mistakes because you are tired: Change.
#14: Thou shalt not covet thy team-mates’ ice-time.
Yes that was 14 of 13 and I invented solely for the purpose of using this image.
Statistical
But why listen to me? Lets look at some stats from the current NHL season. Take the Vancouver Canucks for example. Over the first 11 games of their season their top forwards, M. Naslund, H. Sedin, and D. Sedin have averaged 19.06, 18.27 and 18.05 minutes of ice time per game respectively.
M. Naslund averages 24.9 shifts per game. H. Sedin 23.8 shifts. D. Sedin 23.6 shifts. I had someone do the math for me and apparently this equates to each player having an average shift length of 45 seconds.
Now correct me if I’m wrong, but I gotta hunch that these guys are in a (say it with a Scottish Accent) weeeeeee better physical condition than your average Cuppa Joe Grinder. (Back to normal voice) So why do they take such wimpy shifts? Because they are more effective! You can play a more consistent game and give a complete effort every time without fading at the end.
Economical
Naslund is getting 25 shifts per every 60 minute game. We play 40 minute games, so lets prorate that. That would be equal to 16.64 shifts in one of our games, or at 45 seconds: 12.48 minutes of ice time; an entire period on the ice, which makes sense if we have our full three lines show up (Reg and Frank).
But at Grinder shift lengths of 90 seconds, with three full lines (Reg and Frank), thats only 6.24 shifts per game.
You pay $687 to play. 6.24 shifts times 35 games = 218.4 shifts at $3.15 per shift.
Lower your cost per shift by taking shorter shifts. Half the shift length = half the cost/shift. You too can pay $1.57 per shift by taking 45-second shifts.
Date: October 26th, 2006 @ 14:05
Categories: Rant, Team Admin
#Gordiefour
Ooooohhhh….your insight gives me chills…..If I may add, those that float around taking 1.5 min shifts all game get 3x more ice time than those that skate hard for 30 second shifts then get off….so not to belabour that we all pay the same cost for the season so NOBODY deserves 3x the ice time, but who would we, as a team, rather have on the ice most of the time…..hmmmmmm…….