JMS Hockey

If you check and hack and trashtalk the whole game, then the handshake is pretty much a joke and why do it? And if you play a clean, sportsmanlike game then the handshake is not necessary. Paradox, huh?!

Or be like me (as a goalie) and get into a fight in the handshake line!!

we should just whack each other in the shins with out sticks after the games.

It's one of the oldest traditions of hockey. After all the bad blood is spilled on the ice, the two teams get together to display some class and sportsmanship. I think that in part is what separates the NHL and say the NBA.

is it wrong to spit in your hand before you pass through it??/

Have you ever watched UFC? Those dudes beat the crap out of each other and shake afterwards. It is about showing respect for your opponent.

Maybe, just maybe, this amazing photo and the accompanying story may influence your opinion on this. Then again, maybe not. Courtesy of Greatest Hockey Legends.com: The handshake. There is no better playoff tradition than the handshake. There is no rule that says teams have to shake hands after going to war against each other in best of seven playoff series. Instead it is the ultimate sign of respect and of tradition. It is the way it always has been. No photo captures this form of sportsmanship better than this offering from Roger St. Jean from April 8th, 1952. During the seventh game of the Stanley Cup semi finals at the Montreal Forum, Maurice Richard suffered a concussion and was knocked out of the game, returning in the third period to score the winning goal. He skated end to end, going through the Bruins players, skated out in front of the net and put the puck behind a startled Sugar Jim Henry. Henry offers his hand in respect to the bloodied Rocket. Perhaps no photo better captures hockey's unique combination of sportsmanship and physicality.

In the AHA playoffs recently. I play D and I was battling a guy for the puck. I don't know what I did but moments later while I was simply covering the front of my net without much company, some guy skates behind me and slashes my stick intentionally. I didn't know why, he just did. So I chopped his back. So now we're out there calling each other tons of cuss words and chopping/checking one another. The ref is telling us to knock it of. I was pretty pissed off. I don't have time to get an explanation during play but I am not going simply take it. Two shifts later, I bump into the guy accidentally after a whistle, no fireworks, no nothing. We just look at each other. I am skating with him side by side back to our benches and I said to him "hey man, if I got you on the hands then my bad, it wasn't intentional."...He replies "awe sh** man, its all good, I have to control my retaliations and realize what really happened".....Long story short: We had a great laugh about it in between periods and we kept up the physicality during the game minus the schoolyard verbiage. Then after the game we had another chuckle and discussed how good that game was to play and he invited me over to have a beer with their squad in the parking lot afterwards. But one hour ago we were ready to come to blows. It's the one thing I love about this game. If anything it shows that most players have the ability to separate the game behavior from non-game behavior. Whats the point of it all? Nothing. Just enjoy the [fricking] game. If the guy is a douche than he's a douche. But most guys I have gotten into it with have been great after the game is over and all that BS was in the name of competing.

Nice story Jason. That's the thing, the game is extremely physical and at times violent (even in men's league) but by the time both teams shake hands, usually it goes smoothly and both teams exhibit good sportsmanship. Unless North Dakota is playing, then it's a different story. I also remember one time in Eagan there was a handshake line fight as well (and I was just happy it didn't carry over to the parking lot because fighting during the handshake is completely out of line and a good sign that someone isn't all there mentally).