Mark Robert Rank, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis
With low-scoring games and a preponderance of deflected shots, randomness is much more likely to color NHL teams’ records than those of squads in the other four major US pro sports leagues.
We are witnessing an overdue shift towards normalizing male athletes seeking help and gradually speaking more openly and vulnerably about mental health.
The development of a new league in 2024 offers the potential for a more unified, higher-profile, higher-paying and more sustainable structure for women’s hockey.
The viral Kane vs. Karen meme invites the viewer to see the parallels between the actions of a white female hockey fan, surrounded by white onlookers, towards a Black player surrounded by referees.
The opportunity to place bets has changed the way games look, the way they’re talked about – and, of course, how many people have money riding on the outcome.
Incidents of sexual misconduct, and how they have been handled, highlight the lack of accountability in professional sports, and the problems that this situation creates.
NFL salary caps were originally introduced to make the league more competitive and reduce performance differences between small and large market teams. But they have also worked out well for players.
The ongoing influence of rape culture in men’s hockey prompts a contentious discussion about whether — and when — athletes involved in sex offences deserve a second chance from teams and fans.
Athletes no longer need the press to communicate with fans. They can do that directly through social channels – and unless sports reporters do a better job asking questions, they may become obsolete.
Canadians love hockey and many play the sport well into their senior years. A researcher who spent time with a Silver Skaters league found their unique love of the game could help younger players.
The Stanley Cup hockey finals were cancelled mid-series in 1919 because of the flu pandemic. Unlike a century ago, the NHL has put player health ahead of profit when dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
Attempts to disrupt or challenge normative, sporty masculinity has been met by outrage by those who cannot see nor hear the tribalism and male privilege of masculinized spaces like locker rooms.
Don Cherry’s recent divisive and discriminatory comments remind us of how white hockey remains. It’s time to transform the sport into a more inclusive pastime.