No, not a thread lamenting their recent play. Rather a question. I grew up watching college and minor league hockey years ago, but I only saw my first major league game last week. Other than the unnecessary pounding music and flashing lights every time play stopped (a disease common to professional sports these days), I thoroughly enjoyed the game. In fact, I can't wait to attend another one.
A few times each period there would be a stop in play and a small team of men with shovels would come out and, finely choreographed, would shovel off the ice shavings. Now this is something that I don't remember ever seeing in college or minor league hockey. So my question: is this a necessary mid-period maintenance of the ice? Or is it a TV timeout during which they do some clean-up? Or did they always do this at every competitive level and I just don't remember?
A few times each period there would be a stop in play and a small team of men with shovels would come out and, finely choreographed, would shovel off the ice shavings. Now this is something that I don't remember ever seeing in college or minor league hockey. So my question: is this a necessary mid-period maintenance of the ice? Or is it a TV timeout during which they do some clean-up? Or did they always do this at every competitive level and I just don't remember?
