fancy plays, your thoughts?

[napihafan]

alright, i was at a piha game tonight and saw a kid pull a Michigan in the middle of it. Is there room in this league or any league for that fact for these kinds of plays?

[MBurke]

If you possess the skill to do it, why not?

Of course, this is assuming you're not pulling it off when the score is 9-1 with 2 minutes to go...

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

The only problem I see with somebody doing it is that when you do it you kinda put a target on your head. As flashy and cool as it looks the other team gets embarassed and usually sends the goon out there to teach the lesson. We all understand that if somebody goes after your star player somebody is there to protect them. Its kinda like a catch 22 a flashy move looks awesome but its gonna piss off your opponent and that person is gonna have to suffer the reprecussions from it.

Just my 2 cents in there since I have seen it as a player from both ends of that and numerous times as a official.

[Troho9]

When I was younger it was the greatest thing in the world. Warmups, halftime, stoppages any chance I got I did it (Michigan). It was a " Look at me, look what I can do" ego boost. I am sure every now and again it will actually work in a game situation and in a meaningful game but 99% of the time its in a blow out and does nothing but pissoff the opposing team.

Now that I am older I see the other side, the "respect for the game side" that all the older players barked at me about when I was younger and pulling "michigans" and crazy moves.

I guess my view now is if you can go it, great, but don't do it to show up another team.

[banditssniper]

There are nothing wrong with sick plays, great passes, great dangles or snipes, however moves like the michigan move should not be tolerated.
Not only because it is a professional league, but shouldn't be done due to respect for other players. I know a few players who tried the move and ended up paying for it with an old fashioned knuckle dusting. Bottom line, is that its fine in practice or warmups but keep it out of the games.

[Dave Garland]

Nice move to pull off...the result will probably be a goal and a cast around your wrist.

[kicksave60]

from the goalie of course! I would for sure give you a whack for trying that crap on me in a game

[spencerhs5]

i pulled it in a championship game many years back when we were down 2-1 and came back to win something like 5-2.... then a few years later when playing goalie i had the michigan and the jager pulled on me in the same game to go down 2-0 then we came back and one 9-2 so ya situationally its all good.

[shane99]

i have zero problem wit the move if the they can do it in a close game when it counts ...but if they do it in when they are blowing someone out then yes thats a problem

[missionhockey19]

learn how to fight and you can do whatever you want...haha

[MBurke]

To our Billy Smith/Ron Hextall emulators (I'm a goalie too):

If the Michigan weren't overused by players with marginal talent who practice only that and can only use it against inferior teams, would you hate it so much? I fail to see how it's any more flashy than a great deke or the Gretzky-patented pass off the side of the net to a player in front. Personally, I think it's a great situational move if the goaltender is not tracking the puck behind the net correctly or is lazily dropping early on wraparounds.

Unlike the other 'flashy' spinorama plays that involve picking up the puck and flinging it with no real aim or purpose, I think the Michigan actually has merit as a tool in a scorer's arsenal.

Again, it has its place and time.

[growl89]

fancy moves are sweet, depending on the level also depends on if you should pull it off.... Was anyone else on here at the Torhs finals 2 years ago When Rink Rat beat Pama 7-2 ... Down by 6, Itan Chivara of the Pama Cyclones (arguably the nastiest dangler in the game) pulled the michagen to make the score 7-2, shortly after the goal (5 seconds) Gerry St Cyr skated by him and mouthed something like (dont ever do that again) and i think its b/c he knew Itan that he didnt break his arm because you could see the anger in his eyes. Is it showboating? yes, but it's skillful as well, it's a tough spot... Use caution and realize that a hack or punch is coming shortly following the sweet move. Want a real challenge? do it with a ball...

[Dave Garland]

I agree with you Burke that it does have a time and a place. I'm just saying in general people do not look at one who does the Michigan too favorably. A goal is a goal though no matter how it goes in.

[33]

fancy moves are sweet, depending on the level also depends on if you should pull it off.... Was anyone else on here at the Torhs finals 2 years ago When Rink Rat beat Pama 7-2 ... Down by 6, Itan Chivara of the Pama Cyclones (arguably the nastiest dangler in the game) pulled the michagen to make the score 7-2, shortly after the goal (5 seconds) Gerry St Cyr skated by him and mouthed something like (dont ever do that again) and i think its b/c he knew Itan that he didnt break his arm because you could see the anger in his eyes. Is it showboating? yes, but it's skillful as well, it's a tough spot... Use caution and realize that a hack or punch is coming shortly following the sweet move. Want a real challenge? do it with a ball...

i saw it. while it was amazing, i question his sanity. with the group that rink rat had that year it was extremely ballsy. the only thing that saved him i think is that he is well liked. let someone that is not liked do it and i think his arm would be shattered. while nice to pull off, there is really no need for it.

[TheSnake22]

fancy moves are sweet, depending on the level also depends on if you should pull it off.... Was anyone else on here at the Torhs finals 2 years ago When Rink Rat beat Pama 7-2 ... Down by 6, Itan Chivara of the Pama Cyclones (arguably the nastiest dangler in the game) pulled the michagen to make the score 7-2, shortly after the goal (5 seconds) Gerry St Cyr skated by him and mouthed something like (dont ever do that again) and i think its b/c he knew Itan that he didnt break his arm because you could see the anger in his eyes. Is it showboating? yes, but it's skillful as well, it's a tough spot... Use caution and realize that a hack or punch is coming shortly following the sweet move. Want a real challenge? do it with a ball...

Ya a lot of the Phantoms from last season were there and a bunch of us remember seeing that. Itan totally pulled it off in the flow of the game and no one saw it coming. Can't really call it showboating since i guess they were losing although i dont remember the situation exactly. If you pull it when you're team is way up, then i call it classless, but if you can pull it off in a close game or in the flow of the game, then props to you. Crosby did it once in the Q with his team up like 7-1... pretty weak but i think he's matured a little since then... something else that should be pointed out is that it's so easy to stop. if you cant disrupt someone from doing it, then you should be playing a little better defense and helping out your goalie.

[outcold]

There is nothing wrong with any fancy play whether your winning or losing the game, whether its close or a blowout. If you dont like it then stop the play, dont cheap shot someone who is showing off their talents.

[growl89]

tiger woods can bounce a ball on his club a hundred times and then knock it out of the air with a driver and hit it 300 yards ... thats a talent... ever think he'll use it in a game? you should get a cheap shot for doing that in certain situations.

[eXpress19]

I will start this off by saying I myself can not pull the Michigan off. I do admit that I wish I acquired this talent, but it is something I do not feel I should spend time practicing on. I wouldn't mind having that weapon in my arsonel so to speak but I do agree that it has its time and place. I will say that it should only be used in a close game and used to make the game more competitive. I would have to say that it is a smart move and one that should not be frowned upon if a goalie is known for going down on wrap-arounds, then I think it is a good move, seeing as how there is no chance of scoring on the wrap-around, then why not use it. But only use it if your team needs the goal, don't do it to make the goalie look bad, because then it is unclassy and you will probably get hacked for it. Just how I feel, everyone has there own opinion and that is understandable.

[literacola]

If you possess the skill to do it, why not?

Of course, this is assuming you're not pulling it off when the score is 9-1 with 2 minutes to go...

ya i definitely agree with you...im assuming this was the same game, but yesterday this kid's team was down or tied with the other guys, so when he pulled it, its just like faking the goalie out on a breakaway or any other time. i dont see why anyone would get so worked up about it. but ya i agree timing is everything. its not cool to do that in a game to make the goalie or the other team look stupid

[alex]

tiger woods can bounce a ball on his club a hundred times and then knock it out of the air with a driver and hit it 300 yards ... thats a talent... ever think he'll use it in a game? you should get a cheap shot for doing that in certain situations.

...probably not, you can't remove the ball from the tee like that. If that was legal, and he could drive the ball better that way, I'm sure he would.

[yokes]

Where as i am as much of a wanna be Hextall as there is out there I dont see whats wrong with attempting the move. Its difficult to stop and its unexpected. Now on the other side of that, your D should feel disrespected more than anyone for letting him stand there and pull it. As for a goalie, if I see the attempt starting im chopping his stick like Hexy to Kent Nilson's leg. If you need an image, youtube it.

[inferno98]

Where as i am as much of a wanna be Hextall as there is out there I dont see whats wrong with attempting the move. Its difficult to stop and its unexpected. Now on the other side of that, your D should feel disrespected more than anyone for letting him stand there and pull it. As for a goalie, if I see the attempt starting im chopping his stick like Hexy to Kent Nilson's leg. If you need an image, youtube it.

I am not favoring a player doing a michigan or am I unfavoring a player doing a "michigan", but look at it in the reverse. When Hextall scored in a game, it must have been pretty embarassing for the other team and it was a great for Hexy. Did anyone say anything in embarrasment to Hextall for doing that? I know that it is embarrasing for a team and a goalie to give up a "michigan". There are usually a few choice words given to a player for doing the "michigan".

I know that they can not be directly related because it is much easier for a player to do a michigan then a goalie to score but I am just wondering what other peoples thoughts are.

[DannyG]

not to beat a dead horse...

Any offensive move, if done with skill, and with the intent of doing whatever it takes to play the game all out, it certainly okay.

Play for show is not. Either show-off offensive moves, or retaliatory intimidation or physicalllity...both are contrary to the spirit of the game.