50 Years Ago the US TV networks pleaded with the NHL to have only one intermission - In retrospect were they correct?

[Fenway]

The NHL is unique in that every game has 2 seventeen minute intermissions

Both CBS and NBC lobbied hard for 2 30 minute halves or 4 15 minute quarters. It is a major reason no US network carried games from 1976 to 1993.

Just look at this game on CBS from 1968 - The intermission is painful to watch



Keep in mind the concept of three periods and two intermissions was spawned by arena owners who wanted to sell concessions.

I am posting this here because I want to hear from younger fans,

 

[tarheelhockey]

I could argue it either way. From a TV perspective it’s far better to have a quarter setup. From a player perspective I’d think they would rather have the current setup. From a fan perspective I’m not sure it really matters.

 

[Seattle King]

Gary "Place Your" Bettman loves two intermissions for all the sweet vig that the bookies can pull with the prop bets you can do with three periods instead of two.

 

[wasunder]

My first reaction was definitely not because that’s the way I’ve known hockey my whole life… but given some thought I guess it wouldn’t matter that much honestly. Two 30 minute halves would be interesting

 

[LuLover96]

Problem is you would need to repave the ice during the intermissions, or it would get terrible. There’s already a noticeable difference between when the period starts and ends, and ice needs ~8 minutes to set after the Zamboni leaves. That’s a minimum of 15 minutes for each break. If you do the quarter system, the game goes extra long. If you do the half system, it loses quality.

Besides, I like that hockey is different. Too many copycat sports

 

[TommyCanuck]

Two intermissions is better because two is better than one.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

It's fine the way it is. The way it has always been.

 

[Fenway]

My first reaction was definitely not because that’s the way I’ve known hockey my whole life… but given some thought I guess it wouldn’t matter that much honestly. Two 30 minute halves would be interesting

I agree there is a paradox.

 

[hangman005]

Two intermissions is better because two is better than one.

Could for 12 5 minute periods. 12 is better than 2

 

[JMCx4]

Two intermissions is better because two is better than one.

EXCEPT ... as a former physics professor of mine once explained ... When 2 gets very very small, it approaches 1.

 

[ijuka]

3 periods is just about the worst possible amount. Both 2 and 4 would be better. That way, you'd attack both directions for the same duration. The current system arbitrarily favors team who are better with short changes instead of long changes. This is bad for teams like Toronto Maple Leafs, who are far better during the second period than the others.

Since hockey is a fast-paced game and breaks are in order, four 15min quarters would likely be better than two 30min halves.

EXCEPT ... as a former physics professor of mine once explained ... When 2 gets very very small, it approaches 1.

Well, no. When 2 gets very very small, it approaches 0.
1.00001 is still not "very very small" even if it approaches 1.

 

[JMCx4]

It's fine the way it is. The way it has always been.

Well, since the NHL's 1910-11 season, anyways.

 

[tlk]

Bring back the ties.

They'll introduce the timer in the 3 on 3 OTs tho

 

[JMCx4]

Well, no. When 2 gets very very small, it approaches 0.
1.00001 is still not "very very small" even if it approaches 1.

Oh, so you were "that guy" in my physics class.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

well thank god this is a Canadian sport.

 

[ACLEVERNAME]

We are in a day and age of technology and innovation... can anyone tell me why we have yet to find a simple and functional means to filling/coating/spreading an 'ice surface'?

You'd think at this point there'd be some super slim and efficient ice shaver that could be deployed between stoppages.

A zamboni looks and preforms like ww1 relic. Where's the innovation?

 

[Rpenny]

Anyone who played the game at a high level might disagree injuries would be up and players burned out quicker

 

[CanuckistanFlyerfan]

We are in a day and age of technology and innovation... can anyone tell me why we have yet to find a simple and functional means to filling/coating/spreading an 'ice surface'?

You'd think at this point there'd be some super slim and efficient ice shaver that could be deployed between stoppages.

A zamboni looks and preforms like ww1 relic. Where's the innovation?

Meanwhile in the groundbreaking innovation machine of the NFL...

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

We are in a day and age of technology and innovation... can anyone tell me why we have yet to find a simple and functional means to filling/coating/spreading an 'ice surface'?

You'd think at this point there'd be some super slim and efficient ice shaver that could be deployed between stoppages.

A zamboni looks and preforms like ww1 relic. Where's the innovation?

Edit: we need 2 periods for the ice surface. I always heard we switched to 3 periods because of poor ice quality and the need to resurface. Never heard about concessions.

I think we’ve pushed shovelling snow and turning water into ice as far as we can. The rest is up to the laws of nature.

That being said if you think the Zamboni has seen significant advancements I’d encourage you to go to the Zamboni museum in Southern California where it was invented.

http://www.ladowntownnews.com/sports/cool-history-lesson-a-nice-home-for-zamboni-is-paramount/article_71c87778-7a98-11ee-8108-57b243a4eb5b.html

 

[ffh]

The dreaded American attention span.

 

[Score8]

Was that the last time the leafs were called defending Stanley cup champs?

 

[jbeck5]

We are in a day and age of technology and innovation... can anyone tell me why we have yet to find a simple and functional means to filling/coating/spreading an 'ice surface'?

You'd think at this point there'd be some super slim and efficient ice shaver that could be deployed between stoppages.

A zamboni looks and preforms like ww1 relic. Where's the innovation?

You should see how others prep their surfaces.

I think football has guys manually pushing a paint roller to do the lines like some civil war relic.

You'd think at this point there's be some super automatic and efficient machine that could be deployed?

Where's the innovation?

 

[ijuka]

Oh, so you were "that guy" in my physics class.

Yes, the "that guy"-argument when you say something wrong. I absolutely was, by the way. I argued with teachers all the time and asked them to explain when something they were saying made no sense. Sometimes even correcting them.
So indeed, I'm "that guy" and proud of it, too. DWI.

 

[JMCx4]

Yes, the "that guy"-argument when you say something wrong. I absolutely was, by the way. I argued with teachers all the time and asked them to explain when something they were saying made no sense. Sometimes even correcting them.
So indeed, I'm "that guy" and proud of it, too. DWI.

And now you do the same on HFBoards. You've come a long way, baby.

 

[Section 104]

Meanwhile in the groundbreaking innovation machine of the NFL...

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