It's perplexing that the code supposedly dictates that things like showboating, excessive celebration, and taunting the opposing team are regarded as serious offenses by the players and other people within the game while actual violence with intent to injure occurring within gameplay and even after the whistle is alright. I enjoy hockey but this is something that makes me turn off the game and lose affection. Both points are important: taunting and similar behavior is only WORDS* and GESTURES said and done within a GAME and are done to ROUSE both your team and the opponent. They make for a more intensive and passionate game which should mean better entertainment for the fans. What good does injuring other players do? If I want to watch unhinged beat downs I turn to combat sport.
The code against showboating and anything that's viewed as a little bit excessive is by my estimation a Canadian thing, playing "the right way", "having class". Well it's actually the opposite: the Canadian way is the shitty way. Classlessness isn't pretending you have a hot stick when you celebrate a goal or taking a slapshot at an EMPTY net, it's hitting an unsuspecting person with intent to injure over nothing. The sport needs a wake up call. Does hockey even need Canada anymore? Not much good stuff coming from there lately (obv reference to junior hockey shenanigans). Hockey culture is incredibly low brow, 5-year-olds getting their emotions hurt over a mean word and stuff. Lol what a joke.
Edit: *) I must clarify that there are limits to what you can say to another player even if it's only words. Personal stuff like bringing up family members isn't acceptable nor is racist remarks.
