The regulation size of NHL rinks is 200 feet (61 m) × 85 feet (26 m) and an area of 17,000 sq. ft.
The Victoria Skating Rink in Montreal, constructed in 1862, measured 204 feet (62 m) × 80 feet (24 m), with an area of 16,320 sq.ft.
My brilliant question was, and still is, the following:
Is the regulation NHL ice surface large enough for today’s giant-sized players?
[Photo link - Ray Bourque]
Some will answer, “Of course it is. It’s a fantastic game. The hits, the speed, the shots and incredible goals.”
I say, it is a fantastic game as well. But because of the rising number of head injuries, let’s look at a few more numbers.
Since the game began in 1862 on the Victoria Skating Rink, the ice surface has increased in size by 4.2%
The increase, however, in players’ heights and weights far exceeds 4.2%.
For illustrative purposes only, note the following:
Trevor Linden, at 6 ft. 4 in. and 205 pounds in 1990 - 91, was 8.6% taller and 11% heavier than Normie Ullman when he played in 1970 - 71.
Eric Lindros, at 6 ft. 5 in. and 228 pounds in 1990 - 91, was 8.5% taller and 30% heavier than Pierre Larouche when he played in 1976 - 77.
For an exact measure of the increase in size of players over time, of course, one would have to exam all stats for all players from the beginning of the NHL to today, and for that job I do not have the records, time or energy. But I bet the overall increase from 1862 to today is far greater than 4.2% in the height, weight, speed and aggressive tendencies departments.
[Photo link - Dougie Mohns]
One has to look no farther than current day team rosters to be left with the impression that the players have grown too big for the old sandbox.
For example, here are current stats related to defensemen of the Boston Bruins:
Boychuk, Johnny 6'2" and 225 lbs
Chara, Zdeno 6'9" and 255 lbs
Ference, Andrew 5'11" and 189 lbs
Hnidy, Shane 6'2" and 204 lbs
Kaberle, Tomas 6'1" and 214 lbs
Kampfer, Steven 5'11" and 197 lbs
McQuaid, Adam 6'4" and 197 lbs
Seidenberg, Dennis 6'1" and 210 lbs
[Link and learn here.]
Average height is a touch over 6 ft. 2 in. and ave. weight is 211 lb.
Go back 20 years to 1990 - 91 (Ray Bourque guarded the blue line with 10 others) and you’ll discover the players weren’t much smaller. The average height of a Boston Bruin defenseman was slightly under 6 ft. 2 in. and average weight was 203 lb. Over 20 years, they have grown by only 0.54% in height and 3.94% in overall beefiness.
However, go back to the 1960 - 61 season (Doug Mohns and Leo Boivin were stalwarts) and you’ll see a remarkable difference. The average height of the seven Bruin defenseman was just under 5 ft. 11 in. and average weight was 182 lb.
Today, a defenseman is 4.6% taller and 16% heavier than those in the 1960s. The increase, I’m certain, would be far greater if we went even farther back in time, to the very days when the modern size of the rink surface was born.
So, where’s the beef related to concussions? On the bones of NHL hockey players, and they are using their additional size (and speed and aggressiveness) to rattle more brainpans than ever before.
Though I still think the NHL should consider five-man hockey (one goalie, two forwards, one rover and one defenseman per team) in order to give players more space and more reaction time, perhaps it’s time to grow the ice surface as well to accommodate the growth of the players.
Bigger and better ice surfaces are commonly played on, as you likely already know. Why not in the NHL?
More excitement to follow.
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Please click here to read PT 4 of the same series - The NHL has a ‘small’ problem.
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