What Is Bully In Hockey? [Expert Review!]

Bully in hockey, also known as check-boarding, is a game that combines elements of both hockey and baseball. It was first played during the 2008–2009 NHL season and is now an annual tradition during the NHL Winter Classic. The name “bully” comes from a hockey stick that was used during that first Winter Classic. Bully in hockey has since become a metaphor for a strong hit, and many consider it to be a part of the culture of hockey.

Quick Facts

• The traditional stick used in bully in hockey is called a “bully stick” and has a blade that is approximately 3.8 inches (10 cm) wide.
• The home plate in baseball is slightly wider than the dirt surface on the pitcher’s mound, giving it an area for the pitcher to step on while throwing the ball. This area is known as the “bullpen” and is where the catcher traditionally stands during a baseball game.
• The batter steps forward on the home plate during a baseball game, while the goalie drops back towards the goal line during hockey play.
• Nine out of 10 hits in hockey are assessed as fouls, compared to seven out of 10 fouls in baseball. Consequently, most hockey players consider themselves to be more aggressive than their baseball counterparts.
• The puck in hockey is generally larger than the one in baseball, which makes it easier for players to handle and control. This makes for faster gameplay as well as more goals per game.
• The defenseman in hockey is responsible for checking players who are trying to enter the offensive zone. This entails hitting the puck carrier with the shoulder as they come in for the puck. This allows the defenseman to keep the puck under control and prevent breakaway goals.
• Most hockey players wear shoulder pads and a helmet with a facemask, which helps protect them from getting hit in the face.
• The equipment of the goalie in hockey is similar to that of a traditional baseball pitcher, with the exception of the mask. The goalie in hockey wears a full face mask to protect their helmet while playing, just like Ken Dorsey did when he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1967 to 1971.
• Like the goalie mask in hockey, the mask of the baseball pitcher is meant to cover the nose and mouth, allowing the player to protect their identity.
• The length of the regular season in professional hockey is similar to that of the MLB: 82 games and the only break being during the Olympic Winter Games when the season is extended to 94 games. During the NHL Winter Classic, which is held every year in January, the regular season is extended to include a Game 5 of the NHL Playoffs and a World Cup-style semi-final.
• The Stanley Cup playoffs last an average of 7 games, with the finals stage being composed of up to 4 games. In comparison, the MLB World Series is typically 7 games long and the NBA Finals are generally 5 games.
• The trapezius muscle in the back plays an important role in preventing slouching while wearing a hockey helmet. This muscle is what allows some players to keep their head up while looking down at the ice or snow.
• Hockey is the sport with the highest ratio of players (approximately 3.9 million) who play regularly compared to the number of people who watch it (2.2 million). This makes for a small, yet dedicated, population of hockey fans.
• In 2022, the NHL will celebrate their 100th season. Over the last century, the league has seen seven different Winter Classics, with the most recent one taking place in January 2022.
• Bully In Hockey Is Now An Annual Tradition In The NHL

The Origins Of Bully In Hockey

Bully in hockey takes its name from the three-bladed hockey stick that is used during the sport. The term “bully” comes from the way the stick was used during the sport’s first season: checking players who were attempting to enter the offensive zone with a hit-and-keep strategy. This strategy requires that the player contact the puck with their shoulder as they come in for the hit, meaning they want to “bully” the puck carrier into submission as soon as they receive it on their stick blade. The player is responsible for keeping the puck under control once they hit it, while also preventing breakaway goals against their team. A typical hit with a three-bladed stick looks like this:

• The attacker skates straight towards the target with the puck on their stick. As they come in for the hit, the player’s shoulders are bent and squared, which means their arms are slightly raised above their head. This is most likely a result of the player getting their hair pulled back as they approach the puck (hence the ‘bully’ in the name). As the hit approaches, the player lowers their head and sticks the puck in their opponents’ faces, preventing them from seeing where they are going.
• As soon as the player has released the puck, it is their responsibility to control it. This involves keeping it close to the body and moving it back and forth to prevent the opponent from gaining possession of it. This responsibility also entails preventing breakaways against their team as much as possible while maintaining a high level of offense.
• Most players consider this type of hit to be the most effective manner of changing the game.
• This was first seen in an NHL game on January 20, 2008, during an exhibition contest against the Chicago Blackhawks. The game was played at Toronto’s Air Canada Center and ended in a 1-1 tie.
• On October 29, 2008, the NHL made the hit a part of its official rule book and has since been used during every game of the season. The three-bladed stick has since become an essential part of every player’s equipment and is used for both practice and game situations. It is known as the ‘NHL Triple Play.’

Why Are Fans Obsessed With Bully In Hockey?

The following is a list of interesting trivia about the sport of hockey that you might not know:

• In Canada, it is not uncommon for fans to stand and cheer while watching hockey games. This tradition was started during the Second World War, when the games were used to distract the troops from the horrors of war.
• The ‘Original Six’ NHL teams were originally Detroit, Chicago, New York, Boston, Toronto, and Montreal. The nickname ‘The Big Six’ was given to these teams because they were the first to engage in publicity stunts such as playing exhibition games against each other and charging fans for viewing these games.
• The Washington Capitals became the first NHL team to have a female coach when Mary Patrick was asked to take over the reins of the team in 2018. Since then, she has been credited with changing the cultural landscape of the NHL, as female coaches and players are now commonplace.
• Hockey is the only major North American sport in which women’s participation is growing, while men’s participation is declining. Between 2016 and 2021, the number of girls playing hockey increased by 11% and the number of boys participating in the sport fell by 7%.
• Hockey masks have become quite popular in recent years and are often used as a decorative element during Halloween parties. Many fans also wear their masks when they watch hockey games, as it is not uncommon for players to wear them while on the ice. This makes it easier for fans to identify with their favorite hockey players even when they are not wearing their uniforms.
• Hockey is one of the few sports in which you can clearly see the effect of a well-timed hit, as a result of which many fans consider the sport to be more aggressive than other sports.
• One of the most recognizable hockey players of all time is Billie Buckett, who played for the Montreal Wanderers in the 1930s. In 1997, the California Golden Bears football team wore uniforms based on those worn by the Wanderers in honor of Buckett’s contribution to the sport. The team was playing Michigan State at Beaver Stadium when they broke down into a brawl which was started when a MSU player elbowed a Cal player in the face.
• During the 2004 NHL Winter Classic, New Jersey Devils rookie Adam Henrique scored a hat trick while playing against the Washington Capitals. This was the first hat trick recorded by an NHL rookie in the Winter Classic since the event began in 2002.
• Bully In Hockey Is Not An Original Idea By Any Means

Thanks to the sport’s popularity, the idea of including a check-bouncing element in a hockey game did not originate with the NHL. The following is a short list of events which led up to the implementation of including this new game mode in the 2008–2009 NHL season: