Remember when Crosby was in junior, he scored a goal like that and celebrated quite loudly after the goal... Don Cherry went on a tirade on Coach's Corner about Sidney Crosby the "hot dog".
The guy from Michigan is the pioneer of the move though, from what I understand. Crosby was mimmicking the Michigan player's move during that junior game. Here's another one from Europe, not sure when it happened.
You need the perfect conditions to be able to pull it off in a game, but it just goes to show how skilled the "average" player is in today's game. Crosby is one thing, but the other two are from NCAA and a Euro league. I'm surprised we don't see more of it, and it is a completely legitimate play... it's very creative, which of course a lot of hockey people try to stifle. It would be particularly useful in a shootout... remember Malik's goal?
The thing is, you can only use it sparingly because it is the element of surprise that makes it effective. But if you ask me, it is coach's ultra-conservative mentalities that lead to us never seeing it happen. The thought of losing a game in a shootout because a player tried a hot dog move and missed the net is WAY WORSE (in their opinion) than losing the game because he missed the net taking a conventional penalty shot.
As for the kid, I saw that the other night on the news (we get Boston's CBS and NBC channels here). I bet this guy is a star on the playground these days! Aside from the goal itself, this little guy looks like a scaled down version of a Crosby or a Kessel out there... such a smooth skater and obviously the hands to dangle. Again, just goes to show how hockey skill has evolved by leaps and bounds even in the last 20 years.
Posted on Oct 17, 2009, 6:28 AM from IP address 76.11.21.124