Sitting at Mariucci Arena last weekend, it was easy to get caught up in all the spectacle and tradition that is college hockey.
Maroon and gold dominated the color spectrum, and championship banners hovered over the ice, imposing their will on the competition.
However, the most shocking thing about Mariucci Arena wasn't the amount of noise created or the open concourse and standing room only. The most appalling thing at Mariucci was the fact that there were no safety nets.
This may not seem like a big deal, but it really is. There is a reason most ice rinks have safety nets, but, for some reason, Mariucci decides to go against the norm.
Spending most weekends at the Kohl Center, it never even occurred to me that they didn't have safety nets that is, until Davis Drewiske tried to roll the puck around the end boards halfway through the first period Friday only to miss and have the puck hit a woman square in the face about six rows back.
The woman was alright, and though she left the game soon after, it was obvious that all she needed was an icepack.
But don't worry, Mariucci knows how to take care of its own. During Saturday's game at least 10 pucks flew into the stands, and after every one hit someone or almost did or was caught, the good people at Mariucci played a nice warning on the scoreboard: Watch out for flying pucks!!""
If there is anything in this world that says ""We really care,"" it's text on a jumbotron with two exclamation points.
But while fans were dodging pucks like Neo dodged bullets in ""The Matrix"" I was contemplating why the hell Mariucci didn't take proper safety precautions.
A quick look at the NCAA rules and guidelines for hockey made it clear: There are no regulations for safety nets.
In fact, there aren't even regulations set in place for the glass. The only rule that pertains to a protective wall between the men on the ice and the people in the stands refers to the boards, which have to be between 40 and 48 inches tall.
That is the only rule in place for keeping the play on the ice and not in section 24. The rules go on to state that any protective glass or safety nets have to be connected to the boards on the outside so as to not interfere with the game.
This seems rather shocking to me, and it should to you as well. In today's game of hockey, where players can slap shot the puck so fast that no one can see it, there need to be regulations set in stone that will allow the fans to watch the game with both eyes instead of just one.
The bottom line is that a little reform is in order for the NCAA rulebook. Whether it is chalked up as tradition, ignorance or plain stubbornness, safety nets are one thing that every college hockey arena should have.
Safety conscious? E-mail Nate at ncarey@dailycardinal.com.
