| Americans have always been enamored with labels | | | | Nowhere is this more evident than in the unlikely city of |
| when it comes to sports. Nicknames are popular for | | | | Orlando, Florida. Local players and referees have a |
| individual players, groups of players and teams. And | | | | choice of three facilities in the metro vicinity to get |
| until NASCAR crashed the party and Tiger Woods | | | | involved in the game. At the city's most popular |
| made golf a rising phenomenon, the world of | | | | complex, two sheets of ice are in service year round. |
| professional sports was usually boiled down to the "Big | | | | Players of all skill levels compete in house leagues and |
| Four." Football, Baseball, Basketball and Hockey were | | | | travel teams, often emerging from frigid indoor |
| the dominant forces when it came to popularity, | | | | temperatures into the intense Florida summer heat. |
| patronage and participation. | | | | While it may make for an interesting image, it's just one |
| However, the evolution of the sports landscape, along | | | | example of the surprising dichotomy of hockey in the |
| with fans' tastes, has made the label "Big Four" | | | | tropics. |
| irrelevant. Not only is the number no longer important, | | | | At these levels of the game, girls play on boys teams |
| but membership in the club has changed as well. And it | | | | to gain the experience of going against superior talent, |
| seems, in recent years, that the odd sport out has | | | | often times surpassing the abilities of their male |
| become hockey. | | | | counterparts. The same is also true for older players |
| For hard-core fans this is rather bewildering. No sport | | | | mixing it up with the young guns. Even though a |
| demands more from its players and rewards its fans | | | | hierarchy of leagues exists to encourage equitable |
| more than hockey. Very few patrons, who have ever | | | | competition, many choose to measure themselves |
| watched a game in person, are left disappointed. | | | | against higher caliber players. |
| However, therein lies the rub. The biggest indictment of | | | | And lest anyone think this is just a haven for |
| the game by the casual fan is that it suffers from a | | | | wannabes, consider the case of popular player and |
| lack of translation to the modern day sports lifeline of | | | | local business owner David Goverde. The former NHL |
| television. Complaints about lack of rules clarification | | | | prospect and professional minor league goalie chooses |
| and an inability to see the puck have led to a dearth of | | | | to play in two separate leagues in Orlando. At his |
| mainstream TV viewing opportunities. But, anyone | | | | natural position, he plays against the area's elite players. |
| worried about hockey's demise because of this factor | | | | And because he loves the game, he also plays as a |
| need only turn to the grass roots fervor of the sport | | | | forward on a lower tier team. |
| for encouragement. | | | | Hockey still faces a formidable challenge to remain |
| At local rinks all over the nation, programs for kids, | | | | among the nation's premiere sports in terms of |
| adults and women are filling the ice with potential | | | | revenue and public interest. But, as long as the game |
| top-level college and pro talent of the future along with | | | | continues to grow its grass roots following, it has bright |
| a zealous fan base in the present. | | | | possibilities. |