doping in hockey

[Jacques de Molay]

Re:

There is doping in all sports where $ is involved.

Don't fall into that trap. There is doping in all sports. Full stop.

 

[blackcat]

Re: Re:

Fair enough.
For what it's worth, I think Mario Lemieux (sp?) was the greatest of all time. I would never rule out anyone taking PED's, but I'm pretty sure he was a smoker who never gave consideration to keeping fit.
But he had an amazing ability to make the game seem simple and easy. It's like he knew what was going to happen long before everyone else and had time to have a smoke before scoring another goal.
Gretzky was similar, but unlike ML, he had muscle to back him up. Opponents knew they'd be knocked unconscious if they dared hit him, so I think he had a bit more leeway.

Edited to add that I appreciate the compliment, but I wasn't a great player. Any success I had was due to trying to move around like a water bug in order to avoid getting hit by someone twice my size. In retrospect, it wasn't much fun.

To throw some wood on the debate about hockey players doping, having played hockey, having hung around hockey players and having had the benefit of knowing several NHLers personally, my read is that the really good players like Lemieux, Gretzky (who by the way had no muscle), Howe, Orr, Crosby, Neidemeyer, Toews really didn't or don't need to dope.

It is the marginal players who would benefit from EPO to make a team, stay in the league, or finish off a career. This is just like it is in all the other major North American sports (football, baseball and basketball). If an older hockey player needed the salary of an NHL player for personal financial reasons, I suspect he would dope in a minute. The older fading guys are lot more savvy than the young guns when it comes to survival.

Hockey players generally are not the most sophisticated (although of all the big sports they are the nicest and in some instances very naive). So in order to dope I can see them needing professional help. There is plenty of that around these days and there are lots of doctors, trainers, "fitness types" and others who would work with a player for a few extra ducats! Doping requires attention to detail but it is not rocket science!

The NHL thinks it is squeaky clean, but I doubt it! My hunch is 20% dope.

my favourite hockey player was Dave Semenko

 

[Jacques de Molay]

Re:

Gretzky was similar, but unlike ML, he had muscle to back him up. Opponents knew they'd be knocked unconscious if they dared hit him, so I think he had a bit more leeway.

Gretzky (who by the way had no muscle)

When the delgados said Gretzky had "muscle," the reference was to McSorley.

 

[RobbieCanuck]

Re: Re:

Gretzky was similar, but unlike ML, he had muscle to back him up. Opponents knew they'd be knocked unconscious if they dared hit him, so I think he had a bit more leeway.

Gretzky (who by the way had no muscle)

When the delgados said Gretzky had "muscle," the reference was to McSorley.

Missed that - thanks!

 

[RobbieCanuck]

Re: Re:

Blackcat - my favourite hockey player was Dave Semenko

Ah yes old Cement Head!

Born in my hometown, tough as nails and fought Muhammad Ali in an exhibition in 1983.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wVvZ92wTc8

 

[nayr497]

I can get on board with 20% and I agree as well that it's likely the marginal players.

Not saying hockey players aren't in excellent shape and don't have amazing strength-to-weight ratios, because they do. I'm just saying...and NFL player or an NBA player walking down the street is probably instantly noticeable solely for their size. On the other hand, plenty of very good hockey players look pretty regular in street clothes. They are slim and strong, but very few are overly muscled. Even the toughest, strongest guys are very fit and stout, but don't necessarily look like bodybuilders. The NFL is full of guys who could pass for BBs.

Delgado - I'm on the smaller end too. I played lots of sports growing up, then top-level college lacrosse. Back then I wished I was bigger. Now that cycling is my main pursuit...very, very fun to drop the 'dales on climbs. All those years of being smashed by folks 75 pounds heavier...and now my lightness is coming back to benefit me. It's awesome.

 

[Amazinmets87]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/how-freakish-keith-became-an-nhl-workhorse/

I recently began following/playing hockey and there's no doubt that doping would be very advantageous in this sport. Defensemen such as Duncan Keith and Erik Karlsson have caught my attention due to the minutes they log. While hockey is short bursts of high intensity as opposed to the grind of cycling, I see no reason why EPO useful

 

[frenchfry]

Re:

Fair enough.
For what it's worth, I think Mario Lemieux (sp?) was the greatest of all time.

These are fighting words!

"The Great One" wasn't called that for no good reason.

Where is Dave Semenko when I need him.

By the way, very naive to think limited doping in hockey. Endurance drugs would be very handy, having that extra bounce at the end of the game would make all the difference. Just like football (soccer) or many other sports.

 

[blackcat]

Re: Re:

Gretzky was similar, but unlike ML, he had muscle to back him up. Opponents knew they'd be knocked unconscious if they dared hit him, so I think he had a bit more leeway.

Gretzky (who by the way had no muscle)

When the delgados said Gretzky had "muscle," the reference was to McSorley.

and big Dave Semenko

 

[Libertine Seguros]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=799686&navid=nhl:topheads

Lol, 20 games without pay, with the team supporting him throughout, for steroids? That's about six weeks.

 

[the delgados]

Re:

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=799686&navid=nhl:topheads

Lol, 20 games without pay, with the team supporting him throughout, for steroids? That's about six weeks.

Nothing wrong with the continued support from the team.
No doubt he will spend his time learning the proper techniques without getting caught.

 

[roundabout]

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/25510215/coyotes-jarred-tinordi-suspended-20-games-for-ped-violation