I agree with most of the stuff here but one....
Playing hockey without slapshot is not hockey.... period. It's ok at the pond or exterior ice but not in an arena with fully dressed players. Must not be fun to goalie those games.
We have players with fewer than 3 years of experiences (some can't even skate backwards) and we have top notch near pro level players with jet shots. Our female goalie wouldn't want it any other way.
Oh but we play fully dressed. Shoulder pads are not an option. Contacts are allowed but only on boards not on open ice.
In 6 years in playing "beer league" hockey and tournements accross Europe i've never seen a no slapshot game.
Age level? high 20's mid 30's but we have like 5-6 40's and 50's and 1 60+
I disagree, there's a reason that there's no slap shots at shinny. You go out to have fun and exercise and practice your passing and whatnot. At open shinny's there's such a crazy mix of skill level. How would you feel if you smoked some n00b that just started playing which in turn may get him off of playing the sport in general.
slapshots belong in hockey
Shinny IS NOT game situation. Slap shots don't really serve a good function unless you're playing in game situations. If your slap shot goes in through a crowd of people or ricochets off something and in then is that really something that you'd be proud of and brag about? How about learning how to get a nice snapshot or wrister down or dishing that super nice pass and making a pretty play.
Everyone at an open shinny has a job to go to and things to do the next day. I run my open personal pick up session every saturday in Mississauga which a few members of this forum attend and it's always packed every Saturday. I enforce and tell people that there are no slap shots unless you're wide open, short shifts and don't cause shit or you're not invited back. I rarely ever have people get hurt at my session cause of those rules and everyone has fun. Don't get me wrong it does get really competitive cause i get guys who play triple A and a couple Junior guys out, at the same time i have some newer players out as well, but somehow it all works. It's competitive in good nature. Why do i know this method works? I get at least 17-20 guys per session and usually i always have to turn away players because it's full.
Another reason that you shouldn't have clappers in pick up is the fact that there's a lot of guys like me who aren't wearing shoulders. LIke i said you go to pick up to have fun and shoot the puck around, not to take one off the foot, face or somewhere dangerous then be out for the next week or two.
I think that taking clappers with a crowd of people in front of you would put you into the "go hards" or "douche bags" that you see at shinny.
You say that you've never seen a no-slapshot pick up or game. In Toronto every pick up i've been to does not have slap shots except for the odd idiot. If i'm at a pick up and someone lets one rip then people on the bench and the ice usually have the "WTF" look on their face. Also in Toronto they also have mens leagues with no slap shots.
You should have respect for one another and think of it in the sense of putting yourself in the other guys shoes. Is it really a good excuse to not go into work or school cause you got hurt at pick up/shinny hockey?