Hockey is the fastest team sport on earth, and speed is what separates it from all others. Speed creates action. It creates hard hitting and scoring chances, and as a result it creates unbelievable excitement. Speed creates time and space, and it allows the greatest to be the greatest. It also enables smaller players such as Paul Kariya, who is only 5'11" and 170 pounds, to excel and become some of the best in the NHL. And when we talk about speed, we are not just talking about how fast people skate. Speed relates to how players react to certain situations and how they think on the ice. Wayne Gretzky, for example, was never the fastest skater in the NHL, but he was one of the best at reading plays, at seeing them in his mind, at reacting quickly and making things happen, all in an instant.

There's so much to like about hockey. As the National Hockey League likes to say, it is the coolest game. Ask a fan why he or she likes the sport and you'll likely hear that it's all about speed.