Understanding the two sides of hockey

After watching my first live hockey match, I came away with the opinion that hockey is equal parts grace and violence.

I date a woman whose family is very much into hockey. Earlier this year, I spent a few hours with her father watching a Stanley Cup playoff game at a Utah sports bar as we waited for a plane with my girlfriend, her sister and her mother onboard. Not long after that, a game of Settlers of Catan I played with her brother and cousin was interrupted as a Stanley Cup Finals matchup went into double overtime.

Prior to meeting my girlfriend, my experience with hockey was limited...