This is not to suggest that hockey cannot occasionally turn ugly, because clearly it can. Hockey players have, above all else, a love for the game, and seek not to bring the game into disrepute. Hockey players recognize their role within a system and work to achieve the goal of winning. Hockey is one of the few sports in North America where the combatants shake hands after a long and grueling series, often with blood on their faces or on their jerseys, and then congratulate each other on a game well-played. If I could be treated with the same respect off the ice as I am on the ice, I would be a happier litigator.
Many litigators can learn a lot from a hockey game.
I urge the average fan and the average lawyer to look beyond the hype that is unfortunately too often used to either sell or condemn the game. Civility is there in both hockey and in the profession. We need to foster and encourage it. We can let the foul play blind us from what can be both a beautiful and majestic endeavor, but don t fall into that neutral zone trap. The Washington Digital Law Library s free CLE project began with two goals.