A Moment of “Zam”

/ Jake Solomons / Leave a comment

After an opening weekend of back-to-back tripleheaders, and an uncontested Boston Pride victory Sunday night (thank God), Monday brought a much-needed moment of zen to the Lake Placid sports complex. And also brought a bit of “Zam.” A bit of what?? If you were glued to the Twitch.tv stream and Twitter feed like I was, then you’d know I’m talking about the “Zamboni cam” in between periods. Yes. The NWHL Twitch feed actually aired the Zamboni cleaning the ice between gameplay. It’s genius. Believe me.

The Zamboni cam, I think, was not even remotely in the headspace of the marketing team. Or the videographer’s mind for that matter. Either way, for those stressed out during the games (me), it provided a sense of “Placid-ity.” Bad pun, sorry not sorry. Maybe it’s just me I don’t know, but there’s something oddly satisfying when it comes to watching a Zamboni drive back and forth to resurface the ice. A day off for the players certainly didn’t stop the NWHL marketing team from getting right to work.

For the People, By the People

Twitter is the hotspot for connectivity between fans/followers and athletes/celebrities/public figures. This weekend was no different. Many fans, including myself, found it amusing to see how much attention the Zamboni cam was actually getting. Almost too much. Honestly it’s never too much, I love it. But anyway, the NWHL Twitter timeline was spammed with a demand for Zamboni merchandise and I’ll tell you this. I’m fully on board. There’s no secret to making money. Especially when you have a brand that is gaining momentum beyond belief, you can do only one thing. Give the people what they want…

You put that s*** on a t-shirt. It’s not really an extended clothing line, but this shirt is most definitely the hottest item in the online store. That is almost a guarantee. Below are 2/4 teams with personalized “Zambonanza” t-shirts. I haven’t looked at the net profits so IDK for sure. But regardless of the sales, this is how easy marketing your brand can be. Now, it hasn’t been a cakewalk for the women’s league in a male-dominated media landscape. But when you take social media by storm with the only vehicle ever associated with hockey…you go with it! It’s like the Bernie Sanders mittens meme, fans can’t get enough of it.

  • Metropolitan Riveters
  • Connecticut Whale

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t already acquire one of these bad Larry’s. It’s weird how when you go on the league store website, every team is included except Toronto and Boston. Well Boston is a privately-owned team but still. Which lowkey shows how lazy I am in going to an entirely different site for my merch. But the Pride are built different. They’re my team, I’ll rep them all day. Again with my Boston bias. Get over it. Honestly, I wish I could watch the Zoom call footage for that marketing meeting. Someone logged on and most definitely just said: “T-shirt” and left the call. The rest is her-story. Bad pun again, still not apologizing.

Social Media Stays Undefeated

Look. I can’t really say that the NHL or any other men’s league has a devoted “fancam” or even a sense of some “cult” following for a Zamboni. Or plural Zamboni’s. Basically, in order to get recognized you have to be different. Aside from specific players making headlines, the NWHL turned an inhuman object into the hottest topic – and commodity – in town. If a trend picks up traction like that, put some wheels on it and let it resurface the ice. These jokes are terrible but it’s early and I haven’t had my coffee yet and I’m just writing this for fun.

If you think about it, this post could exclusively be just a thread of Twitter posts. I will @ the NWHL so I can give them their credit, don’t you worry. But there’s too many to choose from. And I wanted to at least provide some context for them. Anyways, I know social media can be a toxic environment for numerous reasons…*cough* Barstool *cough*. But if you can sift through the negatives and see that the fans are looking towards something that can grow a brand in a positive way, then you gotta capitalize on that.

Some players who were in the locker room between games actually had a bit of FOMO when it comes to enjoying the performance of the NWHL’s newest icon. Players like Kiira Dosdall Arena, defenseman for the Metropolitan Riveters, even joined in on the conversation:

I mean it’s an honest question, if you weren’t aware of the trend in real-time. Some people don’t realize that the silliest things can generate the most popularity. At any rate, it’s very amusing and inspiring to watch the women’s game grow outside of the boundaries in which the media traditionally limits them to. For the sport of women’s hockey, the sky is the limit in terms of opportunity. If you keep the league fun and interesting, fans will resonate and demand more. Enough said.

One more for the road, I couldn’t help myself…LOL

You Can’t Burst Their Bubble

/ Jake Solomons / Leave a comment

What a year this month has been, huh? In such a short time, there’s been a lot going on in the world of sports. Specifically the National Women’s Hockey League. They have been building their brand to new heights with TV deals and sponsorships in tow, all of which to promote the 2021 season. Not to mention the fact that they have expanded to Canada with the Toronto 6 organization. As excited as I am about this growth, I’ll break it down and discuss it further as the season unfolds.

With 2020 in the rear view mirror, the future of the NWHL has never looked brighter. The Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, Minnesota Whitecaps, and Toronto 6 – all have one common goal in mind. Victory.

A Done Deal

Just a quick show of hands, how many people have watched a women’s hockey game that was televised aside from the Olympics? Hmm…not too many hands raised, that’s what I expected. The NWHL‘s 2021 season has commenced inside the “Bubble” in Lake Placid, NY. And there’s “some good news” (sorry John Krasinski, don’t sue me) in getting the opportunity to watch these athletes showcase their talent and inspire others. If you are a gamer, you may be familiar with the streaming platform Twitch. If not, it’s basically a streaming service where gamers/influencers interact with their friends and fans.

NWHL Twitch Live Stream Screenshot

The streaming site has agreed to team up with the NWHL to broadcast/stream/air, whatever term you want to use, all of the regular season and playoff matchups. Of course, as a relatively new concept to women’s hockey, national broadcasting is something that needs to be earned I guess? IDK why they aren’t deserving of more primetime airwaves (they most certainly are) but I digress. If Twitch.tv is stepping up and giving these athletes a platform, then I know they will make the very best of it.

Even though the streaming service is unfamiliar to many viewers, the Semifinals and Finals round of the NWHL playoffs will be broadcasted nationally on NBCSports Network. I cannot stress this enough, even though there are only three games on NBCSN, those media time slots are critical to the growth of this league and sport as a whole. The glass ceiling has already been shattered.

In just the first day, Twitch recorded about 87,500 viewers between all three games. So like there were 29.2k viewers per game. I’m looking at my notes here and the math checks out…that’s a damn good starting point for viewership, and there’s no where else to go but up. You know what? I’ll make it even EASIER for you to find where to watch:

Image

It’s a Pride Thing…

I’ll just say it. I’m a Boston sports fan. Is that biased, no. Alright maybe it is but I’m not just going to turn my back on my hometown team and cheer for someone else. Anyway, the Boston Pride are on a “Revenge Tour,” as it was declared on their Twitter account Friday morning ahead of their travel day. The 2016 Isobel Cup champions looked to carry some leftover momentum into Lake Placid that was lost when Ms. Rona came to visit, and overstay her welcome.

The 2020 NWHL season had been an early victim of the coronavirus. In March of last year, the Pride had entered the playoffs with a 23-1-0 record. Very impressive, I agree. The championship game was set to take place in mid-March against the Minnesota Whitecaps. I like to think that they should have given it to the team with the best regular season record instead of suspending it altogether. Which would have awarded the Pride with their second Isobel Cup. But no. I guess it was never meant to be…

Boston Pride Championship Banners Hung At Logan International Airport – Ham Sports
Boston Pride Championship Banners, Logan Int’l Airport

Fortunately, we got to witness the 2020 championship take place as an exhibition in the 2021 season opener vs. the Whitecaps. Unfortunately, the final score reflected a 2-1 Minnesota victory on January 23 at Herb Brooks Arena. Oddly enough, Boston’s penalty kill looked like the powerplay and the PP line looked like the PK unit. No team is perfect, and there’s gonna be some hiccups. So it’s quite appropriate to have some pent-up aggression heading into Sunday vs the Buffalo Beauts. I love this game and this team but they can practice all they want. True game-readiness comes from playing games. They had 1. Everyone relax. I won’t lie I overreacted at first after the game, somewhere along the lines of:

Everybody Stay Calm GIFs | Tenor

But I will say, adding fresh blood into the mix is certainly something to look forward to in the next few days. Especially when you have an eye towards the future and the tools for building a championship-caliber franchise. The Pride front office has assembled what seems to be Boston’s real powerplay unit: the 2020 Draft class.

It’s a Bit Draft-y In Here

Being the new player in the locker room is never easy. Either the new system is tough to follow or the adjustment to the professional level is a bit more difficult than the NCAA. The Pride don’t seem to have that problem, breaking in their first-year talent to create a more cohesive unit. They adopted Sammy Davis (Boston University) and Tereza Vanisova (UMaine/Czech Republic) into the Lion’s Den as the first two picks in the 2020 NWHL Draft.

  • 2020 First Overall Draft Pick Sammy Davis Signs with the Boston Pride - NWHL
    Sammy Davis
  • Tereza Vanisova

Davis dominated with the Terriers recording 142-career points, supported by 66 goals. Even redshirted as a senior, she still put up some impressive numbers which clearly checked off all the boxes in the Pride’s criteria. Vanisova really excelled in the UMaine program, netting 63-career goals and tallying 129 points. The Hockey East conference is simply a factory for highlighting player’s raw talent and thankfully, Boston knows how to pinpoint key attributes to achieve the goal (no pun intended) of a title within a system built around untapped potential.

As always, there are additions to the team that fly under the radar. Some may call them sleeper picks. A trifecta of Wildcats out of UNH Taylor Wenczkowski, Meghara McManus and Carlee Turner bring an abundance of grit from the Granite state as well. The McManus/Wenczkowski power duo had collected 56 goals in the past two seasons in Durham. I know what you’re thinking, that’s incredible. So there’s not a singular doubt in my mind that these young stars will bring the same energy this season. Only this time, they’ll be sporting the black and gold sweaters.

  • Taylor Wenczkowski
  • Meghara McManus

Time will tell if they will be playing on the same line – if Head coach Paul Mara realizes their inherent team chemistry. I personally think it’s smart to keep them in pairs but separate the trio in order to gel with the rest of the team but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Who’s to say whether a couple of UNH liney’s can’t work together on the Pride? Call me crazy but it may just be helpful.

Carlee Turner

In Saturday’s game vs. the Whitecaps, McManus and Turner shared the fourth offensive line while Wenczkowski harnessed a spot on the third line. It’s interesting to see a team filled with so many players from the same NCAA team. But on the downside, when there’s a few Hockey East rivals blended together between UNH/BU/Northeastern, a few feathers may be ruffled and take the chirping too far. Hopefully not…

Pack Mentality

Like I said before, you can’t be fully ready for a game until you’re tested mentally and physically in the game itself. Having lost to the Whitecaps was a much needed wake-up call for the Pride. There is some serious competition in the NWHL and being down 0-1 is another challenge in itself. Playing catch up in a condensed season is no easy feat. Women’s hockey has had its back up against a wall, fighting for media exposure and they finally got it. The Pride face a similar situation in their battle for league supremacy yet again.

Sunday’s tilt against the 2017 Isobel Cup champion Buffalo Beauts will really set the tone for the remainder of the season. The Beauts battled it out Saturday against the Connecticut Whale, culminating in a shootout which resulted in a 2-1 win for Connecticut. As much as I want every team to play well, I cannot stomach another loss for the Pride. It’s gonna be an interesting matchup of two 0-1 teams as they basically have everything to lose and essentially everything to gain, too.

Boston is synonymous with champions. I don’t necessarily think the hardware needs to solidify that fact. Whether the Pride bring home the Isobel Cup or not, the sport of women’s ice hockey and NWHL have ultimately prevailed as the overall winner. People notice them now. This league has advanced leaps and bounds into the spotlight of the media, inspiring young athletes and fans alike…and they’ve only scratched the surface.

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Ok so let me know what you think! I know it’s my first post in a while so bear with me. Like, comment, subscribe, whatever you’d like – but please SHARE! With the season upon us, this is gonna be a lot of fun and I’m excited. As they say in hockey: “let’s do that hockey.” Go Pride!

Hockey Is No Laughing Matter

/ Jake Solomons / Leave a comment

No matter what sport you play, you work hard to perform at an elite level. Stereotypes of hockey players being physical and technically sound athletes are both true and a bit of fabrication. Not to say they’re physically weak, some training techniques and methods are just over exaggerated.

“Humor is not simply a matter of taste: it is a vehicle by which people articulate and validate their relationships with those whom they share the joke.”

For example, playing hockey in Europe is almost second nature to breathing. A hockey team from Finland filmed a commercial, pretty much fabricating their skills and strength training. With a bit of comedy mixed in.

Finland produces a great deal of talent, but I don’t think any players go out to practice skating full speed into a zamboni. Or do relays at 200 km/h, which is humanly impossible. Producing spreadable content like this displays a playful exaggeration of the training techniques these European players go through to become the best in the world.

The Boston Bruins are one of the most well known hockey teams in the NHL. A few years ago, they created a campaign to express certain “rules” and regulations fans should follow. I think we’ve all fallen victim to one or two of them before. Watch below to find out:

I don’t know about you, but I’ve definitely been guilty of leaving the game early. The train is always crowded and it’s not comfortable if you’re claustrophobic. If you tuck in your jersey, it’s just not normal I’m sorry. Well not really. For diehard hockey fans, most of these “rules” hit home because it’s almost like a lifestyle. Bruins fans don’t associate with Canadiens or Maple Leafs fans. That’s just a fact.

Whether or not you follow hockey, this commercial campaign gives you an idea of how to behave at the game. Should you find yourself at one, that is. If you are able to go to a playoff game in the next couple of weeks…I’d run through these rules again so you don’t feel out of place.

With the Stanley Cup Playoffs in full swing, fans like myself are on the edge of their seats. Which makes me curious…Who is your pick to win the Cup? Sound off in the comments below!!

A Revolution Beyond the Ice and Between the Ropes

/ Jake Solomons / Leave a comment

In terms of equality within the world of sports, more and more sports are giving women a chance to shine. Hockey, basketball, soccer, and even professional wrestling are listening to their audience to shed some light on the female talent. I know this doesn’t really coincide with my regular hockey-related posts, but fun fact: I love pro wrestling. ‘Allowhertoplay’ does a great job discussing the exposure of women’s talent in the WWE and their progress in gaining popularity.

For the past 34 years, the WWE has built their industry on marketing big, muscular men to fight one another in the main event of their 4 major annual pay-per-view events. The Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, and of course WrestleMania. This year’s ‘Mania, WWE flipped the script and booked a main event Triple threat match for the SmackDown and Raw Women’s Championship. The match featured Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and former UFC star Ronda Rousey.

Left to Right: Becky Lynch, Ronda Rousey, Charlotte Flair

I’m sure that doesn’t seem interesting because it’s “fake” wrestling. However, it’s the first women’s main event in WrestleMania history. To put it in perspective, from 1985-2018, every WM main event featured men.

I think like you said, a match of this caliber wasn’t supposed to take place. Given the injuries to Becky Lynch and the angle between Flair and Rousey was supposed to go carry to ‘Mania. Lynch’s undeniable popularity with the fans made it a no-brainer for her to go over and win the Women’s Royal Rumble.

I agree that the WrestleMania match itself was packed with adrenaline and a lot of excitement. Mainly due to the months of buildup towards the match. I did notice also that people were visibly drained from sitting in a stadium all day. The event should have wrapped up earlier than 12:30 am. But if you wanted to see the first-ever women’s main event; patience was key. In the end, the fans and I got what we wanted; Becky Lynch is the new unified Women’s Champion.

Becky Lynch victorious at WrestleMania 35

Though it may not seem like a big deal since it’s just a wrestling match, it blazes the trail for years to come. It shows that even though men can sell tickets and put on a great show…women are just as big a draw, maybe even more. Women were overshadowed by the men for such a long time, but those days seem to be over. I just hope next year, we’ll see a rematch or even new talent to showcase in the primetime spot of WrestleMania.

Starting From the Bottom

/ Jake Solomons / Leave a comment

As some may have heard, aside from my last post, the Canadian Women’s Hockey League is coming to an end. There was no money left in the piggy bank so the 150+ players are out of a job. But of course – with death comes rebirth.

The NWHL is trying their best to adopt this large number of players into their league. However, they don’t realize that expanding teams can help facilitate their need for putting these players somewhere.

The grassroots campaign “NWHL to Seattle” actually launched this morning. In hopes to begin extensive talks with the league to outsource a team to Seattle, Washington. The first west coast team in the league.

The startup organization’s site is obviously very new, not even a day old. They are already selling merchandise to promote this expansion to the Great Northwest. From their mission statement and general purpose, this organization has pretty big plans for the soon-to-be team in Seattle.

Stevens Tysland, who is a former US Olympian, is the spokesperson for “NWHL to Seattle,” plans to have the NWHL all star game in their inaugural season. Very ambitious for a team that doesn’t exist. But I like it.


“We believe Seattle can become a hub for training hockey players — both women and men. The professional players will serve as role models for up-and-coming players and the new world-class facilities will provide more access and opportunity to develop future college, professional, and Olympic athletes. Fostering a hockey hub in Seattle will keep talent in the Pacific Northwest and enable players to stay in the area to continue their professional careers, both on and off the ice.”

-Kelly Tysland

As this campaign moves forward, I hope that more cities will realize that ice hockey is a community sport and should be shared by many. Seattle is a great sports town, but it shouldn’t stop there. Getting involved with progressing this expansion is important because the players that lost their job playing in Canada need a place to play. Your help actually matters!

So tell me, what can you do to get involved? Where would you like to see the most elite women hockey players in the world play? Everyone can do their part, don’t let this women’s revolution die.

League Closing, Everything Must Go

/ Jake Solomons / Leave a comment

Professional sports is a funny business. Of course like any other business, making money by any means necessary is the main priority. But when there’s no money left and you can’t pay your players…you close up shop.

The Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) announced last week that the organization will be disbanding in May. For many people who don’t watch hockey, this may seem like no big deal. Avid hockey fans however are outraged and rightfully so.

Kacey Bellamy (left), Hilary Knight (center), Alex Rigsby (right)
Credit: Chris Young

Honestly the CWHL served as the home to more recognizable names than the NWHL does. Hilary Knight, Marie-Philip Poulin and a few others now have to look for a new place to play.

“We will pursue any and all opportunities to ensure the best players in Canada have a place to play” – NWHL Commissioner Dani Rylan

This abrupt ending of the hockey league is the center of some controversy simply because of how quickly the news sprung on the players and general public. Both were surprised honestly. Also, it creates a sense of regression in the development of women’s sports. It’s very interesting because the CWHL expanded to China with two teams. International sponsors and brands could have easily supported this league but who knows.

There is now only 1 professional women’s hockey league in North America. I mean, even though it didn’t really work out financially for the CWHL, being established for 12 years is something to be proud of I suppose. But it doesn’t justify the fact that about 150 players are now out of a job. A job that can’t even help these players make ends meet on a maximum $10,000 yearly salary.

For a sport that is gaining momentum and popularity in the eyes of the media and fans alike, I would really like to see what the NWHL can do to step up and welcome these now “free agents” into the league.

Start ‘Em Young

/ Jake Solomons / Leave a comment

I don’t know from experience, but I’m pretty sure being a parent for the first time is scary. How do you prepare to be a parent though? You read books and learn techniques from your parents to see what is effective in raising a child at each stage of their life. Teaching your kids new sports is kinda similar. If they like sports, you have to let them grow to favor one organically if they decide they want to play it.

Tips For Brand-New Hockey Parents:

  • IT’S JUST A GAME!!! The one thing I find most common, mostly at my sister’s games, is that parents are more into winning than the kids. I get it. You want your son/daughter to play well and get enough ice time. But screaming at the coach isn’t gonna solve anything, Dad. I can assure you no medals or trophies will be given out at the first preseason game. Settle down.
Credit: Steve Nease
  • Be Positive, But Realistic. You should always support your son/daughter in any aspect of their life, but there’s limitations sometimes. If they are playing hockey and say they want to be in the NHL, great. Support that dream of theirs. Most of the time, the kids playing the sports feed off of the feedback of the parents. Fluctuate your critique, it generates hard work and improvement. Nothing crushes a child more than disapproval from their parents. Make them confident but keep them grounded.
Credit: Lynn Johnston
  • Learn The Rules, Know the Game. Nobody likes the person who has no idea what’s going on. As a hockey parent, or any sport really, you should have a general understanding of the rules. That way, if your son/daughter gets a penalty, you won’t look so silly yelling at the refs. Unless you’re my father at which point it’s second nature. So read up on your child’s athletic interests, avoid any weird looks from other parents.
  • SAVE YOUR MONEY! I cannot stress this point enough. If your son or daughter wants to play hockey, don’t buy them expensive equipment yet. As they get older, maybe consider it. You aren’t improving your kid’s success rate with new $700 skates at 5-yrs. old. There are many elements to the “outfit” of a hockey player. Helmet, knee pads, shoulder pads, pants, skates, socks, gloves, stick(s)…are you broke yet? Please for the love of God, if your child is starting out, buy secondhand skates and other pieces of equipment. They aren’t ending up on the new CCM or Bauer hockey magazine anytime soon. Be smart about your money, skates are skates. Just don’t buy figure skates by mistake.

Is Having Too Many Fans an Issue? Asking For a Friend…

/ Jake Solomons / 2 Comments

The NCAA has definitely found a niche with generating revenue and ticket sales with the Division I Women’s Hockey tournament.

As reported by Title IX Hockey, the attendance for women’s games is at the highest it’s ever been. Wisconsin battling Minnesota for the DI Frozen Four Championship was pretty cool to watch for sure.

NCAA Frozen Four Championship game. Wisconsin defeated Minnesota 2-0. Credit: Wisconsin Badgers Athletics

On TV, I had no idea that the stadium was over capacity. Granted, it was over by 37 tickets. It’s still pretty impressive. From an advocating for women standpoint, the increasing numbers in attendance is very cool to see.

I was disappointed to see that only the Big Ten Network picked up the TV broadcast. For two powerhouse hockey teams like Minnesota and Wisconsin, I think it calls to be streamed on ESPN or a bigger platform than BTN. But honestly, the fact that it was televised at all is a step in the right direction.

The two highest attendance averages were Minnesota and Wisconsin. How about we televise them on more networks, see who generates higher TV ratings. We know the tickets are in high demand, let’s see how popular they are on television.

Embrace the Hate, Love Yourself

/ Jake Solomons / Leave a comment

In today’s world, there seems to be some sort of social outlier that doesn’t really go away. Sexism and stereotyping have become a common occurrence in the world of sports.

“People are surprised we play hockey. They’ll say: ‘Oh, I thought you’d be bigger.’ Or ‘You look really petite, and you have all your teeth.'”

-Monique Lamoureux-Morando

Normalizing the stereotype that women are petite or too feminine to play hockey is just a way of saying they don’t belong. It needs to end.

Women hockey players walk this fine line having to be masculine/feminine, which gets sometimes misconstrued with being homosexual and people assuming their sexuality. Depending on how players present themselves physically.

The nature of ice hockey is more masculine, I suppose. But that doesn’t give anyone the right to label someone by saying, “She’s definitely a lesbian; look how she dresses like a tomboy.” Or I’ve heard people say, “On a team full of girls, one of them is bound to be gay.” SO WHAT?! You’re only making yourself look bad at that point by saying that.

U.S. Women’s Hockey Team during the ESPN Body Issue photo shoot, in 2017.

Team USA Women’s team took to ESPN magazine to display their unity against this societal norm of being ‘too girly’ and ideal body image. Their message is simple: “Embrace it.”

“Own it. Be proud of yourself and who you are.”

-Jocelyn Lamoureux-Davidson

I think it’s become more mainstream. Today’s society is very persistent with trying to minimize the dark cloud that is the sexuality stereotype hanging over women’s sports. I think the change is great. As a whole, we need to understand that it’s not okay to degrade and undermine these women’s talent and physical attributes because they “don’t belong in a man’s game.” Grow up.

If you don’t notice a problem directly, go sit in a hockey rink for a few hours. I can almost guarantee there will be a women’s game and a men’s game played. Keep your ears open to hear the different comments spectators make between the two games.

If you hear a derogatory phrase, for either gender, I encourage you to call that person out. They say, “Spread the word, to end the word.” Screw that. How about: “Confront the word, to end the word.”

“Let’s Do That Hockey”

/ Jake Solomons / Leave a comment

Some of the greatest moments in sports history have been developed into parodies and videos which are created for comedic purposes. Of course, for some people, different moments can be either heartbreaking or very exciting. Depending on who the home team is.

In 2014, the United States played Russia in the preliminary round of the Olympics. TJ Oshie, now a forward for the Washington Capitals, participated in probably one of the lengthiest and most stressful shootouts I’ve ever seen.

I found a video that parodies this video and puts a humorous spin when it’s combined with a clip from the film Miracle. Herb Brooks, the 1980 Olympic team’s Head coach, made the team skate suicides after a game vs. Sweden. A mashup of both events results in a pretty cool and, in my opinion, funny video.

Saturday Night Live is probably one of the most well-known satirical artists in entertainment. With SNL, nothing is really off limits from playful ridicule on the show.

One video that I immediately thought of, when thinking of humor, was from an episode when Chance the Rapper hosted.

There was a sketch where the New York Rangers’ on-ice reporter called out sick. The fill-in for the sick reporter was Chance the Rapper, who played the New York Knicks courtside reporter. The humor of the sketch is that he knows absolutely nothing about ice hockey, but is still trying his best.