Hockey Innovators?

A few years ago, Sweden introduced the world to the 1-31 defensive game, called the Neutral Zone Trap here in North America. A few teams adopted the system and met with success, though it failed with the fans. Most games that utilize the Trap tend to be very boring, featuring few exciting plays.

Now comes a new system that has been tried in Sweden for the past two years, with impressive results: Torpedo Hockey.

The system is very simple, laying out the players into a pattern similar to American-style Football. It also has the opposite effect that the Trap has, creating a higher-than-average number of breakaways, and odd-man rushes. More exciting hockey.

Today's Olympic Men's Ice Hockey game pits Canada versus Sweden. How will Canada do against this system that has, as yet, not been attempted in North American pro hockey?

Let's hope we find a way.