so the level of play, the toughness, the speed, etc. is all elevated. My first hockey game when I was 8 yrs old was Lethbridge Broncos vs Calgary. There was a bench clearing brawl in the middle of the 2nd period.

I also really liked University Hockey in Canada. A lot of the players are guys who just missed on getting drafted and are fighting for a chance to get noticed. It is a hard hitting, fast paced game. It didn't hurt that my alma mater the University of Alberta has been a powerhouse for many years.