Keefe, 44, was a major junior hockey star in the late-1990s when even looking at an opponent the wrong way might be considered a sign of disrespect and get you jumped. Nowadays, with fighting and self-policing by teams on the decline, many of hockey’s unwritten rules are being debated by a newer generation of fans and players that seem to covet the “celly” and showmanship more than predecessors.

For instance, it was once unthinkable for an NHL player to attempt a “Michigan” goal by lifting the puck with their stick behind an opponent’s net and doing a high wraparound move before tucking the puck into a top corner behind the startled goalie.

The “high wrap” lacrosse-type move was pioneered by minor league player Bill Armstrong and later copied by University of Michigan player Mike Legg in a 1996 NCAA tournament game. Still, the antic was considered bush-league by NHL players until Andrei Svechnikov of Carolina scored a “Michigan” goal in 2019, followed by Trevor Zegras of Anaheim netting a couple three years later and a third this season against Kraken goalie Joey Daccord.

While the “Michigan” used to infuriate opponents, it’s become tolerated and even celebrated. Zegras, 24, who has yet to score more than 23 goals in a season, wound up on the cover of the NHL ‘23 video game for his efforts.

Had Tolvanen tried a slap shot on an empty net from 20 feet away playing major junior hockey in the 1980s and 1990s he’d likely not have made it back to his bench in one piece. But when asked what happened to him when he did it in the USHL, he shrugged his shoulders.

“Nothing, really,” he said.

But Kraken forward Tye Kartye, 22, a part of the younger generation of players, said it’s still not the best idea to needlessly antagonize opponents once a game is out of reach.

“It’s usually just sportsmanship if you’re up by two or three,” he said. “You don’t sell it too hard.”

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Editor’s note: This is the latest of an occasional series on the unwritten rules of hockey.

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