What makes hockey players better than other athletes?

Is it the talent? stamina? endurance? good looks(I really can't argue with this one!)? or is it because of the fact that even when pucks hit them in the face, they just stand back up as if their faces aren't sporting gashes and trickling with blood? Whatever you may think, just put 'em all down here!

What makes hockey players better than other athletes?
hockey players are only good in playing hockey... so u cant really say that they are better than other athletes. They are good in what they do and thats great
Reply:They are on ice skates for gosh sakes!
Reply:Its that they are all european and love gliding in circles and not shooting.
Reply:I think that in hockey it is a lot harder then other sports because you are doing it on skates. It takes more balance to be able to take a check when gliding on skates. I also think that hockey builds character and that is what you are refering to when you say they get stand back up after getting hit in the face.
Reply:they are just flat out dead sexy
Reply:try having athletes of other sports play their sport as good as they do on ice. thats the hardest thing about hockey when youre first starting is just being able to skate and then do all the passing, shooting, hitting, etc.
Reply:Imagine other sports doing sprints for 10 - 20 minutes a game while being hit. Throw in the fact that they can get cut, teeth knocked out, get stitched up and get back in the game sometimes with out missing a shift.
Reply:Hockey players have the grace and finesse of basketball and soccer with the grit and determination of the NFL. Alex Ovechkin is a perfect example: Breaks his nose, take six stitches is his lip, and scores 4 goals. Need I say more...
Reply:hockey is played at a higher speed, the players have to think and look and make decisions much faster than in other sport.


skill factor -- played on skates, played on ice, using a stick, the goal is defended, players need to play offence and defence.


the game is always moving, other sports, need a timeout to change players.
Reply:I think it's because they really need balance and coordination to do what they do.





As opposed to football players...





But I think boxers are the best.
Reply:It is simply because there is such a high percentage of Canadians among professional hockey players. Canadians in general outstrip all other people in terms of talent, stamina, endurance (redundant), and good looks.
Reply:Dedication, skill, work ethic and toughness.





You have to play hockey your whole life to be a pro, you don't pick up a stick at age 12 and become pro.





And...





YOU'RE ON ICE DOING IT.





Studies shown that 1 hockey game is more wear and tear than a football game, but hockey plays 82 games a year, football is 16.
Reply:endurance, hockey players play 82 games per season, add to that practices, playoffs, and exhibitions and they are on the ice a lot, not to mention workouts.
Reply:Well they are good at playing hockey. The players of today aren't half as tough as they used to be, especially in the 1970's. I've seen too many lately in the fetal position on the ice after a hit.
Reply:I think the Toughness factor is a big one, it seems to only be matched in Football (maybe) and Boxing/MMA. The difference I think is the fact that you can't play until you learn a completely new skill. Most sports if you can run, you can at least hop on a team somewhere. Hockey you have to learn to balance on centimeter thick steel blades, and zip around a hard frozen surface, all while using a stick to smack around a piece of vulcanized rubber. Its not easy, then add to it the fact that every time you touch that piece of rubber, everybody with a different color jersey wants to kill you. It's tough!
Reply:I am not sure they are better athletes than other sports. They need to learn the skill of skating before taking on the rest of the skills required to be a good hockey player. I think that may make them more talented, but every sport has its good athletes.