Hockey is an extremely demanding sport. It requires a ton of skill and strength to compete in games and I believe that hockey doesn't get enough credit. People who don't watch hockey just think it's a Canadian sport where guys go around punching each other in the face trying to score a goal. Here's a list of 20 reasons why I think hockey deserves more credit.

1. You have to have the agility of a football player, the strength of a baseball player, and the speed of a basketball player all while standing on a half inch of metal on ice.

2. Do you understand how hard it is to skate?

3. Oh, you lost a tooth, have a hole in your lung, and four broken ribs?

You’re playing in the third.

4. Players use their bodies to block a shot that can reach up to over 100 mph.

5. And they have to be that tough from September to June for all 10 months (including pre-season and post).

6. Chirping doesn’t get better in any other sport.

7. And chirping leads to fighting.

8. Can't forget about a hockey flow, either.

9. They have an entire night dedicated to cancer, and then another night dedicated to the military.

10. Most hockey players are nice, genuine people who are so down to Earth who want help their community.

11. Then there’s the 1980 Miracle story.

12. Nicknames are awesome in hockey, and once you have one, your real name never gets used anymore.

You can't go wrong with a nickname like Ovi, Pears, Burnsy, Kopi, Stammer and Big Z.

13. Teams set up watch parties where fans get together and just eat food and watch hockey (what can be better).

14. If you love hockey, you really love hockey.

15. I don’t think baseball has a beer league, either.

16. Those celly’s, though.

17. Hockey has a very low percentage of athletes who use PEDs.

The average is only one player getting tested positive every 3 years.

18. Most players have set up their own charities and are extremely involved in other charities, as well.

19. Teams like the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings are doing everything they can to get kids in Southern California to learn to play and get involved in the sport of hockey.

20. And last but not least, and more personal, there is an overwhelming growth of a hockey community on Twitter and Facebook.

That's how I have made some of my closest friends on so shout out to you, Ducks Fam