Colin Sheridan: There's something about hockey that's authentic, primal and honest

Regardless of his injury, Ferguson appears to be out of favour at Brighton, whose new manager Fabian Hürzeler signed more strikers than he did autographs since joining the club.

Johnny Gaudreau playing for Columbus Blue Jackets against the Boston Bruins in January. Picture: Kirk Irwin/Getty Images

In the wake of the tragic death of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau this week, I asked a friend of mine what makes hockey so great. 

“Speed. Integrity. Humility.” That was his immediate response, which he followed it up with a lengthy voice note detailing a series of intangibles. “Compare it to hurling, say…scores in hockey are a much more precious commodity. The speed of transitions, the versatility of players switching from defence to attack. You can be fighting for your life on your own goal line one second, and scoring the next. There’s also a code. If a guy is acting the p***k, pulling and dragging your best player, he’s challenged and taken care of.”