Is there such a thing as pick-up hockey etiquette? If so, what would be included? No body contact - sure, obviously. No slap shots around the eyes - also pretty obvious. Don't take the puck from the guy who can barely skate - not a problem. No tripping, hooking, high-sticking, slashing - all no-brainers. But what about screening the goalie? Or opting to shoot on a 2-on-1? Or cherry-picking? Or aggressively back-checking? Going 5-hole? Calling offsides? I do ALL of these things. Regularly. Am I being an asshole?
I know when I first started pick-up, after playing semi-competitively for most of my life, I ruffled a few feathers by maybe back-checking too aggressively, lifting sticks and occasionally shooting high (one guy actually tried to throw me into the bench) - but I think I eventually learned to adjust to the play and agreed-to rules of the game. However, I am now playing with a different set of guys, and find myself having to learn/adhere to a whole new set of unspoken rules (see above). But the subtleties - oh, the subtleties!
I hate being that guy. But I always am.
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