Where did you go Steve Yzerman?

Remember hockey? The NHL? That movie Slap Shot? Man, were they ever fun. Thousands of people, many of them Canadian, once enjoyed the thrilling exploits of grown men throwing themselves across playing fields known as "rinks" which were covered in ice. Goals were scored, pucks were passed, shots were slapped, teeth were punched. It was great. Back in the day, they even made video game simulations of the hockey. Titles such as NHL 2005 and ESPN NHL 2K5 were enjoyed by hockey fans across the globe.

Then came the NHL lockout of 2004, an unpleasant events that caused the owners of hockey teams and the players on those same teams to disagree. The disagreements were mainly about the same old thing: Money. One side had too much and the other side had too little. Just who was who, however, wasn't very clear, as they were all millionaires.

Due to the lockout, all we have today is hockey video games, and the real NHL is quickly becoming an ever-fading memory in our minds. Luckily the games are a lot of fun and, in the case of ESPN NHL 2K5, a fine simulation of the real game. NHL 2005 has its charms as well, particularly in its speed and power, two aspects of the real NHL that enamored fans everywhere.

A few optimists still remain, intent on believing that hockey still has a chance at remaining viable in today's saturated sports environment. For that hopeful handful of NHL gamers we've put together a feature, Tips for Coping With the NHL Lockout, which will hopefully take them through the long dark winter that is ahead for hockey fans.