Hockey fiction shows that the focus on ludus in organized hockey threatens to strangle the primal play spirit, which is why shinny is more easily romanticized than versions of the game that seem to require fighting, that motivate parents to violence, and, at the highest level, give rise to lockouts and strikes. In shinny the playful core of hockey is retained, while the overly confining rules and restrictions are discarded.

“How did he receive word about the sick lubra?” “I don′t know. Mulga wire, I suppose.”

Eye shadow but no lipstick, Jheri curl drying out.

`Hail!' squeaked Arumugam, witch-like.