SPECTATOR ENJOYMENT OF AGGRESSION IN INTERCOLLEGIATE HOCKEY GAMES

This study was designed to examine how player aggression in intercollegiate hockey games is related to spectator enjoyment of the games. The study tested the hypothesis that enjoyment of hockey is as highly related to aggressive aspects of the game as equally dramatic but nonaggressive aspects of the game. Six hundred twenty-four male and female spectators rated how enjoyable they found 16 games. Measures of enjoyment were correlated with a variety of game statistics. Results of the study indicated that aggression-related indexes, such as penalty minutes, were more highly related to enjoyment of the game than were nonaggression indexes such as score difference, shots on goal, and saves. However, power play minutes, which are related to both aggression and competition, were also highly related to enjoyment of the game.