Hockey Fans: Crazy or Justified?

Do I dare say, "relax, it's just a game" to, in my opinion, out of control fans at a OHL game? I refrained from commenting as my gut instinct told me these fans would not be impressed with me and I might have received a left punch in the face !!(even though I am a girl) Last night, I went to a playoff game between the Oshawa Generals and Belleville Bulls at our new General Motors Centre. Impressed by the new facility, I forgot I was not at an NHL game and briefly forgot these were 17 year olds with tons of testosterone playing a game steeped in Canadian tradition. Growing up in a house with brothers and a father who played and coached hockey, I feel I am somewhat an authority on the sport!!:) Hahaha!! At least I can participate intellectually on the game and can recognize when the team is playing well or not so well. The Generals did not play well last night. The Bulls played well and by far are a better team! But, I kept my comments to myself. You see surrounding me was an assortment of Belleville Bulls fans and Oshawa Generals fans. Things got heated in the second period between these fans and I was sitting in the middle of them!! I had planned my escape route if things got out of hand. All the while during this "adventure" I am wondering why these fans are sooooo rude and why they find it necessary to spew vulgarities and pound the glass at opposing players who clearly have done nothing wrong. Just relax. I found it disturbing because also in the midst of this little group of crazed fans were young children, listening and watching this appalling behaviour. What kind of example are we to these impressionable minds. At one point I felt the need to say to a Belleville Bulls fan in front of me that not all Generals fans are like these ones surrounding us! What is it about sports, whether it is playing or watching, that brings out crazed behaviour. Are we justified or should we learn to just relax and realize it is just a game?