Ok gman I'll give you my own personal experiences and then others. By the way I'm not trying to brag or boast here. I've played hockey since I was 10-11yrs old all the way through college and 99% of the time I was the faster skater and better conditioned player on my team (and no my team didn't suck) plus I think the napoleonic complex plays positive here. I never weighed more than 160lbs at 5'6 and still was always in the top 3 for hitters on my team. This always made coaches turn a look my way and use me for an example to the team, if 160 lber can play hard why can't everyone else? Again not trying to brag just examples of my situations. For professionals look at guys like theo fluery (chicago blackhawks 5'6), tim dwight (S.D. Chargers 5'8), sami kappeanen (Philadelphia Flyers 5'7), Paul Kariya (Anahiem mighty ducks 5'8-5'9) Mugsy Bogs Basketball (san antspurs) Barry Sanders (5'7), Emmitt Smith (5'9) these are to name a few and all of the game is based on speed. I'm not saying tall guys aren't fast but its harder to grab ahold of a smaller guy, of course when you catch him he'll prolly whind up on his ass but thats the games. Plus did you ever notice its always the bigger players who get hurt the most.