Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Blood and Sweat? Should Fighting be a part of Hockey?
Share: 
by woodpeck | January 8, 2009 at 01:43 am
994 views | 0 Recommendations | 7 comments
The recent death of a hockey player prompts debate on whether or not fighting should be a part of hockey.
Here are some links for information:
- Hockey player's death prompts helmet questions
- Death of player further proof hockey fights must be banned
- Tragic death of hockey player shouldn't lead to fighting ban
- Fighting has no place in hockey
- Hockey Player Dies After Fight and Coma
The death of Don Sanderson of injuries related to an on-ice hockey fight has re-ignited debate in Canada on whether or not fighting should be a part of the game. Current rules in the NHL give a 5 minute major penalty for fighting with instigator and late game fights increasing the allowable penalty.
Should the rules stay the same? Increase marginally? Increase to an all out ban?
We believe stiffer penalties are long overdue. Fighting is an embarassment to the game 9 times out of 10 since most happen to "motivate" their teammates and have no bearing whatsoever on anything substantial. If fighting were to remain a part of the game it should be only as a very seldom event. Too often the refrain at North American rinks is "I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out". That should be reversed and the NHL should be taking the lead to that end.
Advertisement
NowPublic on Facebook
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (7)
at 02:06 on January 8th, 2009
Of course, death is the worst possible outcome to a hockey fight. Injuries due to fighting are very common. Here are just a few examples. Without these players on the ice, who knows how their respective teams would have fared with them. Further fueling the debate...
Phoenix Coyotes winger Todd Fedoruk, a noted NHL pugilist, has titanium plates in his face because of injuries suffered in a fight with the Minnesota Wild's fearsome Derek Boogaard in 2006.Later that season, an unconscious Fedoruk was taken off the ice on a stretcher after fighting with New York Rangers winger Colton Orr.
Edmonton's Steve MacIntyre suffered a broken orbital bone in his face after a fight with Eric Godard of the Pittsburgh Penguins
Edmonton Oilers captain Ethan Moreau, who missed a big chunk of the 2006-07 season after dislocating his right shoulder after missing with a punch aimed at defenceman Danny Markov.
Highly touted Columbus Blue Jackets centre Derick Brassard, fought James Neal of the Dallas Stars on Dec. 18 2008. Brassard dislocated his shoulder in the first-period fight, derailing a breakout season that had vaulted him to the top of the list for rookie of the year.
at 14:21 on January 8th, 2009
Risk of injury is part of many sports. Violence sells. I have been hearing that the League wants to reduce fighting to make hockey more popular in the US. That is a joke. American sports fans are amungst the most blood thirsty in the world. If you don't believe me just look at the popularity of mixed matrtial arts competitions. I regularly attend both Canucks and Giants hockey games and some of the biggest cheers come after fights. Serious injury or death is never a desired outcome and although we should try to rteduce their occurances sometimes it goes with those 7 figure paycheques.
at 15:44 on January 8th, 2009
to see that there is no need for fighting in hockey all u have to do is look at the quality of the game during the stanley cup playoffs and more recently, the world juniors to see that the game doesn't need fighting to ensure a good on-ice product.
if i want a fight, i'd go to one. if i want a hockey game...
at 18:28 on January 8th, 2009
I said it in another post, but until the NHL does a better job of policing the activities on the ice, there will be fighting. Hook a guy enough or cross check him into the boards and he or someone on his team is going to want to right that wrong. I've never missed the fights in a game since the lockout because it moves so much faster now. It goes back and forth so well for stretches of time without a whistle that I don't care that there isn't a fight. I used to miss the fights before the lock out when the game was slower.
Just my humble opinion.
at 19:50 on January 8th, 2009
good point. with 2 refs though u'd think they'd be doing a better job. until that happens, i can see that need. maybe since the game is faster, that is why there's still missed calls.
but the NHL should be taking steps towards eliminating fighting. fighting is not gonna disappear overnight but the NHL should be taking steps towards that end. i just don't see that even being started.
at 21:47 on January 9th, 2009
yet another player goes down with a fight related injury:
The Pittsburgh Penguins say forward Ruslan Fedotenko will miss four to six weeks with a broken right hand.
I'm sure the Penguins are thrilled to missing one of their hottest players of late!
at 11:02 on January 10th, 2009
In Boston they love rookie, Milan Licic (from my home town of Vancouver). Why does he get the biggest standing ovations? Because he is tough, takes no shit and never hesitates to drop the gloves. The fans LOVE fighting!