Does fighting belong in hockey? Tue, February 10, 2009
By John Miner and the Canadian Press
A London anti-violence expert is applauding recommendations from a panel on concussions that call for the elimination of fighting from all levels of hockey.
Peter Jaffe said the report could be the tipping point that changes the culture of the game.
The recommendations, resulting from meetings at the London Hockey Concussion Summit on Jan. 17-18, also calls from an elimination of high hits/head hits.
Does fighting belong in hockey? Is it an integral part of the game, or can the game of hockey survive and thrive with the inclusion of fisticuffs? Have your say in our forum.
I don't think that fighting should be banned, but I think the NHL needs stiffer penalties.
If you fight, you get a 15 minute misconduct. Second fight and you are tossed out of the game.
That would cut down on a lot of the stupid type of fighting that goes on.
You watch the playoffs and there's hardly any fighting - and it's much better hockey - even more intense than the regular season with more toughness, yet less fighting.
Fighting in the proper context (on ocassion, but not regularly) is okay, but the league needs to curtail it somewhat.
gordholio, 2009-02-20 00:11:18
Henry
Its just as biased to be pro fighting. Thats not a reason to exclude someone.
Just out of curiousity who does a fight between guys from both teams give energy to one team?
If someone does a dirty hit don't they deserve a penalty and to be short a man?
Fights aren't part of the game. at most levels they are dealt with severe penalties. Mens league hockey can result in permanent banning.
By your logic the only people who should be discussing it are the players in the NHL. So I guess by your logic you shouldn't be talking unless your Henry Richard.
wayne, 2009-02-11 08:41:37
Fighting in hockey has it's place. If your team is down, and without momentum, a good fight can give a team energy needed to get back into the game.
If someone pulls off a dirty hit, he deserves to get punched in the face.
As far as high hits/head hits, they should be called and offenders dealt with. Pronger for example, how many elbows to the head did he throw before finally being suspended during the ducks playoff run?
I do not think that we should be listening to anti-violence "experts" in this matter. They have a biased opinion. Oh, and David, Don Cherry knows more about hockey than most people, and I'm thinking he wants to keep the game honest.
For those of you who don't know what that means, you have to play the game before your opinion matters!
Henry, 2009-02-10 21:21:22
Stop already, keep fighting the professional game and ban the NDP. Want to watch soft sports turn on Basketball.
Mike, 2009-02-10 20:58:53
if you really want to end fights in the NHL then when a fight occurs, a 20,000 dollar fine and about 5 game suspension. The players that like to fight all the time are usually the lowest paid and they will end the fighfting themselves.
merv, 2009-02-10 18:53:59
Hockey at its best does not include fighting. NHL playoffs, Canada Cups, Olympics, World Juniors are seldom marked with violence.
Eliminating fighting from the North American version of the sport would be applauded by the true fans of the game who believe that a clean body check does not require the response of dropping the gloves.
The best message to the other team is a shot in the net not a shot to the face.
Kim Follis, 2009-02-10 14:48:51
please explain an honest fight by a real hockey player.
wayne, 2009-02-10 14:46:08
actually kmonreally
Driving is always under a microscope do to deaths in it and has make changes to prevent it so by your anaolgy it would make perfect sense for hockey to go under the microscope when a senseless death happens by a totally useless action other than your entertaiment.
Come on really
wayne, 2009-02-10 14:44:31
Please someone show the stats on fighting!
Fights per game during the regular season vs. fights per game during playoffs.
I think the results would speak for themselves.
How many fights in the world juniors this year?
Some of the best hockey I've seen!
Kidd, 2009-02-10 12:11:15
100's of people are seriously injured and many even die driving on Ontario roads. Is there a panel wanting to ban driving? 1 person dies in a hockey fight in a decade and suddenly fighting is under the microscope.
kmonreally, 2009-02-10 11:21:26
Does fighting belong in hockey?
If you fight, you get a 15 minute misconduct. Second fight and you are tossed out of the game.
That would cut down on a lot of the stupid type of fighting that goes on.
You watch the playoffs and there's hardly any fighting - and it's much better hockey - even more intense than the regular season with more toughness, yet less fighting.
Fighting in the proper context (on ocassion, but not regularly) is okay, but the league needs to curtail it somewhat.
gordholio, 2009-02-20 00:11:18
Its just as biased to be pro fighting. Thats not a reason to exclude someone.
Just out of curiousity who does a fight between guys from both teams give energy to one team?
If someone does a dirty hit don't they deserve a penalty and to be short a man?
Fights aren't part of the game. at most levels they are dealt with severe penalties. Mens league hockey can result in permanent banning.
By your logic the only people who should be discussing it are the players in the NHL. So I guess by your logic you shouldn't be talking unless your Henry Richard.
wayne, 2009-02-11 08:41:37
If someone pulls off a dirty hit, he deserves to get punched in the face.
As far as high hits/head hits, they should be called and offenders dealt with. Pronger for example, how many elbows to the head did he throw before finally being suspended during the ducks playoff run?
I do not think that we should be listening to anti-violence "experts" in this matter. They have a biased opinion. Oh, and David, Don Cherry knows more about hockey than most people, and I'm thinking he wants to keep the game honest.
For those of you who don't know what that means, you have to play the game before your opinion matters!
Henry, 2009-02-10 21:21:22
Mike, 2009-02-10 20:58:53
merv, 2009-02-10 18:53:59
Eliminating fighting from the North American version of the sport would be applauded by the true fans of the game who believe that a clean body check does not require the response of dropping the gloves.
The best message to the other team is a shot in the net not a shot to the face.
Kim Follis, 2009-02-10 14:48:51
wayne, 2009-02-10 14:46:08
Driving is always under a microscope do to deaths in it and has make changes to prevent it so by your anaolgy it would make perfect sense for hockey to go under the microscope when a senseless death happens by a totally useless action other than your entertaiment.
Come on really
wayne, 2009-02-10 14:44:31
Fights per game during the regular season vs. fights per game during playoffs.
I think the results would speak for themselves.
How many fights in the world juniors this year?
Some of the best hockey I've seen!
Kidd, 2009-02-10 12:11:15
kmonreally, 2009-02-10 11:21:26