Thread: Hockey Fights

Personally, I'm against them in the NHL.
I think they're a bad example for our kids.
I think it's a better game without them.
I think there would be zero sales effect from banning fights.
I think the ref's are already doing a better job by making more calls.

X

It's entertaining though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?search=...&v=XNtT1eMpw0Q

Fighting is a long-established part of hockey. Without it it's not the same game. It's supposed to be physical.

Don't know much about hockey ---

when do the refs usually step in and stop them? Is it a punch count or something or do the refs look for the signs of someone getting seriously hurt?

Justin

Originally Posted by jaegerhund

Don't know much about hockey ---

when do the refs usually step in and stop them? Is it a punch count or something or do the refs look for the signs of someone getting seriously hurt?

Justin

generally you can count on a good 5-10 seconds of swinging before a ref steps in

sometimes 10-20 but rarely

if I had to compare hockey to another sport, for someone who hadn't seen/played

I would call it arena football where everyone runs twice as fast and has a stick

man I love hockey

I really can't believe I am going to say this, but

I

agree

with



X. (man that hurt).

I understand the argument that fighting in hockey is tradition, but so was dueling with pistols at 10 paces. times change and sports evolve. Play the sport and not the fight.

If I want to watch a fight I will oder up some UFC, boxing, or mixed martial arts.

"I went to the fights last night, and a hockey game broke out."

I know this doesn't count, but when I was in junior high, in P.E. , we played field hockey inside a basketball gym ---with a puck not a ball. I loved playing it -- liked the physical nature of it, --- about as close as a boy from Louisiana can get I suppose .

We didn't have any fights though ---Catholic school --- principals didn't mess around in those days.

But I can see why someone might enjoy playing it...

Justin

It's and interesting argument, there's nothing I love more than watching a hockey match and then seeing the goalies come out and kick some butt *cough*emery*cough.

It is such an entertaining part of the game and something most people look forward to when they see it. They are selling entertainment after all...

Sometimes it does get a little too annoying at the end of the period/game and that's why I like that they've brought in the heavy penalties and fines for cleaning that up!

erik

(sens won 4-0 yesterday! good start to the pre-season)

I also have to admit I enjoy watching them. Once I was at a game BG vs UK and all got on the ice to fight (bench and all), several players from both teams were beating the referee.

And yes, the goalies were the most entertaining - starting out slowly from their lines, throwing stuff around while accelerating fast to collide in the center! Man, this was a total riot!

FWIW, I had some friends on the national women's hockey team and they skated better and were tougher than yours truly

Unfortunately, the best technical players are often frail and it sucks to see them beaten by some butcher who can't skate

Cheers
Ivo

I think they are a part of the game. When the refs aren't making good calls or consistent calls I think the possibility of a fight keeps the game from becoming totally dirty and out of hand.
Now with two refs and games being called more tightly there is naturally a decrease in fighting for good reason. But I think there is a tendency today for the linesmen to step in too soon to break up a brewing battle. I think this allows the players enemnity to build hurting the quality of play. So instead of a badly called well played game with a couple of fights, I think you sometimes end up with a badly called game with poor play and lots of dirty cheep shots.

As I sit here unable to turn my head to the right without a sharp pain streaking down my neck because of this morning's encounter with a former NHL 'enforcer' who thought it would be great fun to try and put me in a sleeper hold, I'm going to go with 'no fighting.' To me it has always made the game more spectacle than sport and clearly doesn't teach the players any skills they can adapt to everyday life.

My office is filled-to-breaking with lunatics.

For the record, I've twice beat him at arm-wrestling, and they back right down when the Balisong comes out.