Sep 10
24
Are Hockey Fights Really Necessary?
I posted a video of the greatest hockey fight in history on here a couple of days ago. While most of the feedback I got was positive about the clip, some of you questioned if fighting in hockey is really necessary. To answer the question…it’s totally necessary.
I’ll admit that fights like the “Punch-Up In Piestany” are crazy to watch, but there’s no reason for something like that to happen. You rarely see bench clearing brawls at a professional or international level. That’s why the video is so shocking. That melee broke all the rules of hockey fighting (yes, there are rules). Soviet player Vladimir Konstantinov broke Canadian Greg Hawgood’s nose with a headbutt, while Stephane Roy was beat up by two Soviet players at once. Those are huge no-nos.
Every team at every level of the game has an enforcer (a “goon”). He pretty much acts as the bodyguard to the stars. It’s just like real life. Think Rob & Big, but on the ice. Marty McSorley made a career for himself by protecting Wayne Gretzky. They played together on the Edmonton Oilers, and when Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, McSorley went with him. If anyone messed with Gretzky (slashing, roughing, etc.), they’d have to feel the wrath of McSorley. That’s why Gretzky only registered 577 career penalty minutes in 22 NHL seasons, while McSorley wracked up 3,381 PIM in parts of 19 seasons. Gretzky was able to shatter National Hockey League records because he was on the ice instead of in the penalty box (you get five minutes in the sin bin for fighting). McSorley took all of the heat for him.
That’s just one of the reasons fighting is necessary. Owners protect their million dollar investments, and coaches save their jobs by keeping their key players on the ice. The stars don’t end up in the penalty box or on the injured reserve list because of some cheap shot. Let’s face it…hockey is a violent sport. Enforcers are sent on the ice to mess with the other teams star (usually to lure him into a penalty, but sometimes to take them out with an injury). That’s where the other team’s goon steps in…and voila…a fight.
Anyone who doesn’t know hockey thinks fights are just random acts of violence, but that’s not the case (as I just proved in the first example). Fights are used like a move in a game of chess. They spark momentum when your team needs a pick-me-up. It’s all a part of the game. If two goons just went toe-to-toe on the ice and bumped into each other in the parking lot after a game, they’d probably shake hands and have a conversation. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, and what happens on the ice, stays on the ice. That’s why you never hear of drama after the game (like Prince Fielder trying to barge into the Los Angeles Dodgers clubhouse) or away from the arena. If there’s going to be retaliation…it happens when the two teams meet again on the ice (even if it’s separated by an entire offseason (literally 321 days), e.g. the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche in 1997).
There are efforts to cut back on fighting in hockey. I think that’s stupid. Fights are as much a part of the game as a puck and a stick. A lot of people go to games hoping to see a few bouts (just like some people watch NASCAR for the crashes), so it’s no surprise the NHL’s popularity has dropped just like the number of fights. Yes, NHL attendance was crushed by 2004-05 lockout, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that fewer people show up now that fighting isn’t as prevalent.
I’d love to know what you think about this topic. I’m sure there are several different opinions. You can leave a comment below, get in touch with me on Twitter @lewissports, connect with me on Facebook, or email me at tim@timlewissports.com.
P.S. Here are a couple of hockey fights that you might enjoy watching: Video 1 | Video 2
