Nov 11
23

Hockey Fight Videos (If You Like Them Or Not)

10 Comments

There’s a great debate about hockey fights (if they’re necessary or not), but I’ve made it very clear which side of the line I stand on. I think hockey fights are an important part of the game. I played hockey growing up, so I feel like I have a better understanding than others. Most of the people against hockey fights have never stepped foot on the ice, and I think that says a lot.

I showed a clip of one of these hockey fights that I’m about to share with you on my sportscast the other night, and one of my coworkers rolled their eyes at me. Needless to say, that person is against hockey fights (no matter how much we debate about it), and they thought there was no reason for me to show it. I’m not the type of person who pushes my opinions on others, so I respect their argument. That person just disagrees with me — like some of you reading this right now.

These are a couple of hockey fights my photographer shot the other night in a minor league game between the Spokane Chiefs and the Kamloops Blazers. Believe it or not, there’s an art to hockey fights. Players actually work on their craft during practice. The two players in this first video are considered heavyweights in the world of minor league hockey. The player in red is Spokane Chiefs forward Darren Kramer (an Ottawa Senators draft pick) and the guy in white is Kamloops Blazers defenseman Josh Caron (signed by the Minnesota Wild as a free agent):

If you ask me, Caron got the better of that battle, but I’m sure the two will tussle again in the future. That’s just the way it works. The funny thing is: these guys don’t hate each other…they actually respect each other.

As for this next fight, it involves two guys that don’t drop the gloves very often. It’s Spokane’s Steven Kuhn (in red) against Kamloops’ Colin Smith (in white). If you compare their fighting skills to the fight above, you’ll notice the difference in styles. To me, these guys are just throwing haymakers, hoping a few of them will land. You can tell they aren’t as refined as the players in the first bout:

There’s no question that Kuhn prevailed in that tilt, but I think both guys are better off focusing on scoring goals than picking fights.

If you liked those videos, you’ll love this hockey fight. It’s called the “Punch-Up In Piestany”. This is an all out brawl (that included some big name hockey players) that got so bad, the workers at the arena turned off the lights off in hopes of stopping the madness.

On top of that link, you can visit http://hockeyfights.com for even more hockey fight videos.

I would honestly love to know which side of the hockey fight argument you stand on. Do you think they’re a good part of the game or are you against hockey fights? Leave a comment below, connect with me on Facebook, reach out on Twitter @lewissports, find me on my new Google+ page, or email me at tim@timlewissports.com. You can also leave a comment on my YouTube channel if you want to. Your opinions are more than welcome!

P.S. If you think hockey fights are outrageous, you definitely won’t like this crazy baseball brawl.

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Posted in Sports by Tim Lewis 10 Comments

10 Responses to "Hockey Fight Videos (If You Like Them Or Not)"

  • Brandon says:
    November 23, 2011 at 8:39 am

    I personally like a good hockey fight. Besides all of the excitement it provides us as fans, it also adds to the game. It is a good way for a player to get a lackadaisical team excited, and I have seen them turn around an entire game.

  • Lesley says:
    November 23, 2011 at 1:01 pm

    Yes! I agree. It’s too bad though that you put up a video of 1 of maybe 2, Kramer losses. Kramer’s fighting last season was instrumental in several Chief wins. He changes the momentum sometimes with his fights. Is it any wonder they made him captain? ;) Hockey fights ARE part of the game. If someone doesn’t like it, don’t watch. Fighting is an Olympic sport. And yet it shouldn’t be part of hockey? It’s all entertainment plain and simple.

  • Matt R. says:
    November 23, 2011 at 3:49 pm

    I never played hockey, but I did play football for six years. I think this is part of a larger debate. I’m not a fan of very much of what Roger Goodell has done as NFL Commissioner. What’s the connection?

    Some of the sports we watch have the necessary element of violence. I sort of understand it from Goodell’s point of view. It would be a major black eye for the NFL if there was another Darryl Stingley on his watch. But these men choose to play a violent for a lot of money for a certain portion of their lives. If you want a safe game, go watch cricket.

    I can say, as someone who never sustained serious injury in the game, that my memories of playing football are the most precious of any sport. Party because of the camaraderie, but also partly because there are not many aspects of society left where fun is more important than safety. Hockey fights are fun to watch. Football is fun to watch.

    Can’t we leave a couple of unsafe but fun and savage things alone?

    -Meelch

  • Jocelyn says:
    November 23, 2011 at 4:22 pm

    You make some interesting comments, Tim and offered fight analysis of each tussle cited above. This is just one of the reasons I don’t like hockey fights…it becomes a fighting spectacle instead of a hockey game. I want to see passing, shooting scoring, even hitting not fighting! I don’t mind fights if I’m there to watch one but I’m not!

    I concede I’ve only played rec league hockey and occasional pick up games – I’m not a superb player but because of this experience I know that hockey is a gorgeous game that doesn’t require fighting. I also enjoy watching women’s hockey and youth hockey is a huge part of my life…none of those involve fighting. Kids are not taught to fight!

    I have a hard time respecting guys who stop a whole game and force us to watch them fight instead of upping the skill level and letting their game do the talking. It’s also hard to refute seasoned players like Brendan Shanahan, NHL VP of Player Safety and both Canadan and USA organizations who say that fighting has become a dangerous distraction hurting the sport and it’s players. I can’t remember the former Canadian announcer’s name (former pro player) who said, “Those who can’t play, fight.”

    Fights can be funny. I’ve watched a couple and laughed. But they don’t serve a purpose. Those who argue that they keep team mates safer are illogical. That’s like saying war keeps the peace. Fights aren’t going to stop cheap shots. But fines and suspensions will as we are seeing in the NHL. It’s understandable that fights can realistically break out in a heated game, but every other athlete in other physical sports has to keep their cool, why shouldn’t hockey players?

  • Jocelyn says:
    November 23, 2011 at 10:22 pm

    Okay so we have three people commenting here in favor of hockey fights who HAVE NEVER PLAYED. You don’t even sound like you’ve been athletes of any sort – at least not to the level where you have sacrificed yourself for the game (not the fans, mind you – the game). How can you even comment with any authority without that experience?

    Fan number 1 likes fighting because it’s “entertaining” “exciting” and “motivational.” This sounds like a fan who has no regard for player safety if it becomes boring for the fans to watch. Can’t game momentum change after an unbelievable goal or a big clean hit (also known as better skills)? YES!

    Fan number 2 likes fighting because it is also an Olympic sport so we should combine the two in one game…wow. Brilliant. Can we also combine curling and Sumo? I mean, their both legit sports. If she doesn’t like hockey, she shouldn’t watch. SweetPea – I come to watch hockey not MMA – maybe those who just want to see fights should go somewhere where people are fighting. And I might add, Kramer is a kid and this is Spokane JUNIOR hockey, let’s all keep this in perspective – he ain’t no Forsberg and this ain’t Denver. Fights don’t win games either – goals do. IF Kramer ever gets to the NHL, he will have a rap sheet in Mr. Shanahan’s office already

    Fan number 3 has only played football in (JrHi/HS?) and never been hurt. How intense was your game, Sparky? Were you a kicker? Sparky also feels entitled as a fan to see something “fun” and “savage.” Admittedly football is fun to watch but wait – there’s no fighting in football – how can it be fun? What’s more you consider athletes your personal gladiators. And you have the audacity to question educated, experienced professionals who have been involved in the game for years? What are your sports credentials? Are you a doctor, psychologist, pro, coach, trainer, family member? I’ve seen what pro football and hockey have done to the brains of my loved ones and it’s not pretty. But we all still love the game itself. It just needs to be played better.

    Fan number 4 is Tim – who has actually played hockey and is the closest person to being a sports expert. So far, his comments are the only ones close to being discuss-able.

  • Brandon says:
    November 23, 2011 at 11:28 pm

    No, I have never played hockey, but for you to assume that I am not an athlete, and I know nothing about sports because of it is a little absurd, especially since the only sport you have played is rec league women’s hockey… So for you to insult anybody’s athletic ability that has posted on here is kind of a joke.

    I would be willing to bet you that more players get hurt form “clean big hits” than do in hockey fights, so if you think I have no regard for player safety, you might as well throw yourself into that category.

    A big goal, or hit can change the momentum, the exact same way that a fight can. But those are things have variables that you cannot control as easy as you typed it. If it was that easy to score a big goal, they would not need a momentum change. in the first place.

  • Jocelyn says:
    November 28, 2011 at 11:52 am

    Brandon that’s a good point. I don’t know if you are an athlete or not. I apologize for that generalization. I was harsh.

    And you do not know that women’s rec league hockey is not the only sport I’ve played, so maybe we both over generalized a bit. I have played several sports at a competitve level, some as captain/team leader. Experience in competition does give a person a bit of insight though into how to conduct oneself in the heat of competition. I also watch the way people are taught to play by the rules in hockey and fighting just doesn’t fit. It is the only sport that has it. My experience in casual hockey taught me first hand that there is a LOT to the game itself. It’s technical, difficult, very physical and wonderful without ever fighting.

    I also said in my first post that the crackdown on fighting is being pursued by Canadian, American and NHL officials because THEY think it is diminishing the game. That sentiment is not unique to me. They know the game WAY more than I do. I respect that.

    And again, fights don’t win games, goals do and winning is the point isn’t it?

    You are also correct in stating that big clean hits cause more injury than fights. They do. Dirty hits also cause a lot of injuries too and that’s why many sports including football and hockey are looking for ways to diminish them – along with fights (which are usually prompted by a dirty hit).

    My biggest problem with fights is that they are disrespectful to a beautiful game of incredible players. You mention that fights change the momentum of the game easier. A good player can change the momentum with a goal or a big hit…a lesser player cannot. So just because the lesser player hasn’t the skill level, he is justified in starting a fight because it’s easier? This seems weak to me. If we really want to raise the skill level of the game, shouldn’t we avoid the lazy way out? What kind of athlete takes a cheap shot or easy way out anyway?

    I’ve read a lot about this. In fact here’s one I just read – an interesting article about the subject from people who know much more than I do: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/21/sports/hockey/boogaard-died-from-mix-of-alcohol-and-oxycodone.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

  • Jocelyn says:
    November 28, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    Here’s a new one:http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/28/sports/hockey/for-ex-nhl-linesman-dapuzzo-recovery-doesnt-stop-when-injuries-heal.html?pagewanted=1&src=un&feedurl=http://json8.nytimes.com/pages/sports/hockey/index.jsonp

  • Spokane Chiefs Week in Review 11/14/2011 – 11/20/2011 | Go Chiefs Go – A Spokane Chiefs Fan Page says:
    November 28, 2011 at 6:18 pm

    [...] Spokesman Review Video highlights of the Chiefs vs Broncos – Swift Current Broncos Hockey Fights whether you like them or not – Tim Lewis/KREM 2 WHL Plays of the Week – WHL Video highlights of Winterhawks vs [...]

  • Jocelyn says:
    December 6, 2011 at 9:13 am

    The final story of a three part series on the effects of brain trauma on hockey enforcers (namely, Boodgard) came out yesterday. Fantastic reporting by the New York Times.

    I’ve never been more sure of why I stand on the side I stand on. I don’t give a rip if I stand here by myself. I love this game. I love these players. The business of hockey is not sustainable if we continue to condone fighting and/or look the other way.

    Fans need to pull their heads out. Read every word.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/06/sports/hockey/derek-boogaard-a-brain-going-bad.html?pagewanted=all

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