Why do they let NHL players fight on the ice?

[DuMa]

watching highlights of the Boston/Buffalo game. they just started fighting a minute into the game and the refs allow it.

confused.

[1987_Lakers]

$$$

[L.Kizzle]

Cause they're not black.

[Premeditated]

Cause they're not black.
yup, if that sh1t involved nikkas, the cops would have broke that sh1t up with the quickness.

[bagelred]

Well, of course they fight on the ice. Where are they supposed to fight, in the stands? How stupid would that be? Duh!!!!:facepalm

[StusOneGoodEye]

because it's white people fighting and they like pain for nothing

[Heavincent]

Because it's ****ing awesome and every sport should allow the same thing.

[NuggetsFan]

It's part of the game. Momentum, sticking up for teammates. Dunno about the states but in Canada you can walk into games of 10 year olds playing in Pee Wee and you'll have kids swinging and punching eachother in the cages. Carries over as you get older and into the NHL. NHL has had guy's who strictly were paid to fight, not so much anymore but for intimidation purposes, sticking up for the better players.

For example the fight that happened tonight your talking about? Happened because of this hit the last time the played.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TERA-GY2K1o

[InspiredLebowski]

Not to get all emo, but Real Sports did a piece on NHL "enforcers" a month or so ago, 3 of them, all young, killed themselves like a month apart. Talked to a lot of retired guys that used to play that role, it destroys your psyche. Whether or not the fans likes it or whatever, it needs to be stopped.

[NuggetsFan]

Speaking of hockey fights, the brawls can get insane at the lower levels. Just full out madness :oldlol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhDWvrTcSFY&feature=related

[DuMa]

yeah i really dont get it. i think someone once told me that they let them fight because on the ice, you can do really much worser to a person while theyre gliding, with a stick and with a blind side hit. so they let them fight to vent their mutual frustration for one another. but really its a pg-13 fight. theyre only allowed to use 1 fist apparently. not much you can do to one another.

[Toni]

We fight to protect our better players. If you take a run at our top scorer, we punch you out. Simple as that.

[ConanRulesNBC]

Because it's ****ing awesome and every sport should allow the same thing.

Yes. Hockey players aren't a bunch of p*ssies like NBA players are. NBA is always changing rules so you can't even play defense and superstar players get fouled when the other player barely touches him if he even touches him at all. That's why hockey and football are so fun to watch.

[ukfan22]

because hockey sucks dick and it's the only way to make it remotely interesting

[Flagrant 2]

because hockey sucks dick and it's the only way to make it remotely interesting
:lol

[vinsane01]

yeah i really dont get it. i think someone once told me that they let them fight because on the ice, you can do really much worser to a person while theyre gliding, with a stick and with a blind side hit. so they let them fight to vent their mutual frustration for one another. but really its a pg-13 fight. theyre only allowed to use 1 fist apparently. not much you can do to one another.

That's the only reason i can think of as well. Think about it, the big difference hockey has from the other major sports is they play with skis and sticks on ice. When fights ensue the danger is possibly more severe than any other sport because of the environment theyre in and equipment they use. Might as well allow the players to vent their feelings using less dangerous methods. And im sure if you look into hockey's history you'll find a relevant and justified answer.

[bdreason]

Fighting in Hockey is used to protect your "skill" players. If they didn't allow it, guys like Crosby would spend the entire night taking cheap shots and getting manhandled.

[Styles p]

because its harder to throw a good punch on ice skates instead of flat ground.

[senelcoolidge]

I never understood that either, why do the refs allow the players to just fight. It turns me off from the game more.

[kentatm]

That's the only reason i can think of as well. Think about it, the big difference hockey has from the other major sports is they play with skis and sticks on ice. When fights ensue the danger is possibly more severe than any other sport because of the environment theyre in and equipment they use. Might as well allow the players to vent their feelings using less dangerous methods. And im sure if you look into hockey's history you'll find a relevant and justified answer.


nobody fights with a stick or a skate.

its hard to get a good shot in when you are on the ice anyway.

its very rare somebody gets a full on shot to the face.

[Crystallas]

Hockey without fighting is called figure skating.

[Sarcastic]

Yes. Hockey players aren't a bunch of p*ssies like NBA players are. NBA is always changing rules so you can't even play defense and superstar players get fouled when the other player barely touches him if he even touches him at all. That's why hockey and football are so fun to watch.

:wtf: Tell David Stern to let the players fight.

[Lebron23]

Yes. Hockey players aren't a bunch of p*ssies like NBA players are. NBA is always changing rules so you can't even play defense and superstar players get fouled when the other player barely touches him if he even touches him at all. That's why hockey and football are so fun to watch.


Tell that to Coach Rudy Tomjanovich after he was punched by Kermit Washington.

[Nick Young]

because it's the only thing that makes this shitty sport interesting to watch.

[hammer2010]

:wtf: Tell David Stern to let the players fight.

How cool would it be if instead of free-throws the players duked it out in the paint for 3 points after a foul?


Btw one of the arguments I have heard is that Hockey is a such a fast and physical sport that if players weren't allowed to blow off steam with their fists every now and then they would resort to using their sticks in retaliation instead. :lol

http://cdn1.images.videobash.com/photos/000/007/290/7290.jpg

[JtotheIzzo]

fighting is to keep the peace. without it, it would be left to the refs and some Stu Jackson type.:facepalm

here is what starts a fight:
-cheap shot
-taking liberties with smaller skill players
-using stick as a weapon
-dirty hit
-acting too cocky
-showboating
-running your mouth
-f*ckin with the goalie

other contact sports allow for similar self-policing. In rugby for example you can 'rake' (stomp them and drag your cleats across their back or face) an opposing players who is cheating during a ruck.

to the delicate sensibilities of the uninformed fan it may seem boorish, barbaric or even something drummed up to gain popularity, but to those who understand the game it is an integral part of the culture of the sport and cuts back on more serious injuries that would occur if players knew they could get away with a malicious attack with only a penalty or suspension.

[InspiredLebowski]

Pretty convenient that there are specific roles in hockey to fight and when they literally kill themselves it's completely ignored. The hell is wrong with you people.

[Dolphin]

Pretty convenient that there are specific roles in hockey to fight and when they literally kill themselves it's completely ignored. The hell is wrong with you people.

Would rather be from a country that loves fighting in their sports than from a country who thought Rick Perry, Michelle Bachman and Herman Cain might be good presidential candidates.....see we just leave our stupidity on the ice.:oldlol:

[Balla_Status]

Would rather be from a country that loves fighting in their sports than from a country who thought Rick Perry, Michelle Bachman and Herman Cain might be good presidential candidates.....see we just leave our stupidity on the ice.:oldlol:

So why does Canada do everything we say then?

[Rake2204]

Pretty convenient that there are specific roles in hockey to fight and when they literally kill themselves it's completely ignored. The hell is wrong with you people.
I'm not sure I'm ready to say fighting is the direct cause of each of those players' deaths this past summer. Through years and years of hockey watching (though I'm still relatively young) I've never seen such a rash of deaths in a short period of time. I'd be more willing to call it an anomaly than a pattern. With that said, I do believe there may be a connection between concussions and depression and I find that to be a very real problem in the NFL as well as the NHL.

Directly regarding hockey fights, I admit I am very hypocritical. I love hockey fights. One of my favorite sporting moments of all-time was Darren McCarty's retribution beatdown of Colorado's Claude Lemieux. A year earlier, Lemieux had blindsided Red Wing Kris Draper into the bench area, breaking his jaw, swelling his entire face and forcing him to eat from a straw for months. Lemieux refused to apologize. So watching Claude get his that night in '97 was pure bloodlust. It was similar to that feeling I get when I see a YouTube video of some idiots trying to rob someone in a convenient store only to have a hero bust in and start handing out street justice. (The Lemieux Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOCXfu_mWyY&feature=related) (Convenient Store Street Justice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh1jI023_O8)

If I had to try to reason out hockey fights, I might begin with the unwritten rules established. 99% of hockey fights operate with a mutual respect. You fight clean, you remove head gear when possible, you mix it up with some grappling and fists, you move on. Within the confines of a glass-enclosed hockey rink, it's actually a relatively closed environment.

Further, as others mentioned, the idea of fighting while on skates leaves players sort of limited, and that helps. There's only so much they can do to one another. If I had to be honest, if fights were allowed in the NBA, where there's no boards separating players from the crowd, no unwritten fighting rules, often no mutual respect, and no skates, that seems to be a recipe for vicious, scary beatdowns where people's safety is very much at stake. How many allowable NBA fights would it take for someone to try to stomp on another player's face? One fight.

Each sport seems to have its own rules regarding fights. MLB fights are their own world, NHL fights are their own world, NBA fights are their own world, and NFL fights are their own world. Baseball fights mostly feature a lot of tussling and grabbing with little results (completely separated from the fans). Football fights most often occur with helmets on and a lot of tussling. However, when things get out of hand, they REALLY get out of hand (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNypDGoC_8M), especially when cleats and using helmets as weapons are involved. Basketball fights tend to have a high probability of spilling into crowds. Never a good thing.

Somehow, in a lot of cases, hockey fights, even at their wildest, are somewhat controlled. Even in that Detroit-Colorado fight, there's absolute mayhem, yet each player seems to understand that their equipment is not a weapon, they can't stab each other with skates, ganging up is not allowable, and each person squares off with a comparable opponent. Somehow, there's guidelines.

[Dolphin]

So why does Canada do everything we say then?

We didn't go to Vietnam or Iraq, silly. :roll:

I have a feeling some little baby is gonna want to do a back and forth now....my post was a joke. I love America....except for certain people and policies.

[DuMa]

I'm not sure I'm ready to say fighting is the direct cause of each of those players' deaths this past summer. Through years and years of hockey watching (though I'm still relatively young) I've never seen such a rash of deaths in a short period of time. I'd be more willing to call it an anomaly than a pattern. With that said, I do believe there may be a connection between concussions and depression and I find that to be a very real problem in the NFL as well as the NHL.

Directly regarding hockey fights, I admit I am very hypocritical. I love hockey fights. One of my favorite sporting moments of all-time was Darren McCarty's retribution beatdown of Colorado's Claude Lemieux. A year earlier, Lemieux had blindsided Red Wing Kris Draper into the bench area, breaking his jaw, swelling his entire face and forcing him to eat from a straw for months. Lemieux refused to apologize. So watching Claude get his that night in '97 was pure bloodlust. It was similar to that feeling I get when I see a YouTube video of some idiots trying to rob someone in a convenient store only to have a hero bust in and start handing out street justice. (The Lemieux Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOCXfu_mWyY&feature=related) (Convenient Store Street Justice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh1jI023_O8)

If I had to try to reason out hockey fights, I might begin with the unwritten rules established. 99% of hockey fights operate with a mutual respect. You fight clean, you remove head gear when possible, you mix it up with some grappling and fists, you move on. Within the confines of a glass-enclosed hockey rink, it's actually a relatively closed environment.

Further, as others mentioned, the idea of fighting while on skates leaves players sort of limited, and that helps. There's only so much they can do to one another. If I had to be honest, if fights were allowed in the NBA, where there's no boards separating players from the crowd, no unwritten fighting rules, often no mutual respect, and no skates, that seems to be a recipe for vicious, scary beatdowns where people's safety is very much at stake. How many allowable NBA fights would it take for someone to try to stomp on another player's face? One fight.

Each sport seems to have its own rules regarding fights. MLB fights are their own world, NHL fights are their own world, NBA fights are their own world, and NFL fights are their own world. Baseball fights mostly feature a lot of tussling and grabbing with little results (completely separated from the fans). Football fights most often occur with helmets on and a lot of tussling. However, when things get out of hand, they REALLY get out of hand (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNypDGoC_8M), especially when cleats and using helmets as weapons are involved. Basketball fights tend to have a high probability of spilling into crowds. Never a good thing.

Somehow, in a lot of cases, hockey fights, even at their wildest, are somewhat controlled. Even in that Detroit-Colorado fight, there's absolute mayhem, yet each player seems to understand that their equipment is not a weapon, they can't stab each other with skates, ganging up is not allowable, and each person squares off with a comparable opponent. Somehow, there's guidelines.

just saw that detroit colorado fight. if thats the worst hockey fight ever then its no wonder they let it continue on for years and years. it never gets worse than that?

[Rake2204]

just saw that detroit colorado fight. if thats the worst hockey fight ever then its no wonder they let it continue on for years and years. it never gets worse than that?
My apologies, I didn't mean to give the idea that was the worst fight ever. I'm just saying as a very big Red Wing fan, that fight was a monumental occasion in our history. It's believed that's one of the primary driving forces that led Detroit to their first Stanley Cup in fifty years that season. You don't often have a major sports championship keyed by a huge brawl.

This was Kris Draper after the Lemieux hit:

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii45/55fan/kris_draper.jpg

The Draper hit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eCHxytJ1LM&feature=related

This is one of the worst fights I've seen (in terms of the result): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDmpKOLFS64

[UConnCeltics]

Hockey is sick. I heard they are trying to get a NHL team back in Connecticut, any of you NHL guys know which team might jump at it?

[DaHeezy]

Hockey is sick. I heard they are trying to get a NHL team back in Connecticut, any of you NHL guys know which team might jump at it?

It might be the Yotes, Preds, or Panthers

[Maniak]

The only problem I have with it is that it lets players who have next no no skill at hockey play at the pro levels.

Teams will sign literal brutes(as long as they can skate) and only put them on when they want them to hit people and get in fights. Its not something that you can stop, but it sucks for players who are 50x as talented but don't get to play in the NHL.

[NYballin]

because hockey sucks dick and it's the only way to make it remotely interesting
my thoughts exactly

[JohnnySic]

The hockey hate in this thread is palpable.

[Rake2204]

Another reason I love hockey (at 30sec mark): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS_92eKcGMI

I love how this isn't the first time he's had a penalty box fight before (his first one was with a mascot). Plus, he sums it up with "Hey, that's old time hockey."

[Dasher]

A good hockey brawl gets the blood pumping.

[Meticode]

Another reason I love hockey (at 30sec mark): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS_92eKcGMI

I love how this isn't the first time he's had a penalty box fight before (his first one was with a mascot). Plus, he sums it up with "Hey, that's old time hockey."
LoL

[johndeeregreen]

Not to get all emo, but Real Sports did a piece on NHL "enforcers" a month or so ago, 3 of them, all young, killed themselves like a month apart. Talked to a lot of retired guys that used to play that role, it destroys your psyche. Whether or not the fans likes it or whatever, it needs to be stopped.
This is absurd, for numerous reasons.

Firstly, I wish my life sucked so much that I had to get into 20-25 fights (that aren't even really fights; due to being off balance on skates, and unable to really set yourself, 99% of fights end up without any blood spilled or anyone hurt. A hockey fight is far less severe than taking a good hit in football, or a sharp elbow in basketball) a year and bring in millions of dollars. I have no sympathy for these guys; they chose this life and could have stopped anytime. Being an on-ice tough guy isn't an addiction. They chose to do it because they wanted to. There are millions of tougher ways to make $30k a year, nevermind a couple million.

Secondly, take away fighting and you take away what is a relatively harmless mitigating method among the players. Guys getting hurt in the NHL aren't getting hurt from fights. They're getting hurt from cheap hits. Hits to the head and their causes are a WAY more severe source of injury. Take away fighting, and how do guys get 'even'? Dirty hits. Hits intended to injure.

Two off-balance guys throwing punches without a hell of lot behind them for 30 seconds, vs two 6'2", 220 pound trains flying into each other at full speed? It's a no brainer.

I'm really quite surprised at the audacity of your statement, because, no offense, other than an ESPN special I don't think you really know much about hockey or the real issues confronting it.

[johndeeregreen]

The only problem I have with it is that it lets players who have next no no skill at hockey play at the pro level.

Teams will sign literal brutes(as long as they can skate) and only put them on when they want them to hit people and get in fights. Its not something that you can stop, but it sucks for players who are 50x as talented but don't get to play in the NHL.
There was a time when this may have been true, but it's not anymore. You're acting like these guys were Kimbo Slice coming off the streets. That's complete nonsense. Most of the guys who can't at least skate at the NHL level without being a complete liability have been phased out. Dan Carcillo was a point-per-game player in junior. George Parros put the puck in the net at Princeton. Defined role 'enforcers' have become a lot more scarce, and it's because if you can't play, it doesn't matter how well you throw hands anymore. It's not like these guys are the Hanson brothers or something.

And trust me, there are no players "50x as talented" as these guys that aren't getting their chance.:oldlol: Just stop. And let's not act like they are taking up 5 roster spots on every team and keeping the would-be 30 goal scorers in the AHL. That's also nonsense.

I get the feeling you don't follow hockey very closely, either.

[johndeeregreen]

This is one of the worst fights I've seen (in terms of the result): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDmpKOLFS64
BTW Nick Kypreos is just fine nowadays, in fact in addition to his NHL salary he now brings in a few dollars doing commentary on national TV. I know he should have killed himself by now, but somehow he managed to lead a normal life in spite of the soul-crushing demands of being an NHL enforcer.

[Done_And_Done]

Fighting in Hockey is used to protect your "skill" players. If they didn't allow it, guys like Crosby would spend the entire night taking cheap shots and getting manhandled.

This...

Enforcers and fighters act as an ilk of policemen on the ice. Ironic, I know...

Eradicate the enforcer role from the game and guys will be taking liberties or cheap shots at superstars all kinds, thus prohibiting them from being... Well... Superstars. The smaller, skill first players would obviously become less effective without the support of the enforcer cast as well.

[Rake2204]

There was a time when this may have been true, but it's not anymore. You're acting like these guys were Kimbo Slice coming off the streets. That's complete nonsense. Most of the guys who can't at least skate at the NHL level without being a complete liability have been phased out. Dan Carcillo was a point-per-game player in junior. George Parros put the puck in the net at Princeton. Defined role 'enforcers' have become a lot more scarce, and it's because if you can't play, it doesn't matter how well you throw hands anymore. It's not like these guys are the Hanson brothers or something.

And trust me, there are no players "50x as talented" as these guys that aren't getting their chance.:oldlol: Just stop. And let's not act like they are taking up 5 roster spots on every team and keeping the would-be 30 goal scorers in the AHL. That's also nonsense.

I get the feeling you don't follow hockey very closely, either.
Well said.

Speaking of the Hansons, one of my favorite scenes in any sports film ever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXjdwAbBa5c

[NoGunzJustSkillz]

Not to get all emo, but Real Sports did a piece on NHL "enforcers" a month or so ago, 3 of them, all young, killed themselves like a month apart. Talked to a lot of retired guys that used to play that role, it destroys your psyche. Whether or not the fans likes it or whatever, it needs to be stopped.
alot (actually, probably all) of these enforcers wouldn't have a job if they didn't allow rough play/fighting. i wonder if they'd rather be professional hockey players or choose a different career that doesn't "destroy their psyche"?

[irondarts]

I love hockey. The fights are sometimes fun. But hits like this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SX0NLOPFhI) are worse than fights and more dangerous.

The Bertuzzi cheap shot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA8cdtpV0vM&feature=related) is probably the worst thing I've seen in hockey,because it ended Steve Moore's career and was a brutal cheap shot.

[Rake2204]

I love hockey. The fights are sometimes fun. But hits like this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SX0NLOPFhI) are worse than fights and more dangerous.

The Bertuzzi cheap shot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA8cdtpV0vM&feature=related) is probably the worst thing I've seen in hockey,because it ended Steve Moore's career and was a brutal cheap shot.
I have to be careful when I say this. . .but I always felt cheap shots like Bertuzzi's had been executed many times before. I thought his glove punch (I know gloves are still hard) was meant to initiate a fight with Moore, not to end it. There's a reason you don't punch someone from behind (and this is it) but I thought Bertuzzi was a victim of circumstance. I don't think victim is the right word, but do you see where I'm coming from?

Ideally, I think his plan was to hit Moore and start a fight. However, as Moore began to fall (because the weird punch knocked him out) Bertuzzi assisted that tumble, leading to the neck injury. A play like that has happened many times before without a result like that. But again, like the Kypreos knockout, the result often is what matters most.

Here's a bunch of other dirty plays I find to be much worse than fights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDp8bHXNFGs

[Maniak]

I agree with Rake. It wasn't just the punch.

If you watch the clip Moore's teammate clearly sucker punches Bertuzzi in the exact same way.