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Whenever tragedy strikes or concerns for player safety have reached fever pitches, the calls for the NHL to ban fighting crescendo.
There was majority support for the NHL to enact "stricter penalties" for fighting after the death of Ontario AAA senior league defenseman Don Sanderson three years ago. There were questions asked after the late Bob Probert was diagnosed with CTE. The death of Derek Boogaard another other enforcers was used as a soapbox for anti-fighting advocates. Even Ralph Nader has made his feelings known.
Throughout all of those contentious calls has been one constant: NHL player support for fighting and opposition to an outright ban. This was reaffirmed in the latest NHLPA Players Poll, whose results were announced on CBC on Sunday (2011 results on top, then 2012):
Once again, NHL players voice overwhelming opposition to fighting ban
Article Source: Yahoo! Sports
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- Public Discussion (10)
Twenty of 20 in that poll, and 98 percent of 318 players surveyed in the NHLPA/CBC poll. That's overwhelming support.
But it's been like this. Ten years ago, The Hockey News asked 30 players from 30 teams; one player, anonymously, supported a fighting ban. (From the Avalanche in 2002 ... hmmm ... smells like Steve Reinprecht.)
Of course, there's also the matter of absolutes; as in, the responses are going to go one way when "FIGHTING BAN" is the question but might look differently if the issue was, say, "STIFFER PENALTIES FOR STAGED FIGHTS." That's an important distinction to remember.
Also important: That NHL players are a stubborn lot when it comes to the League dictating behavior. Or have we missed the players association's agreement to make visors mandatory …
So there are considerations and caveats, but that doesn't undercut the support for fighting exhibited in this poll and previous ones.
Fighting in hockey IMO is important for two reasons...
- It can help with a momentum shift for a team that's struggling.
- It helps regulate knuckleheads that think they can get away with a whole number of offenses that refs may not see.
- 5 votes
#1 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 12:51 PM EST- It helps regulate knuckleheads that think they can get away with a whole number of offenses that refs may not see.
Spot on Santino !
- 4 votes
Might as well go to the ballet.
or the NFL.
I pay money to see giant guys beat the hell out of each other and expect to see that. They get paid well (at least the NFL players do) but now you can't hit hard and have to do wrap up tackles. Fighting in hockey is the tradition of hockey, to take that away, not only takes away momentum changes but also squashes tradition.
- 3 votes
I pay money to see giant guys beat the hell out of each other and expect to see that.
Going to the Hawks Wings game tonight to see just that ;). Can't wait.
- 3 votes
Going to Deep Purple, can't stand watching Edmonton lose to Calgary yet again.
- 2 votes
OK, fine. Don't have a ban on fighting in hockey games. The next time a fight breaks out, the altercation can be treated like your everyday parking lot fight, with cops handcuffing and arresting the participants.
#2 - Wed Feb 22, 2012 12:44 PM ESTbrad
are you a hockey fan? there will not be anyone getting arrested for fighting in a hockey game, not at the nhl level, anyway. assault, now that is different? if a player comes up behind another when he is unsuspecting, and crushes him over the head with his stick, then that is assault, and should be treated as such. otherwise, boxing would be assault, as well. it is not. it is a sport.
- 1 vote
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