The Role of Fighting in Hockey

Photo taken from http://jasonfeldman.wordpress.com/2010/09/06/hockey-fight/

Fighting is illegal in all hockey leagues but what distinguishes the North American Junior Hockey Leagues and the North American Professional Leagues is that they are the only leagues that do not punish fighting with an automatic ejection from the game. Fighting in these leagues is punishable by a mere five minute major penalty, now more commonly known among sports enthusiasts as "five for fighting". That really is a small price to pay if you get to show another player what's what with several blows to his/her face. In women's hockey, minor hockey, college and European hockey leagues and in International and Olympic Competitions, fighting is punishable by ejection. Funny how many future and current professional hockey players seem to be able to play without fighting when under those rules.


Supporters of fighting claim it must be left in the game because it deters violent hits, stick work and cheap shots, especially against star players like Sidney Crosby. Obviously it does not deter all cheap shots, since Mr. Crosby continues to suffer the effects of the initial head shot of one David Steckel. As Scott Morrison pointed out in his article on the subject entitled Taking fighting out of hockey would be wrong, "Fighting serves as an outlet on one side and a deterrent for misbehaviour on the other. Does it prevent cheap shots entirely? Of course not. There are no absolutes, just as the death penalty doesn't stop people from murdering."


Opponents of fighting want it out of the game because of the brutality of it all. Fighting causes fractures, facial injuries, head injuries resulting in brain damage and even death. According to the Wikipedia Article entitled Fighting in ice hockey, "Opponents of fighting cite that international and college hockey, which both harshly penalize fighting with suspensions, lack the incidents or "stick work" violence proponents claim to fear, and question what it is about North American professional ice hockey players—unique to major professional team sport — that renders them incapable of controlling themselves on the ice without fighting." 


I am a huge hockey fan and continue to play the game myself. I am shocked at the number of cheap shots and overall lack of respect for other players on the ice. I think that if we bring respect back into the game, fighting will no longer be necessary.


Perhaps the question then should not be "what is the role of fighting in hockey" but rather, "what is it about North American professional ice hockey players that renders them incapable of controlling themselves on the ice without fighting?" Mature professional athletes really should be able to don't you think?