A frequent argument that occurs on talk radio, in newspapers and with groups of hockey fans is whether there is any place for fighting in hockey. Some say that fighting adds nothing to the game itself and disrupts the purity of the sport. Purists will stand by the opinion that fighting has nothing to do with a game that is supposed to be about skill. How could two guys dropping the gloves and beating each other silly possibly make a game, whose sole purpose is to put a round rubber puck into a net anymore enjoyable?
Those people couldn’t be more wrong.
Remember the game between the Quebec Ramparts and the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, of the QMHL? It was a complete blowout (7-1) in favour of the Sagueneens late in the second period when all hell broke out.
Watch it again if you have to and see if ANYONE in the arena is not loving every minute of that brawl. The players, the announcer and most importantly - the fans were all thoroughly enjoying the fight, especially when Patrick Roy’s son Jonathon Roy skated the length of the ice to put his fist into the face of Chicoutimi goalie Bobby Nadeau. Listen to the fans, they almost sound disappointed with Roy until he actually makes his way over to the other side of the rink - and when he does, they erupt in excitement. The players on the bench cannot contain themselves as they cheer on teammates and the announcer even has himself a nice chuckle. Everyone wins!
Against Fighting In Hockey
The only people who don't like hockey fights are league officials who think it sends the wrong message that the game is nothing but a bunch of Neanderthals on skates who club each other over the head until their competitor is unconscious and soccer (or hockey) moms who would teach their kids to settle the on-ice dispute with their words, because violence is not the answer; even though you know the kids father is high-fiving him in the car on the way home after fighting in a game. And these are the same moms who are willing to kill a parent from the other team in the stands for heckling their kid on the ice.
The NHL’s recent discussion about dropping “staged fights” from the game really needs to be re-examined. They need to understand the entertainment aspect of these fights and they need to be smart enough to give the audience what it wants. The NHL struggles enough to get fans to watch their product - don't bother saying that only cities like Nashville, Columbus and Phoenix have poor attendance records because you'd be wasting your breath. Even original six cities like Detroit have trouble drawing people out to games. Did you know that Chicago stopped showing Blackhawks games on local TV because nobody was at the arena? So why not put at least one "tough guy" on every NHL team to beat each other up once a game? If the fans want to see fisticuffs, then supply it! There is nothing wrong with two grown men dueling it out at centre ice, especially if it helps sell the rest of the product. People love violence, and violence sells, it's that simple.
Great Fights In NHL History - Felix Potvin v. Ron Hextall
Call up your Leaf fan friends right now and ask them to name their favourite Leaf moments. Most, if not all of them will mention the Wendel Clark v. Marty McSorley (1993 Western Conference finals) or the Felix Potvin v. Ron Hextall (November 1996) fights - besides the obvious Darryl Sittler 10-point game or Douggie's wrap around goal against St. Louis at 3:16 of double overtime in game 1 of the 1993 Norris Division Finals.
If you need more proof that fighting does have a place in hockey, and a significant place at that, think of who draws in crowds both in the arena and on TV. Is it Sydney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and Mats Sundin? Yes, but you'd be a fool to think that guys like Bob Probert, Tie Domi and Sean Avery weren't just as important to the success of the game.
A good, old fashioned hockey fight can also sway the outcome of a game. How many times have you seen a team down by 2 or 3 early in a game - they put their enforcer on to start and win a fight and then that same team comes back to win the game? It's because hockey is such an adrenalin-fueled game that something as simple as watching your teammate pummel an opponent can total motivate you to do your part as a scorer, a defense man or a goalie to step up your game to help the team win.
Fight supporters can’t be ignorant enough to think that if fighting were to be taken out of the game that nobody would watch, because they would. But why take away a part of the game that fans, who ultimately pay the bills of owners and the salaries of players, love and pay to see?
