Fighting In The NHL-A Necessary Evil That Needs To Be Policed Better

Is fighting in the NHL a necessary evil?

It has become a topic of debate. On one side, you have those who are in favor of the act. An argument could be that fighting “restores balance to the Force”. In this game it would be hockey game obviously. But on the other hand, you have those who may argue that is unnecessary. Fightingis purely entertainment and that is why the NHL condones these acts. They see no value in it.

I believe fighting should be remain in the game of hockey. Not because the art of fighting has been existence for as long as I can remember. Not because of the old saying, “That was the way it was.” Not even because I believe the game of hockey will be less of a man’s sport.

No, I believe fighting should remain in the game of hockey because it gives the players on the ice control of their actions. It is perhaps one of the few independent acts an athlete in professional sports has left, without the severity of being ejected from a game. Take a look at the four major sports in North America: football, basketball, and baseball. In most cases, if a fight were to break out, the parties involved would be banished to the locker room automatically.

Hockey, however, is different. Most night’s you won’t even get a sight of a fight. It’s the skill that dominates. There is the body checking and an occasional BOOM for one player to the ice. However, it is not the end all, be all of the sport.

I’d argue there is a unofficial “code” players abide by when it comes to fighting. In January 2004, ESPN posted an article on the Do’s and Don’ts of fighting in the NHL. Heck, it’s even part of a popular hockey game’s DNA (though it doesn’t follow the actual “code” NHL players abide by). In a sense, it allows players to police themselves when it comes to fighting. It protects the more skillful players on the ice from being bullied.

However, in the wake of the tragic loss of the late Derek Boogard and the effects left on Detroit Red Wing’s enforcer, Bob Probert, the rough and tumble style associated with fighting is fading away. More awareness to the effects fighting has one’s mind and body are being brought to light.

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Today, the NHL is making every effort to discourage players from fighting. Everything from having officials step in between the two players such as the incident between Dion Phaneuf of he Toronto Maple Leafs and Jerome Iginla of the Colorado Avalance to penalizing players for removing their helmets. The League is thinking safety first by identifying that fighting is not the center of attention in a hockey game.

But if two willing combatants want to go nose to nose to protect their star player from getting run over, I am all for that. It’s the part of fighting where one of the players wants to fight, but not the other I have an issue with. A perfect example is the game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals goalies. Ray Emery was obviously the aggressor and Braden Holtby did not want any part. And though Holtby did not put up much of a fight and chose to protect himself, Emery continued to take shots until he was restrained. That, to me, is irresponsible on the part of Emery and the officials for allowing it. That is the part which I cannot stand and feel should be eliminated.

In my opinion, fighting should remain in the sport of hockey. However, it needs to be policed better. That means the NHL rules need to be strictly enforced by the people in the zebra suits on the ice. They must be accountable for the actions on the ice and their own, especially around fighting. If the rules are not followed, then what is the point of having them? They are put there for a reason. That’s player’s safety, first and foremost.

If these guidelines are ignored and a player is severely injured, it should fall on the officials who allowed that to occur. That should even include the officials in Toronto.