Violence in Hockey

Since the beginning, violence has been an element of hockey. Throughout history, many players have been subjected to violent acts far more severe than those permitted in hockey. These cases of violence have been dealt with on an individual basis and rules have been established in relation to many incidents.

Now more than ever many individuals and organizations are advocating to put an end to fighting in hockey. I personally believe this is wrong. With the advancement of hockey equipment technology and the science which encompasses athletic performance, the game is becoming faster than ever. To maintain its traditional elements, hockey must remain a high-contact sport, despite the game's increasing speed and player skill.

To begin, I must address how fighting impacts the game. Hockey is such an emotional sport. The highs and lows of each game are what make sports interesting and keep fans engaged constantly. As mentioned before, hockey has become faster than ever. As a result, momentum plays a significant impact on the outcome of each game. Fighting in hockey is sometimes misunderstood to imply two of the toughest players going head-to-head. Of course, this occurs, but often the best players and leaders will step up on occasion and fight to re-energize their team.

Next, I’d like to address how fighting helps build teams. Fighting helps teams find their character, and as well creates rivalries. Nobody likes to see a teammate go down. When a teammate goes down, regardless of the opponents’ intentions, fighting allows players to defend their teammates and police others. As repetitive as it may sound, hockey has become so fast. I emphasize this point because things happen so quickly. Hits that happen half a second too late can result in injuries, this is where policing steps in. Players hold other players responsible for their actions. Nobody can argue the fact that teams that stick up for each other come together. Those are the teams that ride their highs and lows together. It builds confidence on the ice, comradery in the dressing rooms, and friendships outside the rink.

We cannot forget to mention that the NHL is a business. Fans are attracted to fighting. In my opinion, there are very few hockey fans, casual or die-hard, who don’t enjoy fighting. They may not understand why, but it provides entertainment. Casual hockey fans may not know the rules of hockey, but fighting may get them into a seat, which means more money. Thinking back to when I was a kid and frequented many QMJHL games. My sister was too young to understand what was happening but the excitement in her eyes when two players would drop the gloves would be enough to convince my parents to bring us to the next game. This is true for hockey at all levels where fighting is still permitted. Fans will continue to pay to watch games knowing there is a chance there may be a fight.

Throughout history, there has been violence in hockey. We’ve all heard the story of how the first hockey game ended in a brawl. Fighting is a traditional part of the sport. It always has and, in my opinion, it needs to stay.

In all honesty, I don’t know what most professional players have to say about fighting in hockey. But I’m sure most if not all players in the NHL grew up watching hockey fights. For them, it’s most likely always been a part of the game and they haven’t given much thought about it. In modern hockey, the fighting remains on the ice, players respect each other, and any altercations rarely continue after the game's end.

Many will argue that fighting must be removed due to emerging research on head injuries in hockey. I agree that head injuries are terrifying, and nobody wants to see another player get hurt. This risk has always been there. Players willingly step foot on the ice day in and day out knowing there’s a risk of injury. If you're reading this, you should express your thoughts on violence in hockey before it's too late.