Hockey: how to fix the fighting issue and injuries April 2, 2008
Posted by jphebert in family, hockey.Tags: bettman, fire bettman, hockey, nhl, nhlpa, stanley cup
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I think ice hockey must be the last sport on Earth to allow fights the way they do and I think it’s just plain stupid. Some claim the NHL will loose some audience, good, send these fans over to rastlin’ (pro wrestling) and new fans will come for the same reason.
A simple yet efficient way to improve player protection and eliminate fights is actually very simple: full-face helmet protection. If they guy in front of you has a full metal grill or an I-Tech style transparent unit, how can you punch him in the face? The ones to loose the most will be dentists anyway..
Also, on the topic of player protection, force them to wear kevlar neckguards. The NHL has the ability and authority to impose (with the NHLPA) equipment obligations. Look at Richard Zednik’s injury. ’nuff said!
The problem in all this revolves around Bettman and the ruleset. Take out fights and the players will pull dirty moves. How to manage dirty moves? 5 to 10 game suspensions without pay. And the NHLPA should go with this because they’re protecting the well-being of their members. If a dirty players gets caught 4 times (and yes such penalties should be given after the game from video replays), he looses half the season and half the pay. I call that motivation.
Also in that line of thought, actual hockey players will get promoted to more ice time and the show will get better with more plays and more passing and more goals. Don’t mess with the goalies’ equipment, just make the players play. Sometimes I think rules for women’s hockey should be applied to the NHL..
Good thoughtful post. I am no fan of hockey fighting, and have found myself embarrassed watching the greatest sport ever played, when it goes gooney.
Your suggested remedies, unlikely under Gary-Boy, could raise the the game to new heights.
Keep on,
Pete
Oh so many wrong points, I don’t know where to start!
Fighting isn’t allowed, its penalized, and players can be suspended if its over done, ala the instigator rule. And if you take out fighting, the NHL will lose more fans, than they are losing now because of the fighting.
Full face wouldn’t work, have you seen what the World Junior’s are like, when players have to wear full shields? They run around the ice playing dirtier than any other players because they know there is not retaliation that can come of it. And besides… you can still punch him in the face, and it can and usually does still hurt… its called blunt force.
The neck guards would never fly. Zednik was a freak accident, they will happen, and if you force players to wear KEVLAR, how are they supposed to turn their heads, or look down when they are looking for the puck?
The last thing we need players to be wearing is more protection, the shoulder pads and elbow pads that players are wearing now-a-days are like medieval suits of armour.
Lastly, the NHL just cannot impose rules, they have to be agreed on by NHLPA, which is why what you are saying, will never, ever happen.
I think thats terrible comment, thats hocky if you don’t like it don’t watch it don’t play it.
I play, I watch, I coach. That’s why I wish to see fighting leave hockey. I stick to my point, want fights watch boxing.
As for the gear, I think Nike or Reebok do the kevlar undergarments, cool and expensive. It’s not full body armor bur reinforced collar. Check it out, it’s a tad expensive but then they can afford it.
For the helmets, I agree, dirty tricks come into play. Suspend, fire players who injure others, it should not be allowed to return a guy to the game after causing injury on purpose. Hmmm – Bertuzi comes to mind.
If you can’t play the game clean, don’t. Great example for kids, we played last Friday against another team and were winning 2-0. The kids just started tripping our team.. Violence can’t be regulated at the NHL while little leagues and junior leagues don’t punish.
So you going to start handing out suspensions for trippings? There is simply too much emotion and speed and not enough room on the ice to keep that under control like that.
While I agree that dirtiness takes away from the game, ala Boulerice on Kesler, Simon on various occasions, etc.
I think you don’t want to watch the game the way it is, go watch figure skating, that’s is essentially what you want. People like petebyrne, I am sorry the be the one who kills their dreams, but there are far more people who want to the game to stay the way it is, than those who want fighting abolished.
You can’t suspend for minors like tripping, but when you willfully injure someone then there should be payback.
I don’t want to go watch figure skating as you suggest, I want the game cleaned up from what would require local law enforcement in other sports. If I punch someone in the face, I get to go to the local PD, no? Why don’t these rules apply to pro sports like hockey? Make sense, no?
With the playoffs coming around, the NHL needs to put it’s pants on so key players don’t get stupidly injured. How’d you feel if Crosby got taken out by a cheap shot out of the playoffs?
I’ve been away for a bit, but I want to continue this discussion.
Sorry, about the figure skating comment, that was more sarcastic then realistic. I don’t believe I know of any other sports that require law enforcement whenever someone is punched. And when two guys square off, and consent to fighting then I don’t understand what the problem with that is.
Of course when an incident like what happened in the QMJHL, with Roy’s son, then there should be action taken against that person, and it was. He was handed a sizeable suspension.
As for Crosby getting taken out. Rumour has it that Crosby is somewhat of a dirty player himself. For example, butt-ending Maxime Lapierre right off the draw. Besides, in play-offs there is barely any fighting anyway, because most of the goons and enforcers rarely get ice time. I would venture out to say that Laraque will be seeing most of the play-offs from the bench this year.
Thanks for posting!
I know I seem harsh with law enforcement, but there aren’t too many sports around that have this position on fighting. This is hockey and I know there are cheap shots, even in the novice level I coached this year: when our opponents were trailing 3-0 and could not win due to the timer, they started playing dirty. Come on coach..
Laraque is (sadly) an insurance policy to make sure Crosby/Malkin/Hossa don’t get bounced around like punching bags. I expect that he will get some ice time but let’s see how Chris Simon & other assorted types play. Heck I don’t expect Ottawa to survive the 1st round.
Nonetheless, the point I want to bring up is that the NHL needs to be much more tough on players, like Pronger not too long ago got off easy. If fighting can go out and the NHL build some “cahonases”, I think the sport will attract more fans.
On the same note, this would encourage more passing and more goals, where the goalie’s gear would not need to be touched.