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FIGHTING IN HOCKEY

Shock and feelings of tragedy rippled across media outlets on Jan 2, 2008. “Don Sanderson of the Senior AAA Whitby Dunlops died as a result of injuries resulting from a hockey fight on Dec. 12 in which his helmet came off ( Stop Fighting in hockey, Par 5). As result, all across the nation and throughout sports networks online and offline, the networks flickered and chattered discussing the conflict over the place of bare-knuckle fighting in professional hockey and dragging it into the limelight. Specifically, the sport of hockey has transformed into undoubtedly a staple of many people in Canadian society and culture with its love and passion for the cold winter sport. Thus, there has been considerable backlash and tension surrounding not only the potential for a “knee-jerk” reaction to quickly remove fighting but also the long term plan and precautions for keeping fighting a part of the game of hockey. Overall, the debate remains mainly on two fronts, those who see fighting in hockey as an integral part of the game and those who deem it senseless and brutal violence. The following research paper will consider both sides separately and then consider the future of this rising social cause.

__Those who wish to keep hockey a Part of the Game__ Primarily, the first group to be examined will be the “traditionalists” who love the “Old time Hockey” or simply those who consider it to be one of the main draws or attractions to actually watching a hockey game. Significantly, it is almost unavoidable for those who live in the domain of North America to have never heard of the NHL (National Hockey League) and almost more impossible in recent years to because of the potential of knowledge and information to spread more prominently worldwide with the advances and forthcomings in global communication technology. While the NHL was not the first professional league of hockey, it is the seemingly the longest lasting iteration and most notable form of Professional hockey in North America being established in 1917 and lasting till the present day (NHL History). Primarily, it has been reported that this season (08-09) there has been an increase in viewer ship “for Montreal Canadiens' telecasts on French-language RDS is up 22 per cent, to 783,000 per game”(Houston). As well, else where in Canada the sports Network TSN, which covers a variety of hockey teams’ games, has reported “average viewership is up 17 per cent from last year to 481,000 a game”(Houston). Yet, statistics also show that The Toronto Maple Leafs audiences “are up 4 per cent from last year, to 1.206 million a game”(Houston) Comparatively, while the U.S. has struggled with viewership of hockey and has been recently “averaging 308,695, a rise of 18 per cent”(Houston). Therefore, with an increasing viewership there is much interest in the NHL’s reaction and decision regarding fighting and its place in the game because of the NHL’s long history as an established hockey league. Furthermore, after the controversy and debate sparked by Don Sanderson’s death from a hockey fight, Gary Bettman, commissioner of the NHL responded and issued a statement claiming “"I believe that most of our fans enjoy that aspect of the game," and that “I do not think it is the be-all and end-all of our game, but it is a part of the game” (Alan Adams). Moreover, commissioner Bettman also stated that the removal of fighting from hockey could “lead to more stick fouls and dirty play” and he also claimed the league was looking further into the issue (Alan Adams). Significantly, even though Bettman is notable for introducing rules to deter fighting and strengthening those rules in 05-06, it is bold statement to the status of fighting in hockey when he considers it a part of the game (Rule 56-Fisticuffs). In addition, fighting in hockey has been around since the games inception in 1917 and current hockey player Joe Thornton who has played for numerous Canadian National teams, considers fighting like “tying up your laces or shooting the puck. It’s been part of hockey for a long, long time”(Alan Adams). Furthermore, one newspaper reporter compares Hockey Fights to Nascar by stating, “ some fans enjoy seeing these fights, just as some motor racing fans might like to see crashes - as long as nobody ever gets hurt, that is”( Times Colonist ). Thus despite, the reporters obvious criticism of hockey fights, he indentifies that there is other reasons besides the skill and talent for people to watch the game, whether it be safe or not or even legal in the context of hockey or society. Next, Don Cherry, a Canadian icon and hockey legend who is one of the main commentators on CBC’s famous “Hockey Night in Canada”, is one of the most vocal persons in their love for fighting in hockey. Particularly, for Don Cherry fighting is all about respect and protecting star players who really have talent and drive the team to victory (“Sticking up for Your Superstar”). For instance, Don Cherry’s biggest trouble with the game of hockey right now is the inclusion of the “Instigator rule”. Taken from the NHL rulebook, the instigator rule, the main focus of Don Cherry’s argument essentially establishes that “ An instigator of an altercation shall be a player who by his actions or demeanor demonstrates any/some of the following criteria: … conduct in retaliation to a prior game (or season) incident; obvious retribution for a previous incident in the game or season.(Rule 56-Fistcuffs). Therefore, in Cherry’s opinion the abolishment of this rule would lead to more accountability, more respect and less cheap shots on star players by removing the rules restricting fighting (“Sticking up for Your Superstar”). At the same time, Don Cherry claims that those who wish to ban hockey have never even played the game and know nothing about hockey (Houston). Significantly, Don Cherry even criticized Wayne Gretzky, generally one of the most widely famous hockey players by saying Gretzky “ should restrict remarks to his particular areas of expertise - stuff like passing and goal scoring”(Houston) not fighting. Specifically, what Gretzky suggested on the grounds of fighting was “a penalty be called for tripping or throwing down an opponent during a fight”(Houston). Importantly, Wayne Gretzky, a former player of the game, did not suggest to remove fighting the game, but more significantly offer a solution and sanction to avoid perhaps a similar result of which happened to Don Sanderson. Overall, the argument for keeping fighting in hockey consists of the majority of players and hockey icons alike. In sense many people on this side of the argument are considered traditionalists or even called “dinosaurs” for not changing with the new morals and values in societies. __ Those who see fighting as a negative aspect and want to see it removed completely __ In contrast, to those who want to keep fighting in hockey, there are those who see fighting in hockey as senseless violence taking away the focus from players with true skill and talent (Times Colonist). Significantly, Erik Kuselias who is a lawyer turned sportscaster for ESPN radio claims its “fascinating and very weird. Its part of the game, but it’s not legal in society”(Cameron). As well, Mark Ritter, a writer for T.O. sports magazine asserts in relation to the death of Don Sanderson that if the “i ncident happened outside of a bar or any other public place the Police would be charging Corey Fulton with Manslaughter or maybe even Second Degree Murder”( Mark Ritter). Yet, Mark Ritter also critically analyzes the Don Sanderson fight by saying “his death was not a direct result of the fight…he died as a result of his helmet coming off and hitting his bare head on the ice surface”(Mark Ritter). While Mark Ritter his by no means a prominent figure in the public the debate over fighting and hockey, his opinions are significant to showing the various viewpoints critically from both sides of the argument and the complexities surrounding them. Therefore, while fighting is still a crucial issue to discuss, obviously more research and consideration of prevention methods and solutions will have to be considered in the future. Along the same lines, Eddie St. Pierre, compares the status of hockey of NHL to international Hockey rules by stating, “ fighting isn't condoned in the Olympics, world hockey championships or in university sports”( St. Peierre, Par 13). St.Pierre continues stating one of the newer arguments against fighting in hockey “there was no fighting at the recent world junior championship in Ottawa and the attendance record was broken”(St.Pierre, par 13). While St.Pierre is not a significant factor in the NHL’s decision to remove fighting, he raises valuable questions about the role of fighting as entertainment of hockey, as he was true in saying the attendance records were broken at the World Juniors (OttawaStart). On another note, in response to the claims made by Don Cherry many on opposite side of his claims to keep on hockey in fighting, state that he is a “hypocrite” because he “ made several million dollars over the last 20 years selling DVDs that contain, among other things, hockey fights”(Knight, par 8). Therefore, while many fighting maybe a key entertainment aspect of hockey for many fans, many people outside of hockey like Eddie St.Pierre question its role and safety in the game when it now constitutes perhaps life or death in the wake of the Don Sanderson tragedy. __ Solutions and Future Considerations __ Furthermore, many other prosecutors for the removal of hockey claim that even the professional fighting leagues like the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) where protective gloves on their hands when fighting (Buccigross) As mentioned before, Wayne Gretzky stated that there should perhaps be more sanctions in fighting involving “ a penalty be[ing] called for tripping or throwing down an opponent during a fight”(Houston). Already in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), a minor hockey establishment involving young prospects “instituted a game misconduct and an automatic one-game suspension for players who remove their helmets or undo their chinstraps before or during fights”(TheCanadianPress). In the wake and aftershock of the death of young hockey player Don Sanderson, the NHL has yet to make an official decision or any changes to the rulebook regarding fighting or safety measures to prevent disaster. As a result there is generally two sides in the debate anxiously and critically debating over the role of fighting in hockey. Yet, if you deicide to take a side in the fight, you should ironically be prepared to fight for your beliefs. Works Cited Adams, Alan. "Bettman admits fighting sells tickets, won't ban it." __CBC.ca - Canadian News Sports Entertainment Kids Docs Radio TV__. 05 Feb. 2009 . Buccigross, John. "Hockey fights are a double-edged sword - NHL - ESPN." __ESPN.com__. 05 Feb. 2009 . Cameron, Crash. "London Free Press - Hockey - Legal opinion on hockey fights." __London Free Press | Breaking news - London, Southwestern Ontario and the world__. 05 Feb. 2009 . The Canadian Press. "Sports.theglobeandmail.com: OHL imposes helmet rule." __Globeandmail.com: sports.theglobeandmail.com__. 05 Feb. 2009 . Houston, William. "Globeandmail.com: NHL audiences on upswing." __Globeandmail.com: Canada's National Newspaper__. 05 Feb. 2009 . Knight, Stephen. "CANOE - SLAM! Sports – Dr. Hockey - Don Cherry the hypocrite." __CANOE - Canadian Online Explorer - Canada's news, sports, entertainment, finance and lifestyle site__. 05 Feb. 2009 . "NHL History." __Toronto Maple Leafs Fan Site! Catch The TML Fever.__ 05 Feb. 2009 . Ottawa Start. "Ottawa&acirc;€™s world juniors set to break event attendance record today." __Ottawa Start | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada__. 05 Feb. 2009 . Ritter, Mark. "Should Hockey Eliminate Fighting? :." __T.O. Sports__. 05 Feb. 2009 . "Rule 56- Fisticuffs-NHL.com - Rulebook." __NHL.com__. 05 Feb. 2009 . ""Sticking up for your superstar"" __CBC.ca - Canadian News Sports Entertainment Kids Docs Radio TV__. 05 Feb. 2009 . Online Video "Stop fighting in hockey." __The Ottawa Citizen__. 05 Feb. 2009 . St.Pierre, Eddie. "Timestranscript.com - It's time to take fighting out of hockey - Breaking News, New Brunswick, Canada." __Timestranscript.com - Breaking News, New Brunswick, Canada__. 05 Feb. 2009 . Times Colonist. "Hockey's best, and darkest, sides." __Times Colonist__. 05 Feb. 2009 .