Fights in Hockey

[TaxMonkey]

I wanted to see what you guys thought about hockey fights. I played hockey all the way through high school. I absolutely love the sport. But the NHL's encouragement of fights drove me away from the game a long time ago. It ruins it for me when there's a great hockey game going on and a fight breaks out. I know they have to do it to sell tickets, but its something that has bugged me for years. What if they allowed fights in the NFL wouldn't that suck?

 

[Memento]

I like good clean hockey as much as anyone. Honestly, though, I don't mind fights all that much. I'm probably biased because of being a Blues fan, but it's better than seeing a star player get taken out by an agitator (i.e., Cooke on Savard, Torres on Hossa).

 

[fearsomefour]

I did not grow up with hockey at all. The first hockey game I ever went to was in San Diego while going to college....the San Diego Gulls were an IHL (if that is the right league) team. The game live just blew me away. Simply the best live sport I have ever been to. Amazing speed and action. I didn't care for the fighting as it seemed like a distraction from a great live game.

 

[bluecoconuts]

They're moving away from fighting, the days of the enforcer are ending. I don't mind it though, I played as well and never really thought twice about fighting, I dropped the gloves a few times, but it wasn't my game. Fighting is down in the league, especially as more star players are hurting themselves in meaningless fights to "send a message" at the end of a game.

 

[Boston Ram]

I got into hockey because of the fights, but now I love the game. I do think there is a time and place for a fight and it has some value within the game. Im not a huge fan of two goons going at it for no reason, but a fight that develops organically is still fun. Its also nice to know that if your player takes a cheap shot, the player who delivered it will eventually have to answer for that in the game.

I don't think fighting is bad for hockey. I enjoy a good fight.

 

[RamFan503]

I have to say the fights are more entertaining in the minor leagues. I've been to a few Winterhawks games and the refs stand off to the side until one of the players hits the ice. But the game itself live is also incredible to watch. I've been to a few Kings games years ago. No where near as many fights - in fact one of the games, I don't think there was a single scuffle. The play is a lot smoother too. Those guys are amazing for what they do on skates. It's funny though. I almost prefer the minor league hockey. It's so raw. Sloppy? Sure. But those guys get after it.

 

[CodeMonkey]

The real purpose of having an enforcer/goon is to fix penalties which the ref did not call. Toughness is part of the fabric of the sport. When I was a kid only a few them even wore helmets and they sure as heck didn’t do anything so pansy as to wear face protection. It goes back to the glory days of the sport and changing things so ingrained is a slow process.

Fighting is not nearly as prevalent as it used to be and the refs now are quick to shut them down instead of just letting them duke it out like they used to. I'll admit that I find fights in hockey fun but I do agree it really has nothing to do with the glorious sport itself and I can see how you find it distracting. It is interesting how such behavior is tolerated to the extent it is in a popular major professional sport.

Hockey always takes a back seat to the other big three sports in popularity (f-ball, b-ball, baseball) and in order to grow it needs to be more appealing for general public consumption. Fighting in the sport is probably not amenable to that end. But, please don’t make them wear pink!

 

[CodeMonkey]

I did not grow up with hockey at all. The first hockey game I ever went to was in San Diego while going to college....the San Diego Gulls were an IHL (if that is the right league) team. The game live just blew me away. Simply the best live sport I have ever been to. Amazing speed and action. I didn't care for the fighting as it seemed like a distraction from a great live game.

We used to have a minor league team in the United Hockey League (not affiliated with the NHL) team named the St Charles River Otters. They played in a small venue known as "Family Arena". Parking was only 5 bucks, beer and food was cheap, and for 10 bucks you could get seats by the glass. The rink was small so that it was constant action. Good times! Minor hockey might be the best sports entertainment for the money you can get.

 

[RhodyRams]

We used to have a minor league team in the United Hockey League (not affiliated with the NHL) team named the St Charles River Otters. They played in a small venue known as "Family Arena". Parking was only 5 bucks, beer and food was cheap, and for 10 bucks you could get seats by the glass. The rink was small so that it was constant action. Good times! Minor hockey might be the best sports entertainment for the money you can get.

I go to Providence Bruins game about 1-2 times a month...$18 a ticket and usually can get real good seats. Wifey bought me tickets to a game for my Bday a while back (OCT) and I took my nephew, who has never been to a professional sporting event..he loved it. Of course he just wanted to see some fights, and he got one right in front of us 2 rows up from the glass

 

[LesBaker]

Rhody it's why I don't really watch and never did. I went to a high school that was a perennial hockey and soccer power, much more so in hockey and had many deep runs in the state playoffs and has some state titles.

No fighting was allowed of course, you got ejected. So watching pro hockey wasn't any fun and the sport has never had me as a fan. And watching a good hockey game is fun but I won't support that shit they call the NHL. It seems like there are 4-5 fights a game when I am in a sports bar and one or two of the TV's is showing NHL.

 

[LesBaker]

We used to have a minor league team in the United Hockey League (not affiliated with the NHL) team named the St Charles River Otters. They played in a small venue known as "Family Arena". Parking was only 5 bucks, beer and food was cheap, and for 10 bucks you could get seats by the glass. The rink was small so that it was constant action. Good times! Minor hockey might be the best sports entertainment for the money you can get.

I'm curious if you have ever been to an NBA game........I know it's a lot more money but out of all the sports I have seen live it's the most entertaining especially if one or both of the teams play an uptempo style. The guys in the NBA may be the cream of the crop when it comes to athletes.

 

[RamFan503]

I'm curious if you have ever been to an NBA game........I know it's a lot more money but out of all the sports I have seen live it's the most entertaining especially if one or both of the teams play an uptempo style. The guys in the NBA may be the cream of the crop when it comes to athletes.

Les - Have you been to a pro or semi-pro hockey game before? I've been to several NBA games (at least 30), and several of all the other premier pro sports games as well as boxing, horse racing, dog racing - you name it. Hockey is right up there with the best sport I've ever seen live. I have always been a Kings fan in hockey but it was always the fourth sport I'd really follow - and in boxing's hay day, fifth. Being that is the case, I think it says a lot for seeing hockey played live as I have had such a blast and yet really didn't have much of a dog in the fight out on the ice in most of the games I've seen.

For my money, hockey on a TV doesn't even compare to watching it live. It's probably why I've never gotten that into it as in following my Kings throughout the season. I really don't get into watching the games on TV unless it is getting down to playoff time. But live? Fuhgettaboutit.

 

[RhodyRams]

Rhody it's why I don't really watch and never did. I went to a high school that was a perennial hockey and soccer power, much more so in hockey and had many deep runs in the state playoffs and has some state titles.

No fighting was allowed of course, you got ejected. So watching pro hockey wasn't any fun and the sport has never had me as a fan. And watching a good hockey game is fun but I won't support that crap they call the NHL. It seems like there are 4-5 fights a game when I am in a sports bar and one or two of the TV's is showing NHL.

Got me wrong there buddy !! I am not speaking for or against fighting on the ice, or off it for that matter. Just stated that the fights was one of the reasons why nephew wanted to go to the game. Now he goes with me when ever he can . Me, I like the non stop action and fast pace of the live game.

plus the Ice Girls are easy on the eyes !!!

http://video.bruins.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=135775

 

[CodeMonkey]

I'm curious if you have ever been to an NBA game........I know it's a lot more money but out of all the sports I have seen live it's the most entertaining especially if one or both of the teams play an uptempo style. The guys in the NBA may be the cream of the crop when it comes to athletes.

I never have been to a NBA game live. I loved playing basketball as a kid but just can't really get into it as a fan. I'll watch a few games a year on tv but don't really follow any team specifically. I actually enjoy watching women's college bball the most during March Madness. The women's version is more of a team sport, which I like.

I didn't mean to say that minor hockey is the best sport but rather that it was the best value in live sports entertainment. I also enjoy going to the minor baseball clubs such as the Grizzlies and Rascals. Saint Paul Minnesotta has a fun minor baseball team that I got to attend a game of when I worked there a few years back...but I digress. The point is that you can take the whole family and have a good time enjoying a live sports event for not that much money. And, with minor hockey the rink is small so there's always a shot on goal situation. Action, action action!

 

[LesBaker]

@RamFan503 I've never gone to a hockey game other than in high school.

@CodeMonkey you should check out an NBA game if you have a chance sometime, it's a hoot. I knew you were talking about the value of minor league hockey......same with baseball, great fun and low prices.

 

[bluecoconuts]

Rhody it's why I don't really watch and never did. I went to a high school that was a perennial hockey and soccer power, much more so in hockey and had many deep runs in the state playoffs and has some state titles.

No fighting was allowed of course, you got ejected. So watching pro hockey wasn't any fun and the sport has never had me as a fan. And watching a good hockey game is fun but I won't support that crap they call the NHL. It seems like there are 4-5 fights a game when I am in a sports bar and one or two of the TV's is showing NHL.

How long has it been since you saw a hockey game? Most games don't have fights anymore. I think LA, which is one of the most physical teams in the league average a fight every 5 or 6 games maybe. Against rivals they're more likely to drop the gloves, but most teams don't fight a lot.

 

[LesBaker]

How long has it been since you saw a hockey game? Most games don't have fights anymore. I think LA, which is one of the most physical teams in the league average a fight every 5 or 6 games maybe. Against rivals they're more likely to drop the gloves, but most teams don't fight a lot.

I don't watch at all the only time I see any is if I bother to glance at a TV in a sports bar and even then I hardly even do that.

Same with baseball, that sport lost me years ago and I loved it into my early 20's but the strikes and everything made me lose interest.

 

[Selassie I]

My little brother (who isn't little at all) still plays hockey 3 days a week and he's 33 years old. I've learned most of what I know about that sport through him.

One thing I found pretty cool that I never would have known about hockey is that they wear a strap that holds their jersey down. Without it, an opponent could pull your jersey up over your head a proceed to punch the shit out of you and you wouldn't be able to stop it. That strap was invented because of the fights.

Hockey is only watchable for me in person,,, and I love the fights. Hahahaha

 

[CodeMonkey]

It's funny. That strap is like a hundred dollar option on the jersey. I bought the cool alternate Blues jersey with the laces on the neck this year thinking it would be unique. When I showed up at the game it seemed about 80% of fans wanted to be unique too. Oh well, it still a cool jersey. I didn't get the strap.

 

[Sum1]

I'd be lying if I said I didn't think the fights were exciting and a fun few seconds...but I really don't by the "code" crap that goes with them. That is a fabricated justification. There is no benefit to fighting and I really wonder why the game let it originate...It almost seems that a fight should be an ejection and even criminal in many cases. I get excited when a Blue wins a fight, but I really think that is because that is how I've always seen hockey.