Fighting Has a Place In the Game

Dwight Wakabayashi
Oct 20, 2001

Does fighting have a place in the game of hockey? The question has been asked far too many times, and the debate goes on. When wondering why the fighting debate has lasted so long without a clear cut answer, you have to separate fights into different types, weighing each one carefully to determine if it can be eliminated from the game.

Type one can be called "The Entertainment Fight". These are the fights, which occur throughout the league where each teams heavyweight goes toe to toe with the other. These types of fights happen all the time and seem to be the ire and target of most anti-fighting proponents. They are often premeditated, or happen unprovoked to each other. From the perspective of the two players involved, these fights pose a challenge of ego, competition, and honor. The young fighters feel they need to know where they stand in the big picture, they want to establish themselves in the league. Ego and wonder as to whether they can truly be the best drive them. For the established fighters it is a case of maintaining a hard built reputation, feeding their ego, improving on their record and in some cases simply doing the honorable thing and giving the youngsters a shot. Some players involved also feel an obligation to do their part to entertain the fans. They know they are not going to produce a highlight reel goal for the fans dollar. From a hockey fans perspective you either hate these fights or you love them, but there is no doubt that for the majority of fans that these fights provide outside entertainment when you pay the price of admission. From a team perspective, these fights have little bearing. There is rarely a necessary statement made in these fights. Sorry fight fans, entertainment can be achieved in many other aspects of the game of hockey. When you look at it closely, "The Entertainment Fight" is one type that can be eliminated from the game.

Type two can be called "The Team Fight". These are fights that have team implications underlining them, with respect being the ultimate purpose. They can be premeditated or not. Your team is flat and lifeless and in need of some sort of spark to wake them up. The "bullies" of one team are targeting the goalie or the smaller, highly skilled players on another team with intimidation or injury being the intent. These are just two of the many situations that occur on the ice where a fight may be necessary for the respect and well being of your team. This is where the term "policeman" originates, and the reason why Dave "Killer" Semenko rode shotgun with the best player to ever play the game. To ignore or deny the fact that Semenko had a purpose in the career of the Great One, is to endorse the reason why a player like Peter Forsberg has to take an extended leave from the game. Times have not changed that much on the ice. Liberties are taken with the stars on your team, and the threat of physical retribution is the only thing to prevent them, for the good of the team. "The Team Fight" always has and always will have a place in the game. To eliminate that is not at all better for the game.

Type three can be called "The Spontaneous Fight". These fights are not premeditated at all. Hockey is a physical, territorial, competition played by grown men with human, raw emotions. No one wants to give an inch when they are on the ice, yet everyone wants to take one. It is this equation that makes hockey and competition what it is. The fact that tempers can crack at any given time is what gives hockey its incredible allure. It is inevitable in a game like this that personal fights will occur. Hockey is physical and emotional, your patience and temper are driven closer to the edge each time you are imposed upon. Everyone has a breaking point, some sooner than others. In hockey, when you have reached that point and you have a stick in your hand, the best thing to do is drop it and the gloves along with it. Let the person who has driven you to that point do the same, and settle it once and for all. There is honor in that fight. There is a place in hockey for that fight. There has to be.

The problem with the great debate on fighting is the black and white. Fighting or no fighting? There are many gray areas in between, many different types of fights that occur. It is clear that some may not have a place in the game. It is also clear that others must have a place in the game. To deny that is to deny the passion hockey brings.

Your own opinions can be expressed in the message forums.

Editorials are opinions of the author, not this website, the owner of this website or any of its members.