There is a popular expression that goes, “I was at a fight and a hockey game broke out.” This is a casual observer’s idea of hockey, and underscores one of the most controversial issues in the National Hockey League: fighting.
The NHL is the only professional North American sports league (with the exception of mixed martial arts’ Ultimate Fighting Championship) where fighting is legal and sometimes even encouraged. Traditionalists swear by its spot in the game, but this once-popular opinion is dwindling because of the injuries, namely concussions, fighting often brings. But despite its drawbacks, fighting must remain in the National Hockey League (NHL) in order for the league to prosper, and ironically, for the protection of its players.
In order for the league to grow, and as Canadian hockey fans would hate to admit, the NHL needs the American teams to prosper financially, and fighting brings interest to the sport in non-traditional markets because of its entertainment value.
Whenever a fight breaks out, fans rush to their feet, caught up in the unbridled spectacle of adrenaline and testosterone that only hockey provides. Fights are the most watched highlights, as one hockey fight video on YouTube has 400,000 views while Evgeni Malkin’s goal-of-the-year has 200,000. Fighting drums up excitement and interest the NHL needs, especially if it is to compete with other sports in America.
Even beyond its entertainment value, fighting has an almost paradoxical importance: it is integral to the safety of the players because it quells dirty hits. For example, when Wayne Gretzky played for the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s, his linemates were skilled forward Jari Kurri and enforcer Esa Tikkanen — Tikkanen’s job was to protect Gretzky and Kurri by way of his fists.
Opposing players wouldn’t dare take a run at either Gretzky or Kurri because they would have to answer to Tikkanen, who is recognized as one of the game’s best agitators. Protection is not just for superstars either, it is for the entire team; Tikkanen would fight any opponent who dared go after a teammate.
The role of the “goon” still exists in today’s NHL, though it is diminishing. It is not a coincidence that with fewer fighters being employed, the number of dirty, blindside hits has risen. There is no Esa Tikkanen to stop perennial rat Matt Cooke from elbowing the head of an unsuspecting opponent. Hockey needs fighters to keep players like Cooke in check, because the oft-inconsistent discipline of Brendan Shanahan (the NHL’s Director of Player Safety) is not doing its job.
The case against fighting is that it is dirty and has a high probability of injury, and therefore should be removed from the game; however fighting is not hockey’s dirtiest or most dangerous play. The most dangerous play in hockey is the blindside hit, where one player throws his body at an unsuspecting victim, who has little chance of defending himself — and is almost always seriously hurt.
Fighting, however, has two willing combatants, both with ample opportunity at self-defense and, often, respect for his opponent: one will often see the two fighters removing their helmets to constitute a level playing field. There is no respect in the blindside hit.
Fighting has its place in hockey: to entertain and defend. Without fighting, the NHL could see less interest in American markets and a rise in blindside hits to the head, either of which could be a bigger blow to the game than any punch thrown. Therefore, fighting is not leaving hockey anytime soon.
