Saturday Night’s Alright for Hockey.
In the second half of our series on fighting in hockey, guest contributor Stephen Heckbert takes the position that fighting is bad for the game.
The big debate in Ottawa today has been about Chris Neil’s role in the Senators playoff fortunes this season, and many are saying it’s his role as an enforcer that makes him important.
“He might drop the gloves.” “The Rangers have to be careful.” Statements made as though the odds of a fight in the playoffs are high.
They aren’t, for a very good reason — fighting is now unnecessary in hockey. And, if the rules were properly enforced, fighting is the one thing we should never see again.
The reasons why it must end are obvious — there are enough studies about CTE and the long-term impacts of concussions that voluntarily arranging to have people punch each other on the ice is far too dangerous.
“But it’s part of hockey!”
Hockey used to ban the forward pass. Enough said.
Hockey can change, and indeed it must again. The best players in the world must be given the freedom to be the best players.That means there are rules that need to be enforced.
It is a game in which players carry a stick — a stick that can be used as a weapon and which is — as Sidney Crosby as can attest — going to hurt if it hits you in your head. So, there must be consequences to using your stick improperly.
Indeed, fighting in hockey must end — but it must be accompanied by a proper enforcement of the rules.
I have coached hockey, I have played hockey, and — at every level — the enforcement of the rules are arbitrary. It is impossible to predict what will be a penalty in any given situation, and it always seems to be based on the referee, the circumstances of the game, and when it’s being played.
Indeed, “they’ve put the whistles away” is often heard on broadcasts as though it is a positive.
It’s insane. The NFL and the NBA seem to be able to call rules in a similar way, even in their finals. A foul in basketball is usually called as a foul, no matter the teams and no matter the score.
But in hockey, one referee’s slash is another referee’s “just keep playing.” Naturally, this can cause tensions to get out of hand. Predictability in officiating should be the dream of hockey players and fans around the world.
Fighting in hockey must go. There is no place for dropping the gloves, and it no longer serves any purpose other than a nostalgic memory about old Philadelphia Flyer teams.
In my dreams, the officiating in hockey will become so predictable and consistent that everyone watching an NHL game, or a minor hockey league game, will know what will be a penalty, what will get called back, and what the rules are. Players will control their emotions because shenanigans after the whistle will always be called, running the goalie will be a penalty, and punching the other team’s best players (hello, Vancouver Canuck fans) will get you thrown out of the game — every time, even in the Stanley Cup finals.
Hockey is a skill game. Let’s emphasize the skill and eliminate the other crap, including fighting.
Stephen Heckbert is a professor of Public Relations at Algonquin College. He is also a lifelong sports fan.
