Five for Fighting

This offseason saw the sudden and tragic passing of two of the NHL's toughest enforcers.  New York Ranger Derek Boogaard died unexpectedly after mixing alcohol and prescription pain killers.  Winnipeg Jet Rick Rypein also died this summer due mainly from issues brought on by depression.  With these recent string of events, members of the hockey world are starting to call into question the validity of fighting in the NHL.  Quite a few people believe that fighting serves absolutely no purpose in the game today; and that it shows young kids that violence is a good way to deal with things.  Fighting serves a very critical purpose in the game however, and is reserved for the physically and mentally tough.

The NHL is one of the only major sports that actually allows fighting to occur.  Fighting has long been interwoven into the history of the NHL as an integral part of the game.  There is growing sentiment that Rypien's depression, and Boogaard's concussion-related symptoms were inevitably the cause of their deaths.  Could these fights have led to some form of trauma that brought upon depression, taking of painkillers, etc? Most likely to some extent yes.  But that's not the whole story.

Fighting actually serves a major purpose in the game of hockey.  It allows for the lesser skilled players to protect their superstar teammates from being physically abused by the other team.  It also allows for these skilled players to see that if someone comes after me, or there is a dirty hit against one of my teammates, that these fighter has my back.  It is the ultimate sacrifice for showing that a players' teammates matter to them.

The late Derek Boogaard fighting Philadelphia's Jody Shelly

In fact, fighting isn't some malicious event where anything goes.  There is actually a code that fighters live by.  Enforcers usually only fight someone that is around their size, or at least a willing combatant.  They don't simply sneak up on a foe and start pummeling them into oblivion.  Fighting gives the enforcer the chance to stick up for his teammate.  Enforcers rarely ever wait until the end of a shift to fight because they don't want each fighter to be too tired.  There also is that fact that in fighting, there really isn't a ill-will towards the other combatant.  The fighters are usually just trying to do their job--be it protect a teammate, get momentum, etc.  Derek Boogaard was also once quoted as saying that he really didn't even like to fight.  That if he could have been a 50 goal scorer he would have.  Enforcers usually fight because they understand they aren't skilled enough to be a goal scorer, playmaker, shut down defensemen, or what have you.  They understand their skill set and they will do anything to stay in the game because they love hockey so much.

So while many people say that it's just something that serves absolutely no purpose in the new NHL, that it sends a bad message, and that it has long term side effects on these fighters, I view it as the ultimate symbolism for being a good teammate.  A player who is willing to sacrifice himself--both physically and mentally, because he understands his role on the ice and he will do anything to stick up for his teammates.

Now, with that said, there needs to be some changes in the way fighting occurs for it to be "more civilized" if you will.  First things first, you have to separate the goons from the enforcers.  What's the difference? An enforcer is what was described above--someone who will stick up for their teammates, and goes by the fighters code.  A goon is someone who runs around and takes cheap shots at their opponents, or someone who instigates a fight while the other fighter isn't prepared or is unwilling.  Goons need to be removed from the NHL because they are the ones that give a bad name to fighting.

Secondly, no player should be allowed to fight with their helmets on.  Both fighters must remove visors/helmets before being allowed to engage in an altercation.  Keep the fight fair to both combatants so one doesn't have to break his hand punching a helmet.

Lastly, dole out harsher penalties to individuals who want to fight people who aren't willing to engage in such behavior.  Instead of giving the instigator a 5 minute major and the other player a 2 minute minor, give the instigator a match penalty to send out the message that this behavior is unacceptable.

So while fighting might be a lost art moving forward in the new NHL (one that is geared towards smaller, quicker, and more skilled players), when a teammate sees another teammate rushing to their rescue after a dirty hit, or a player trying to pick a fight with you--that sends the message of being an ultimate team player. Sure they may not want to be enforcers, but as long as they understand and are willing to accept their roles then that sends the ultimate message of doing anything for a team/teammates.