Fighting in Pro Hockey
There is a place for fighting in hockey - Bobby Orr
Rating - ****
In professional hockey, players are expected to participate in fights throughout their careers because its "part of the game". The object of fighting in pro hockey isn't to just beat someones face in, they do it to let off a bit of steam during the game and keep things exciting. Although it can be pretty brutal at times, players are expected to act like gentleman and respect each other.
In this article, Bobby Orr talks quite a bit about his own experiences in Junior hockey and the NHL. He strongly believes that fighting should not be removed from hockey as long as it is done properly. A major issue that has come up in recent years is the freedom that referee's possess to make calls using their own judgement, it has become a very by-the-book sport. Another very problematic issue has arose in recent years is going after the "untouchables", the very skilled players in the league that have almost always been left alone because they're the ones that keep things moving on the ice. Bobby speaks very fondly of pro hockey back in the day because of the code that all players used to abide by. The goons go after the goons and you let the all-stars do what their best at. This has changed quite dramatically with the turn of the century as all players, regardless of skill level, are now seen as fair game and numerous serious injuries have been a result of this. The main point of this article is that fighting is vital in hockey because that's what the fans want to see, give the fans what they want and that's how you make your money.
This article really effected me because it's an issue that hits home. Although I don't play contact hockey, it's going to have a presence in all levels. It is extremely important that everyone is taking the right precautions on the ice and you aren't just going out their to kill someone. The refs will do their job to call the game as fairly as they can, so just play smart hockey. I have learned quite a bit from Booby's excerpt, mainly how much the game has changed over the year's but I'm not sure if it really is for the better. This article has inspired me to possibly get into reffing to get a sense of what it's like to be the one with the whistle. As far as changing my behaviour, I think that I will just be more aware of my surroundings on the ice and treat all of the other players with the respect I want.
By: Spencer Wayland
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