Stop making sense

In the past I've made my feelings quite clear regarding hockey and, more specifically, the fighting that is tolerated within the sport. Last January the blog brought you the story of Garrett Klotz, who thankfully recovered after ending up in hospital as a result of a fight, but Don Sanderson was not so fortunate. In December of last year Sanderson, a 21 year-old player in the Ontario Hockey Association, was involved in a fight on the ice. His helmet came loose and his unprotected head slammed into the rink as he was forced to the ground; he went into a coma and died three weeks later.

Whilst idling flicking between channels this evening I came across a discussion on Hockey Night In Canada that centred around a new helmet that had been manufactured to make fighting safer, and the studio 'expert' informed us that it had been Sanderson's death that had prompted the new design. We then learned that rules are either already in place or will be in place soon - I couldn't hear exactly as the sound of my jaw hitting the floor momentarily drowned out the television - that will penalise players if they remove their helmets before fighting. Not penalise them for actually fighting, but if they fight without helmets.

At this point another 'expert' erupted into life, and you could quite plainly see him struggling to hold back the expletives as he lambasted this rule, stating that prospective players shouldn't bother getting into hockey in the first place if they weren't prepared to risk the physical consequences of fighting.

I could not believe what I was hearing.

Back in January, I concluded my post concerning Garrett Klotz with the following observation:

"So, what will it take for sense to prevail? I fear that someone is going to have to be killed for action to be taken, and even then I am not so sure. I sincerely hope that this will not be the case, but until action is taken, I cannot embrace hockey."

It is my sad duty to report to you now that there appears to be no sense in hockey.

Hockey heretic

I have no respect for hockey.

There, I've come out and said it. I know that such a statement is likely to be seen as heresy in Canada, and akin to me writing about democracy in China, but I can contain myself no longer.

Now, I realise that when you choose to live in another country you should make every effort to integrate with the culture and live by the norms and values that exist there. I think I've managed to do this by and large: I eat poutine, I have more Canadian Tire money than real money, Tim Horton's is my second home (at least when I'm in the South) and I've even been known to say the odd 'eh.' However, when it comes to hockey, I simply can't do it. I can admire the skill on the ice, I can identify with the passion shown by the fans off the ice, but there is one thing I can't get my head round.

The fighting.

I simply cannot respect a sport that condones fighting to the extent that hockey does. In a game in the AHL today (for the uninitiated, that's the American Hockey League, the primary 'feeder' league for the NHL), a fight broke out seconds after the start of the game, the result of which left Garrett Klotz, a player for the Philadelphia Phantoms, writhing and convulsing violently on the ice, courtesy of the Manchester Monarchs' Kevin Westgarth. He was rushed to hospital from where, thankfully, the early reports on his health seem to be positive.

For those of you unfamiliar with the game, when a fight breaks out the referees allow it to continue and only step in when one or both players finally hit the ice. The arguments given in defence of fighting include lines like "it's a physical sport," "it's a man's game," "it's part of the action," or "the players have to let off steam." I've even heard the comment "it wouldn't be the same game without the fighting."

Pathetic.

Look at rugby. There are few more physical sports on this planet, but fighting is not considered 'part of the game.' Indeed, if any combatants do emerge, intervention is immediate and bans are swift and suitably lengthy. The attraction of the game is not diluted as a result. Other than a few minutes in the penalty box, I am not sure what the repercussions (if any) are for fighting in hockey - I'm sure someone reading this will let me know - and you even get idiots like Don Cherry extolling the fighting skills of various players in his match summaries on TV.

To be fair, there are many Canadians who share my view on this subject, but there are just as many, if not more, who will disagree; just look at the comments registered on the TSN website regarding the Garrett v Westgarth fight. So, what will it take for sense to prevail? I fear that someone is going to have to be killed for action to be taken, and even then I am not so sure. I sincerely hope that this will not be the case, but until action is taken, I cannot embrace hockey.

I am now ready for deportation.