There are few things more exciting to watch in hockey than a good old-fashioned fight. These moments of aggression often come after a period of intense frustration, triggered by one team or player making another mad. Hockey players have the unique opportunity to fight without being ejected from the game; they can also get away with punching, elbowing, kicking, and biting pretty much any cheap shot is allowed unless it’s extremely violent or leaves an opponent with an obvious injury. It’s confusing why these rules exist and why hockey players are so willing to risk their own well-being as well as that of their opponent. Why do hockey players fight? Why aren’t they penalized for doing it? Why does fighting remain such a big part of the sport? And why don’t other sports let their players do this sort of thing? Here is Everything You Need to Know About Hockey Fights.
Why are hockey players allowed to fight
Fighting in hockey is a cultural norm that the sport’s fans and players have come to accept and expect. The ability to physically in the game of hockey is regarded with respect, and players who can impose physical dominance on the ice are highly valued. Because of the danger of serious injury, fighting in hockey has been outlawed in amateur and junior leagues, but it remains a part of the sport at the professional level. It is generally accepted that fighting serves no purpose in a sport like ice hockey, except as a means of settling disputes between players or teams.
What’s The Point Of Hockey Fights?
- These fights are not about fighting, they are about intimidation. There is a big difference.
- The most common reason for a fight is frustration over a penalty or misconduct (a penalty for an illegal action). It’s important to remember that hockey players don’t get penalized for fighting, they get penalized for the actions leading up to the fight. These penalties can be severe and include fines and suspensions.
- Fights do have a purpose in hockey, but it’s not what you might think: they make games more exciting. Fans love them and television ratings go up when fights occur in games. Hockey players know this, which is why they are so willing to take on these risks despite the severe penalties involved if they lose the fight or fall into bad reputations as fighters or “goon” players (hockey slang for a player whose only purpose on the team is to fight).
- Fights can also defuse tension especially when teams are tied in the standings or playoff races are close by sending a message of intimidation to opponents that one team will not back down from aggression and won’t be pushed around by anyone else on their schedule either.
- Fighting does have some advantages for individual players as well: it helps them prove themselves as tough competitors and gain respect from teammates and fans; it allows them to develop toughness and build character through learning how to defend themselves; it shows coaches that these players are willing to stand up for themselves, teammates and the team; and it gives players a chance to make up for mistakes they might have made that led to the fight in the first place.
- Fighting also helps teams bond together: it allows players to develop friendships through shared experiences, remember important lessons learned from their coaches about discipline, respect, and teamwork, and make memories that last a lifetime by participating in memorable fights.
Why Is Fighting In Hockey Allowed?
1. Hockey is a rough sport
Hockey players are constantly banging into each other, and the ice surface is not always smooth. Strings of hard checks and hits are common in a game, and sometimes tempers flare. Hockey fights are an outlet for this aggression, especially for players who want to avoid harming opponents by checking them too hard. It’s also a way to send a message to other teams that fighting will not be tolerated on the ice.
2. It helps settle disputes between players and teams
Sometimes, hockey fights can be used as intimidation tactics — one team will let another know that they’re willing to get violent if they don’t change their ways or start showing respect for their opponents. This is especially true when it comes to rivalries between different teams or teams from different leagues.
3. Hockey culture encourages it
Many hockey players come from cultures where fighting is considered manly — it’s an important part of the game in many countries outside North America (Canada being one of them). Canadian hockey culture is known for its toughness and physicality, so there’s no surprise that these values have carried over into professional play as well as youth hockey programs across Canada.
4. It’s still technically legal in most places
In most cases, fighting in hockey is allowed because it hasn’t been banned outright by the governing bodies of the sport. The NHL has made it illegal for players to fight after a goal or during the last five minutes of a game, but other than that it’s not against the rules to fight. It’s also not against the rules in most places for fans to cheer on fights in some cases, this is encouraged.
5. Fighting can be useful as a way to keep teammates safe
Some hockey players have reputations as “tough guys” who are willing to drop their gloves and fight anyone who gets in their way — this can be a good thing when it comes to keeping other players from taking cheap shots at them (and by extension, their teammates). If an opposing player thinks that they might get beat up if they take advantage of someone, they might think twice about doing so (at least until another opportunity presents itself).
Who Are The Fighters And How Are They Chosen?
- Not all hockey players are willing to fight, but most of them will if they feel like they have something to prove.
- Some players think it’s a good idea to fight when their team is losing or needs a boost of energy; others do it when someone on the other team has been taunting them for several minutes.
- Fighting is not a requirement for getting drafted by an NHL team; in fact, most teams don’t want their players fighting and will draft them based on their skill level rather than their willingness to throw down in the penalty box.
- Most hockey fights happen between two defensemen (or two forwards), but there are exceptions: some teams have designated fighters usually one or two who go after other teams’ fighters, which means that it often takes more than two players to get involved in the action.
- Most NHL fights last between 30 seconds and 1 minute, with the exception of those that involve multiple participants or last until one player is knocked unconscious (which happens more often than you might expect).
- The NHL has a few rules regarding fighting: first, each team must carry at least one player who is able and willing to drop his gloves and scrap; second, no player can fight while wearing a face shield; third, no goalie can fight at all (unless he chooses to do so) because he risks injuring his hands or feet during the process; fourth, any player who receives three penalties in one game will automatically be suspended for the next game.
Conclusion
Fighting is a part of hockey, but it is not all hockey. Although it is more controversial than ever, it remains a very entertaining part of the game. The good news is that fighting has been steadily declining in recent years. This is partially due to the fact that rule changes have made the sport less physical. Players are also now required to have a certain number of hours of off-ice training each week. However, fighting is still an important part of hockey. It can be a useful tool for controlling the game and it helps keep the sport exciting.
