To drop the gloves or not: Fighting tradition in the world of hockey
Since its birth, fighting and skating have become the foundation of the hockey game’s culture and appeal. From bench-clearing brawls to one-on-one showdowns, these intense moments have fueled the sport’s gritty reputation. Many wonder, however, if fighting is a relic of hockey’s past or still serves a role in today’s game.
Looking at other leagues such as the National Basketball Association (NBA), fighting is highly penalized. Players involved in fights receive technical fouls and are often ejected from the game. In the National Football League (NFL), fighting is prohibited, with any punches or physical altercations leading to immediate ejections. The NFL has strict personal conduct policies in place to prevent brawls and maintain player safety. In the Major League Baseball League (MLB), although bench-clearing brawls occasionally happen, they are also heavily penalized. All three of the most prominent athletic leagues in the United States impose fines, suspensions, and ejections for engaging in fighting.
One could argue that fighting in ice hockey leads to unnecessary injuries. In recent years, more and more information and knowledge about a prominent injury in multiple sports leagues has come to light. Most notably, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), which is a brain disorder likely caused by repeated head injuries. It causes the death of nerve cells in the brain, known more commonly as degeneration. CTE gets worse over time, and the only way to definitively diagnose CTE is after death during an autopsy of the brain. Repetitive fighting could be a major cause of an increase in CTE post-ice hockey career. This has made many critics wary of the continuation of not taking the step to penalize this action.
Another major aspect of the argument against fighting in hockey is the idea that the image of hockey is tarnished by it. This could be true, especially because the National Hockey League (NHL) is trying to expand to a global audience and attract younger fans. Lastly, hockey is evolving to a faster, more skilled style of play, focusing more on speed and puck-handling than physicality. This further adds to why fighting seems so aged in the modern game.
On the other hand, fighting is a hockey tradition and has become an integral part of the game and always will be. A well-timed fight could ignite a team and a crowd, burning fire under players and fans during a tough run. Fights also make rivalry games that much better, like the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers brawl last season. The Rangers and Devils rivalry has been nicknamed “The Battle of the Hudson” or the “Hudson River Rivalry,” making this fight one for the history books.
Immediately after the puck drop, both teams dropped their gloves in a nearly 90-second uninterrupted fight, resulting in eight players getting ejected from the game. In this case, both teams started their fourth lines—who just happened to be some of their respective teams’ best enforcers. Enforcers are players whose primary role is to protect teammates and deter the opposing team from overly aggressive or dirty play. They often engage in physical play, including fighting, to intimidate opponents and retaliate for hits on key players. Hockey has always had enforcers, and while the game is starting to focus on skill rather than physicality, they still play a vital role in a team’s success on the ice.
The NHL has already taken steps to reduce unnecessary fighting and dangerous hits, including immediate ejections from games under certain circumstances, like the Devils versus Rangers brawl. Fights in the NHL have been on a steady decline without any total bans put in place naturally as a result of this shift in play style as well, making some fans cautious of banning the practice altogether.
A middle ground could be continuing to allow fighting but instituting harsher penalties or only permitting it under specific circumstances. For example, repeat offenders could face longer suspensions or fines, while spontaneous fights that occur from game-play situations may still be tolerated to an extent. Ultimately, the question comes down to whether fighting is necessary for hockey or an unnecessary risk in a game filled with contact.