That's very creative to tie the punishment of to the well-being of the guy who received the blow. I agree, and wish I would have thought of that.

JH

 

I agree.

That looked too much like a complete cheap shot that could have been less of a hit.

 

Know whats around you and when you are going to be hit "prepare for impact". Helmet coming off didnt help. Hits like that happen everyday in hockey.

 

All hits are meant to hurt. Other wise what would be the point of a full contact sport.
That is like saying the boxer should not have knocked his opponent out.

 

Clean hit..

But more over its due to a lack of respect among players and it starts in the minors and works its way all the way to the current NHL. There used to be a comradery among the elite players and those types of hits were just taboo. Now its more about salary and value than actual "sport". Sad to see but this guy gets to be the lead scape goat and example for the OHL. But I have to agree with the commissioner, something has to be done to get respect back into the game.

My $0.02..

 

Wrong answer toad wrangler. The reason for a check in hockey is to disrupt the puck carrier and his ability to handle the puck, not to inflict injury. In the days before pads the only legal hit was with the hip. Had this hit been a hip check there would not have been a head injury and the forward would have still been able to get his point across that the defenseman should have been paying attention.

Anyone that complains that they went to a fight and a hockey game broke out really has no idea what the sport is about. Hockey is not fighting.

 

X2, perfect answer.

 

I'm with the crowd that doesn't follow hockey. I'm OK with the initial check but the butt of the stick to the head.........should be his last game. Make the suspension permanent.

 

Watch the Canadian national team play another national team. The Canadians come out and hit hard. That wears out the opposition and makes them leary of going into the corners.
Which also makes the Canadians the best hockey players in the world.
Fighting in the game of hockey stops the cheap shots.And if you don't know that, then you are out of touch with the game.

 

Name the ten greatest hockey players and you will not likely need to use your toes to help count the number of fights they have been in during their career.

I've have coached youth hockey from 6 year old's up to U18 Midget AA and my son currently plays in the ESCHL for the US Navy. Not getting any ice time right now due to jaw surgery this summer but this is good college hockey. So I have a fair understanding of youth and junior hockey.

Fighting is not a required part of the game. If they told coaches they would have to skate with a short bench for every suspended player, the coaches would be the first to stop fights and cheap shots. Instead they don't care, they carry 30 or so players and when one is suspended they just drop another slugger on the bench to fill the hole. Make them start to play down a man for every suspension and you would not see the BS that passes for Junior Hockey in most areas.

 

I grew up watching hockey in the northeast about 45 minutes from Canada in the early 80's and you must have missed some games back then CamperAndy. I've sat there...well stood there for an hour or more watching the bench clearing brawls between the Sabres and the Habs more times than I can count. Everybody was throwing punches. Takes the refs another hour to dish out the penalties. Best games were the Sabres vs the Habs, Sabres vs the Bruins always some good fighting between hockey commercials. Even saw a game where the benches cleared and the goalies came charging at each other from either end! Ahh, those were the days of hockey.

Sorry guy got hurt, next time he'll keep his head up regardless of wether or not it was a legal hit he put his head down, let down his guard and WHAMMO!!! Seen lots of NHL guys back in the old days get their clock cleaned in center ice as well as along the boards, heck guys I was watching several hold outs still didn't wear helmets!!

I've seen Gretzky get clobbered a few times back when he was with LA and usually when he got clobbered or someone was gunning for him LA would send out their enforcer. He somehow managed to survive what? 20 years in the NHL?? He started back in 79' when all of this bench clearing stuff was going on. He didn't get hurt cause he was smart, just like Mario, Ray Bourque, Brett Hull, Messier.....Kuri.........and the list goes on.

 

Those are the players that I am talking about, smart one that did not fight. The enforce stuff is true but really not needed.

 

Right on, Sir.

I don't follow hockey like I used to anymore, so I can't speak for present day players, but 10-20 years ago EVERY team had an enforcer. The guy who couldn't do anything but blast people and if you were lucky enough, the other team would put out their enforcer...

Next thing you know, gloves and helmets all over the ice, the crowd is going crazy, and everyone is enjoying themselves...that's the hockey I know and love.

That's why guys like Gretzky,Yzerman, Lemieux, Roenick, etc., could be on the ice and focus on goal scoring and not worry about taking the big check from someone...

Because if they did, the player who hit them knew that they were going to be sorry...and bloody.

With that being said, you don't ever want to see someone have to leave the ice on a stretcher and have to be in the hospital for any extended period of time, nor should brutal hits and fighting be a part of junior hockey.

 

Fighting is most definitely part of this sport. I have fought on and off the ice. A good beating most positively teaches a hack not to hack anyone on your team. We have a couple enforcers on my over 40 team. It is kinda funny to see them put younger players in their place.

I LOVE rough hockey, both playing it and watching it. My only pet peeve for the 25+ years I have been playing is the use of the butt of the stick while checking. Only a coward has to hack, anyone with skills just plays hard solid hockey.


On another note, who uses Riedell boots?

 

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