Cerberus;307906 wroteDoes anyone know why fighting first became accepted and expected in hockey? Why did it become a penalty and not a get the fuck out and don't ever come back concept? Seriously, we may be able to figure out the answer to fighting's importance in hockey if we can find the beginning of it.
As for the whole fighting stops cheap shots, that's a crock of shit. You want to stop cheap shot? Start teaching. Show players, from the very beginning, that these things are unacceptable. Unfortunately, just like in the real world, you have to get everyone on board with this concept for it to fix the issue. Thankfully, also like in the real world, the more you create this way, the more the pendulum swings to the side of sanity and away from the side of brutality.
The game as a whole has gotten alot cleaner and less crazy as compared to the 70's, 80's and even the 90's.
Bench brawls, even fights with the crowd were common.
the game is so much faster now and more clean than it was, to take away the fighting will leave great players at a huge risk to injuries, because people will have no one to answer to.
Also, fighting isnt allowed in minor league hockey, suspensions are handed out, so it IS taught from the beginning
only at junior is it "legal" (5 min fighting major) but it's gotten way more strict (no instigating, no taking the buckets off pre, tie downs, etc)
Professional hockey is a sport for MEN. I'm all for leaving fighting out of minor hockey and what not, but I stand firm on fighting having a major role in today's game and is a necessity.