why goalies should keep their helmets on
 

gotta watch for those LEFTIES ...

ooops, it looks like he will be out 4-6 weeks. That can only help the Isle.

In what other team sport is that kind of crap allowed to happen?

Basketball, football, baseball, footy, lacrosse.......

At the All Star "game" last week, the players voted 98% in favour of fighting in the NHL. Seems that most of these testosterone-soaked twentysomething macho dudes actually enjoy this. Go figure...

Single punch can kill. What would happen then?

Try having a duke-fest at any of these events and see what happens. Heavy fines and/or suspensions. Why is it allowed at NHL games. It's just because the game is so boring they need to encourage this behavior to promote interest in the game.

From the article: DiPietro "has a hell of a bruise brewing on his right cheekbone" and said of Johnson: "He has long arms."

Fighting is part of the game, and if you think hockey is boring you must be watching the Leafs.

Relax Francis...it's hockey.:rolleyes:

Don't like the fights, don't watch. Bet you boys with a problem got your butt whipped in a fist fight somewhere along the way.

I got clocked one time by a guy with a suprise left. My eyelid is still torn from it. His nose is still crooked from my response. We were fourteen...29 years later we still laugh about it. Silly kids.

That's the reason I don't watch it. Why not allow these antics in the NFL, NBA, or MLB?

Not that I am promoting fighting in hockey but it is a more intense game while playing than most sports and occasionally fighting is an outlet for the pressure.
You are correct in that it is a tool used by the teams to entertain fans during an otherwise dull game and also to invoke a change in momentum. Fighting can be considered to be a form of self policing too.
There are extra penalties for instigating and fines for when they are doing really stupid stuff just like other team sports.
You don't see bench clearing brawls in hockey anymore, but baseball there seems to be more than just a few every season. All it seems to take is a few brush back pitches and a few hit batters.
If you think that hockey is boring, then maybe you shouldn't watch the Islanders play! ;)

LOL, because the antics of the NFL, NBA and MLB revolve around steroids, gang signs, steroids and illegimate children. That and spousal abuse....just sayin.

Tough crowd here... or pretty sensitive when it comes to their hockey.
I agree that all professional sports have their bad side. This is different. The rules for fighting in the NHL are written right in the rule book. This essentially allows it, but puts parameters around how it is done. Nice way to promote team participation and athleticism at a family outing. I would probably watch the game if it weren't for the fights. This is in direct contrast to why the league allows it. It is amazing to watch a skilled player, but I just don't have the patience for the BS attempt at marketing the sport through brawling.

That wasn't much of a fight at all. Dipietro better take it easy.... I think he only has 18 years left on his guaranteed contract :rolleyes:

Every game that DiPietro misses helps the Isle. He is an anchor on the team finances and insurance kicks in when he's hurt.

He has played about 20% of the games since he signed the long term contract. Can you say 'fragile'?

The league has determined they would have fewer fans if they banned fighting. So be it, they choose to run their business as they see fit.

Ever, and I mean EVER, seen a crowd boo a fight? The paying masses stand and applaud, as do the players, and most people at home. Fighting makes money.

What will happen? It's not 'if', it's 'when'.

It has happened locally, just not NHL. Yet.

Two 250 (plus) lb guys square of on skates, and without helmets. Who is going to testify this was unforeseen?

That's pretty much what I've already stated.
So once again the almighty dollar wins, over teaching good values. Shoot me now please.

Hockey players think they're tougher in a fight than they are

they built a pro rink here in LB and local kids would beat the crap out of them in bars for saying stuff like "I can eat her better that you" to a small guy with his girlfriend

fightng in hockey is nothing new. you're out there working your az off and it's rough enough as it is. so when some body goes cheap on you, you kinda lose your temper. what I dont like is the "new" fighting, the dancing around and putting up your dukes. that's crap. the real fight is when two guys just go off.

Being Canadian....and therefore having hockey as our religion, it's hard to analyze how a non-Canadian might see the game. Fighting does seem to be a part of the game's structure....a part of the strategy if you will. Most teams have their "enforcers" that protect or make the players "pay", that dole out out too much punishment to a team's star players. It's always been so..... The game is getting, for many old schoolers, too European (sorry Euro's) Dives (like soccer) and stick work are acceptable but fighting is frowned upon. Boring...I hope not. Cheers

This is interesting. I don't know too much about the sport, but I love watching the game especially the fights. I don't fight, I don't even yell. They don't fight like they used to when I was a kid watching it on tv in the 80. What the difference between old schoolers and the europeans?

What Drisump said. In general Europeans are more skill and less toughness/grit. They don't (typically) fight, they (tend to) use their sticks more, and they are less likely to get up after a big hit. I believe the last part is the soccer mentality, where it is necessary to embellish all injuries/hits to ensure an appropriate penalty is called.

Truly Old School? Gordie Howe. No one fought for Gordie Howe, he didn't have a tough guy riding shot-gun, he looked after himself. And he could score.

Next came the enforcer era, big guys that could sort of play, but they were there to fight anyone who hit your star player(s). They are been phased out now, the instigator rule (generally) prevents them from doing their job. Think of the Flyers in the 70's. Or Wayne Gretzky with Semenko on his wing.

Most teams now have one big goon. He plays four minutes per game and there are only one or two payers on the other team he will fight. The 'code' prevents him from picking on the softer smaller guys. Heavyweights only fight heavyweights now. This is the 'staged fight' era. They are on the ice together, the puck drops and one second later they are fighting. To what end? Who knows. But the fans seem to enjoy it.

There are exceptions to all of the above. Peter Forsberg was a pretty tough European, and there are lots of soft skilled North American players.

A very concise analysis of the games evolution! I watch a few games a year.....but work with many true fans. Growing up in Montreal in the 60's and 70's, I was immersed in the game. The game has changed radically, larger ice surface and rule mods have transformed the game from the gritty spectacles back in the day to a more "free wheeling" display, that is to showcase more speed (and arguably, more skill). Still however, when the playoffs begin, the game has a tendency to change and the "grit and toughness" factor becomes a much more important element. Anyway, "diving" is very distasteful to me and goes against everything good ole Gordie Howe would've valued in a team mate (or an opponent for that matter). Cheers

I wanted to watch the UFC flight last night....

....but I was afraid a hockey game would break out!


[rimshot]
-Z

Z- man made a funny. seriously...that was funny!

There are now one-half the number of fights there were 25 years ago.

And fights 'only' occur in 40% of the games.

Similarly, I've always wanted to visit Canada, but I am fearful of getting hit with a hockey puck...

:eek:
-Z

I just have to say....don't visit Europe either, the stick does even more damage, LOL.

Wow "only" 40%, practically the same as chess now.