Since the beginning of hockey the fights have been a huge part of the game. A fight lets two players varnish a rivalry, prove dominance, or settle a disagreement. But due to the increasing amount of injuries sustained from the fights, many officials wish to ban fighting from the NHL.
A lot of players avoid fights because they fear the pain or the five minute penalty associated with it. Although the physical consequences of fights are usually minor there are a few cases in which players can receive serious injuries such as: concussions, broken hands and wrists, and cuts. In an extreme case death can occur from major concussions.
When two players fight the crowd goes crazy, the other players play with more tenacity, and the game heats up. Fighting really provides a better show to the spectators; some fans just watch to see the occasional fight. Instead of suppressing all of their anger and releasing it on a hit from behind (the number one cause of injury in hockey) the players can blow off all their steam in the more “civil” way of fighting. Overall if fights were to be banned, the entire playing and viewing experience of hockey would be negatively changed.
By Schyler Stratton
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“NHL.” Bleacher Report. Web. 30 Mar. 2012. <http://bleacherreport.com/articles/100282-should-fighting-be-allowed-in-hockey>.