Working The Corners

By Kelly Sharp

The Prince George Spruce King and Powell River player slug away at each other. The helmet flies off the one player and I am thinking if this kid lands on his head he may never get up again.  Same game, different fight, the Powell River player is on the receiving end of some head shots and staggers off the ice, collapsing as he struggled to get into the dressing room. I look over to a team of young minor hockey players watching the fists flying and wonder what type of message is left with this innocent looking group.

One of the longest standing jokes about the junior and pro level of North American  hockey is that an automatic game misconduct is not issued for fighting. Of course, junior hockey decision-makers take their lead from the big boys. The good news is fights continue to decline in the National Hockey League. The tough guy is closer to distinction thanks to the emphasis on speed and skill. Unfortunately, do not expect any league imposed rule to banish fighting. It will take a tragedy for NHL owners to finally realize fighting should not be part of the game.

One thing more, if you want to see some high level hockey this holiday season that does not allow fights watch the World Junior Hockey championships .

Email | Print | Facebook | Twitter | Digg | Del.icio.us