by Mike Bryce

Created on: June 05, 2008

From a young age, hockey players are instructed to finish their checks, and "play the body not the puck". At the professional level, the players are the fastest, strongest, and biggest in the world. Hockey is, and always has been, a violent game. In 1967, Bill Masterson passed away as the result of a head injury following a body check. The cult-classic Slapshot depicts an only slightly exaggerated view of hockey violence in the 1970's. There have been recent, well publicized incidents of NHL violence involving: Marty McSorely, Todd Bertuzzi, and Chris Simon. The pressure is intense for NHL players, due to competition for jobs, justifying astronomical salaries, and performing in front of 18,000 screaming fans. The fans are partly to blame for escalating violence in NHL hockey.

Physical hockey players receive enthusiastic support from their home team's fans. Two examples of NHL players who became fan favorites are Tie Domi, in Toronto; and Bob Probert, in Detroit. Both Probert and Domi earned fame and fortune due primarily to their ability to consistently win fights. Young players, lacking the skill and finesse of a goal scorer, could not help but be influenced by hearing the crowd chant "Domi, Domi" following one of his many successful bouts. Enforcers generally play the least number of minutes of anyone on the team. The easiest way for them to earn some recognition, and gain momentum for their team, is to drop the gloves with an opposing heavy-weight.

There are multiple reasons for violence in hockey. Violence is most likely to occur when the score is out of hand and there is little time remaining in the contest. Clearly, this violence is the result of frustration. However, hockey fights are not only the result of frustration. In Vancouver, Todd Bertuzzi was suspended for attacking and injuring Steve Moore. This attack was retribution for an incident in a previous game. In addition to frustration and retribution, gaining momentum can be the catalyst for a hockey fight. When the home team gives up a couple of early goals, the crowd generally becomes subdued. Often, under this scenario, a player from the home team will initiate a fight. The act of dropping the gloves in and of itself generates a buzz in the stands. If the hometown combatant is victorious, an ovation generally follows.

Fans play a major role in the NHL's reluctance to enact stiffer penalties for fighting. The main contributor to violence in hockey is the leniency of the rules. Fighting in the NHL results in a five minute penalty, whereas in the other major sports fighting would result in ejection from the game and a suspension. If the majority of fans were appalled by fighting in hockey and stopped attending games, fighting would be legislated out of the game. However, as anyone who has attended an NHL game can attest, when a fight occurs, fans jump to their feet. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is desperate to sell the game of hockey to Americans. In successful US NHL markets such as Detroit, Minnesota, and New York, fans love to cheer on their favorite pugilist.

Fans are clearly a contributing factor towards violence in hockey. They encourage young players for their physical play. They cheer on cue when the local heavy weight scores a K.O. They pack arenas in Canada and the northern US, giving the NHL little motivation to outlaw fighting. Until the customers demand change, NHL hockey will remain a violent, entertaining sport.

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