by Kevin De Silva Piques

Created on: October 23, 2009

Hockey is a fast paced, emotional game played with skills that are blended with toughness and grit. There are many types of players in hockey, each with a defined roll. Hockey is played in a relative small surface where there is a lot of close contact, with hitting and fighting accepted parts of the game. Some players main job on the ice is to be an enforcer, or fighter. Intimidation is a big part of setting the tone for the game. These players are paid well for the pugilistic skills and protecting their teammates from rough play. They are respected by their fellow players and adored by the fans. The more fighting, hitting and violence that occurs, the more cheering and excited the fans are. Arenas become loud and the atmosphere electric, until the crowd itself is in a frenzy.

As the pressure to perform, excel and win in hockey increases, so to does the necessity for all players to do whatever they can, whatever it takes to win the game. When teams win, fans fill seats. When seats are full, teams make more money. As teams make more money, players get paid larger salaries. The system feeds itself, but the fan is at the very heart of the game.

If fans did not like violence in hockey, they would have the option not to pay their hard earned dollars to watch, either live or on television. If fans were outraged by violence, there is no doubt hockey would change the rules to bring the fans back. Without the fans, the league could not survive. Not only do fans enjoy the violent side of hockey, they encourage it. Commentators discuss it and analyze it as an integral part of the game. Fans become engaged in the discussion about the fights, hits, stick work and violence.

I realize that each player chooses their actions and are responsible for them. However, fans definitely play a part in the increasing violence in hockey. We have a culture that not only accepts these actions, but also encourages it. When there is a fight in a game, spectators rise to their feet, cheer loudly and are fixated on the fight. Hits that were once borderline, are now becoming the norm. Sticks are being used for more than just shooting the puck, yet ticket sales are booming in most markets. The violent side of the game creates as much excitement as goal scoring and great skill plays. Hockey has taken steps to control the violence but they will never eliminate it all together because it is an accepted part of the game.

If fans want to see the violence, and even encourage it, then they must also accept part of the blame for the increase in player violence in the NHL.

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