Rex wrote:
Really? I find it extremely ridiculous that in this day and age hockey still condones fighting the way they do. How can it be 'part of the game' to just decide to drop your gloves and go after another guy? I think it is pathetic.
I'm taking it you've never played hockey Rex?
Staged fighting, as in anything right off the faceoff or most fights between the enforcers, really has no place and is being waned out. Doubt we'll see such fights in 2-3 years as the punishment will be too severe. The Vancouver Canucks were down 2 players for 7 minutes the other day and had 4 players tossed the next day simply because of this.
However, hockey is a violent, brutal sport with or without fighting. If you want to seriously hurt someone you can, and you can do it more easily by an illegal check, slash, elbow, etc.
Fighting deters this and most hockey players don't (rightfully) trust the refs or league to stand up and stop this type of play.
