Hockey is a popular sport for both men and women. But how often do you hear about fights taking place on the ice? From all the news reports that I’ve read, it seems that hockey players are more often than not, good at avoiding violence. There are exceptions though, and oftentimes arguments turn into fights. Whether it is in the NHL or the minor leagues, fights are a common occurrence. But what is the official stance of the NHL (and other major sports leagues) regarding fighting in hockey? Is it really a tolerated sport?
The short answer is yes, fighting is allowed in women’s hockey. At least from an official standpoint. There are certain guidelines that teams and leagues must follow, but when it comes down to on-ice action, anything goes. As long as players aren’t hurting each other, then it isn’t a problem.
How did we get to this point? Let’s take a trip back in time.
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Hockey Has Changed
Before we continue, it’s important to note that hockey has changed a lot since the early 1900s. As the game evolved and improved, the violence decreased. It wasn’t always the case though; in fact, there was a time when hockey was more akin to a battle. Nowadays, teams usually line up along a neutral zone and don’t really interact with opponents during the game. They certainly don’t want to give their game intelligence away by reading each other’s minds.
But even with today’s hockey, there is plenty of scrumming and elbowing, especially early in the game. The first period of a regular season hockey game lasts for only 20 minutes, yet players are already showing signs of wear and tear, including frequent injuries. It’s clear that the game needs to be changed in some way, because the old-school approach doesn’t cut it anymore.
Racial Issues Are A Hotspot
If you’re not familiar, hockey is mostly played by white people. This fact combined with the game’s history of fighting led to more than a few sensitive scenes in the past, especially when it came to racial issues. While the NHL and its teams try their best to avoid this topic, it inevitably comes up in interviews and in everyday conversations. There is also a certain segment of the population that doesn’t take the game seriously enough and sees it as a chance to get in some cheap shots.
In an interview with the New York Times, Wayne Messina, the special advisor to the commissioner on social issues, said, “We’re aware that there are some individuals who don’t treat the game seriously enough and who see it as a way to express themselves and be part of something fun. We need to send a message to those individuals that it’s not okay to do that.” The NHL attempts to avoid this problem by putting an end to preseason games and the regular season before it gets too far along. Most games are played during the regular season, so this ensures that there is at least some level of order and fairness to the entire process.
The Evolution Of Hockey
It would be a missed opportunity if we don’t discuss how hockey has evolved over the years. In the early days, players skated around the ice and fought whenever the mood struck them. It was basically a fight-happy version of ice hockey. The stick-swinging and elbowing were an important part of the game, and players usually kept their gloves on through most of the game. This is in contrast to today’s hockey, where players remove their gloves during a stoppage in play.
Things changed in the 1940s when the game started incorporating more scientific elements. Players started wearing steel-boned equipment, which eventually led to the creation of the modern goalie mask. The pads and sweaters also started getting bigger, meaning that players were bigger too. This change in physique led to more confrontation and fighting, as well as an increase in physical play in general.
It wasn’t just about changing the game in this regard though. Early hockey players were more accepting of any type of physical contact; there was even an acceptance for fighting. In fact, there were entire teams composed of brawlers. But as the decades went by and hockey started looking more like a modern sport, the fighting began to diminish.
Fights Aren’t Banned, But There Are Certain Guidelines To Follow
As we stated earlier, there is no question that hockey is a rough sport and a lot of fights take place. But, that doesn’t mean that the sport is without rules or that it condones fighting. To follow a hockey fight fairly, you need to take into consideration the following:
- The amount of time that has passed since the last fight.
- The number of fights that have taken place in the league (this can be determined by looking at record-keeping).
- Whether or not the fighters are professionals (NHL teams are required to have at least three players that have played on at least one Championship-level team).
- Whether or not the fighters have any history, both good and bad, of fighting (a history of fighting can be used as a mitigating factor in this case).
- Whether or not the fight was fair (for example, whether or not the other team was provoked)
- Whether or not either of the fighters are females.
- Whether or not the fight was started by the other team.
- Whether or not the fight was stopped by a foul (this can lead to suspensions or points being taken away)
- Whether or not the fight was started due to frustration from a missed call by the officials (missed calls by the officials can lead to escalated fights).
- Whether or not either of the fighters are related to each other (related players are automatically excluded from participating in the playoffs and other important games).
- Whether or not either of the fighters are members of opposing teams (fighting a member of your own team is a major no-no).
- Whether or not either of the fighters are under age 18.
- Whether or not the fight took place in the penalty box.
- Whether or not the fight was instigated by a fan (fans can get pretty rowdy at hockey games).
- Whether or not the fight was started due to poor sportsmanship (this can be a serious offense).
- The potential consequences of the fight, regardless of whether or not the fight was legal (this can include suspensions and points being taken away).
- Whether or not the fight was won by the person who threw the first punch (a win by any other means, such as a knockdown, is still considered a win by the person who started the fight).
- Whether or not the fight was stopped due to the injury of either participant (stoppages due to injuries are also considered wins).
- Whether or not either of the participants are students.
- Whether or not either of the participants are coaches (this can result in major penalties and even bans).
Although there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to fighting in hockey, teams and leagues must abide by these guidelines. If a fight does go beyond the limits of what is acceptable, then the opposing teams and/or league officials may step in and take action. Keep in mind that fighting in hockey is a serious offense, and not something to be taken lightly. The penalties for a minor offense, such as hockey fighting, can include fines and/or suspension.
Hockey Fights Aren’t New
Although this topic is specifically related to fighting in hockey, it doesn’t mean that fights have always been a part of the game. This is especially relevant because prior to the 1940s, hockey was more akin to a brawl than a sport. There were no fights, and more often than not, players and fans would come together and settle things on the pitch (or in the parking lot, or in the streets, or in the pubs, or at home, or etc.).
But even in the early days, there were occasional one-on-one bouts. It wasn’t until the 1930s that organized hockey started taking shape, mostly because hockey wasn’t considered a mainstream sport at the time. The game was mainly played by Canadian and American soldiers, and while the violence decreased, it didn’t disappear. The first fully professional hockey leagues didn’t start until the 1936-37 season. In those days, it was common for players to start fights and roll around on the floor with each other. But eventually, players started using their hands instead of their sticks to fight with.