In a sport as competitive as hockey, it is inevitable that players will want to show up their opponents with a powerful hit. And while the game has changed a lot in recent years to prevent serious injury, there are still sometimes violent clashes between the players. This is mainly because hockey referees still allow players to fight: an element that was present in earlier versions of the game but which has now made its way back. But why exactly do hockey referees allow players to fight? Is it simply because they want to keep the excitement going? Or do hockey refs favor certain players because of their on-ice behavior? Let’s take a look.
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The Rise Of The Professional Hockey Referee
Hockey has always been a mostly male sport, mainly played by professionals and fans in northern climates. But in the past couple of years, the game has started to gain a lot of popularity globally, with children and women’s leagues sprouting up in places like Canada, the United States, and even Russia. One of the biggest factors behind this growth is undoubtedly the sport’s more aggressive style. The increased violence brings a higher degree of excitement to the game, and it appears that the fans share this excitement, as attendance is up across the board.
Along with the game’s growing popularity came a rise in the number of professional referees. For many years, hockey referees were unpaid volunteers, working for the love of the game. But with the game gaining such wide popularity came increased exposure, and this in turn led to more opportunities for referees to make extra money through promotions and advertising. This is probably why NHL vice president and referee operations Mike Leetch said in a recent interview that “[i]f you look at the sport of hockey, it’s evolved from the kind of game that you might play in a backyard to an international sport that’s televised and marketed. There needs to be a recognition of the refs as an integral part of that success.” So while the game has changed a lot over the years to keep up with the violence, the fact remains that professional hockey is still very much a man’s game, and its referees are still men.
Keeping The Thrills Coming
One of the main reasons that hockey still revolves around physical confrontations is probably because the sport was designed to be a physical one. The very first hockey rule book, published in the early 20th century, stated that “[t]he object of hockey is to hit another player as hard as you possibly can.” While this may seem obvious to modern sensibilities, it wasn’t always the case. When the first hockey rules were written, hitting hard was an essential part of the game because there were no suspensions, no icing, and no offside rules. Teams would use this element to their advantage, often going all-out in an effort to beat their opponent.
Because the game was designed to be a physical one, hockey’s early rules were very much geared towards providing an environment where players could express their anger and frustration through physical confrontations. Backhands were legal (and in fact, highly encouraged), hooking was allowed, and players could drop the gloves at any time, for any reason. In many ways, this is why hockey is still considered a “man’s game” – because it encourages a certain type of behavior that is generally associated with men.
Hockey Is Still A “Man’s Game”
It is important to note that, while men make up the majority of hockey players, the game itself is still dominated by men. According to one survey, 85% of hockey players are male, while only 15% are female. This is why men’s hockey teams tend to be bigger and stronger than their female counterparts, and why men are more likely to get in fights with other men.
But while men make up the majority of hockey players, this doesn’t mean that women are excluded from the sport. As we’ve seen, the hockey world is now fully aware of how popular the sport has become globally, and as a result, more and more women are starting to get involved. In countries like Sweden and Finland, where hockey is a popular sport, we now even see children playing the game.
While it is great to see more children participating in sports, this doesn’t necessarily mean that adults should get off the couch and start playing. As the parent of a young hockey player, I can tell you that kids can get very physically active playing hockey, which is great for their health. But it can also be very physically demanding, especially if you happen to be playing against an opponent who is bigger and stronger than you.
So if you’re looking for a sport where you can let your hair down and have some good old-fashioned competition, then go for it. Just make sure you’re aware of the potential risks and know how to prep your kids for the physicality of the game.
Rough And Tumble
Hockey is a rough sport, and this is probably why there is still some question as to whether or not it should be considered a “real” sport. After all, if you hit harder than you can block, you’re going to be in for some serious injuries. This is especially a concern for amateur players, who often don’t have the same protection that professional athletes have (more on this in a bit). But just because hockey is violent doesn’t mean that it’s dangerous. In fact, many people have pointed to the relatively low injury rate as evidence that hockey is a safe sport.
This is mainly because hockey has changed a lot over the years to make the game safer. Today, helmets are mandatory, there is more padding around the cage, and hockey sticks have changed from wood to metal and fiberglass. But even back in the day, when wooden sticks were the norm, there were still sometimes injuries, as there is now with modern hockey sticks. In fact, during the 2017-2018 season, there were 516 registered hockey injuries, of which 354 were considered serious (this is according to the NHL). This is also probably why Mike Leetch stated that “[i]f you look at the sport of hockey, it’s evolved from the kind of game that you might play in a backyard to an international sport that’s televised and marketed. There needs to be a recognition of the refs as an integral part of that success.”
Protecting The Amateurs
One of the reasons that hockey still contains elements associated with men is because of its predominantly male audience. In a recent interview, hockey fan and entrepreneur Mark Scheffel noted that “[h]ockey is a uniquely Canadian sport, and until fairly recently, it was only played by the professional classes. But today, it’s very popular with the general public, and for good reason. It’s exciting to watch and it gets you involved. It’s a great way to socialize as well. It’s a physical sport, so people work hard at it and there’s lots of grit and determination.” So while Scheffel is certainly right that hockey is now a sport that is “very popular with the public,” it is still considered a “man’s game” by default, and the referees still allow players to go at it, because they want to protect the amateur players who are participating in the game. This is especially important for Canadian amateurs, who are considered the masters of protecting their little brothers (and sometimes even their uncles) from getting seriously injured.
Fights Help Build Character
One of the other reasons that hockey still revolves around physical confrontations is because this is an important part of the game. As we’ve discussed, the game was originally designed to be very physical, and it still contains some of those elements. But, as with any sport, there is now a difference between fair play and hard knocks. While fighting is still not permitted in hockey today, this doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen back in the day. Indeed, fights are a part of hockey history, dating back to 1901, when they were first introduced to the game. And, since fights are an important part of hockey lore, the players have now started portraying these iconic images for their children and grandchildren.
Even now, with fighting being completely outlawed, there is still sometimes a “tough guy” image that is associated with hockey. And even those who don’t like seeing players fight, admit that these images help create an environment where people want to play the sport. Which brings us to our next point.
Hockey Is A “Family Game”
Because of its unique combination of sports, musicals, and comedy, Canada is often referred to as the “hockey nation.” And while this definitely applies to our neighbors to the north, it also really could be said to represent the entire country. After all, if you’re a Canadian, you’re a hockey fan, whether you play the game or not.