Is it legal to have hockey fights?

It’s more or less legal for the players… on the ice… during the game, and with fists only. But still not legal off the ice, on the bench, in the locker room, the stands or the street, or using the stick or skate as a weapon.

We’re working on that.

So what causes every ice hockey fight?

They are legal, but players involved in fights will incur a 5 minute penalty for fighting. There is also a sort of protocol for fights, that if broken could lead to greater penalties or ejection from the game.

@xboxfan Most of the fights are caused by long-standing rivalries, but some are simply from being pissed off at a player on another team.

@jeffgoldblumsprivatefacilities

http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/47675

2 guys are in the center for the puck, and cote and godard start fighting? I dont get it. What caused it to happen?

I love hockey, it is such a fast, exciting, skillful sport. Except for the stupid fighting. These are professional athletes, they should be able to control their emotions. It is not allowed in any other sport, why should it be in hockey. I think it should be eliminated from the sport.

@xboxfan While I don’t know the specifics of that particular fight, these two players probably had some history earlier in the game that kept building up until it lead to the fight. For example, say one of the players repeatedly checked the other earlier in the game, or if he committed an illegal move that was not seen by the referees, this could lead to a build up in tension which finally resulted in a fight later on in the game.

@rooeytoo your talking about football. (american) It is the number one dangerous sports. When guy push you, they start fighting

I know that in lacrosse, the refs only step in when people are on the ground. Is that true with hockey?

@jeffgoldblumsprivatefacilities oh, ok. So the reff. only stops it when one person or both fall?

@xboxfan – no I am talking about hockey, football is boring to me, big fat guys blocking each other, couple of skinny ends and a quarterback who calls the plays the coach sends in, big deal. But even in football, the refs don’t stand around and watch the fight, they stop it. Hockey is the only sport where fighting is tolerated and I think almost encouraged. To me it detracts from the skill and ability of the skaters and the sport in general.

@xboxfan Most of the time the refs will let them go until they finish, but if they go on for too long, are too one-sided, or are exceptionally violent, the refs will step in and end the fight.

They are not only legal, they are expected. More often than not each team has at least one player known for brawling. Mostly this is a defense man, who is trained at boxing. I’m not making this up. Occasionally the fights are organic and spontaneous, but just as often they are called from the bench. A fight is an effective way to slow the pace of a game, to teach the other team that they are being excessively violent, or that they crossed a line. Interfering with a goalie while he is in the crease will NOT be tolerated.

But… More often than not a fight will go through a series of steps where either participant can step out before the actual fight starts. Pushing, yelling, shoving, etc… at anytime a participant can step out… Until the gloves are dropped.

@rooeytoo haha. ok. Take a look at this. (if your willing to). My favorite Football team, Giants. (the people on blue)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCDSpj_tBmE

@jeffgoldblumsprivatefacilities ok. Thanks

@Rude_Bear ok. Because I thought the were illegal.

@xboxfan That was a nasty fight! Those types of fights in football are very rare.

@jeffgoldblumsprivatefacilities haha. One push or hold can cause to a fight. Helmets came off. Dang!

@xboxfan – the fight was stopped immediately, the ref didn’t stand there and watch for 5 minutes. Nope I stand by my original statement, hockey is the only sport (well except boxing of course) where fighting is tolerated and perhaps not officially encouraged, it sure isn’t discouraged.

@rooeytoo yea, bro. theres other fights out there on football. But, yea our right. hockey is the best at fighting.

@rooeytoo It’s officially tolerated. Every team has a goon. The coaches KNOW the guys are boxers… I have met and hung out w/ some of the guys on the local semi pro team. It is know and accepted. And as I said earlier, often the coaches instruct the players to start the fight.

@rooeytoo “To me it detracts from the skill and ability of the skaters and the sport in general.”

For the most part, I agree with you. Especially in circumstances like @Rude_Bear said, where there is that one guy that on every team who is known for fighting. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy seeing some brawls from long-standing rivalries every once in a while.

@all: Most refs will let the fight go until one or both players are down on the ice. When either is off their skates, things get dangerous.

I think they make interesting clips but really do keep me from taking it seriously as a sport.

@Rude_Bear haha. You used. @all

@Rude_Bear – I understand that however the commissioner of the NHL would probably deny it. In any case, I still think it detracts from the game.

@jeffgoldblumsprivatefacilities – I understand that too, sometimes they are fun to watch, I hate that I am saying that, but I like boxing too. I guess I just have some bloodthirsty genes in me. But I do think if it were eliminated, the high quality of competition in the NHL and really some of the lesser leagues would more than make up for the loss and eventually you would accept it without the fights. Or you would sit around saying, I remember back in the good ole days, etc. etc. etc.

Yes. I used @ all.
Fighting is, was, and (hopefully) always will be an accepted part of the game. Hockey without fighting is ice soccer.

haha, ice soccer. Soccer has some fights too. Did you see the girl fight when one girl pulled the other girls hair?

Only if you don’t mind having the puck beat out of you.

Football actually shows extreme restraint. Because these guys are actively using controlled aggression and not going beyond which is pretty incredible considering the adrenaline. Hockey is ridiculous to continue to allow this. I would never take a kid to a hockey game because it just teaches them bad sportsmanship.

Isn’t it a “wink, wink, nudge, nudge” sort of understanding in hockey? Oh, sure, the fighters’ll get benched for a bit, but only after a good 5-minute punch-up?

Hey. I played field hockey in high school, so I know. We played for blood, folks.