I kind of roughly equate it to how intentionally hitting a guy with a pitch in baseball is allowed to a point. Fighting in hockey is all about policing themselves and enforcing the unwritten rules of the game. For instance if you go after a team's star, you can bet the other team's enforcer is going to drop gloves with you and let you know you don't do that.

 

:thumb: Fighting is there to keep the order and prevent cheap shots from happening. Friends that I have that have played college hockey, where fighting is prohibited and severely punished tell me that loads more cheap shots and dirty play happen at the college level than what happens in juniors hockey or the pros. You know if you pull any cheap or dirty stuff in juniors, you might get the crap beat out of you so it is kept to a minimum.

:thumb: Fighting is there to keep the order and prevent cheap shots from happening. Friends that I have that have played college hockey, where fighting is prohibited and severely punished tell me that loads more cheap shots and dirty play happen at the college level than what happens in juniors hockey or the pros. You know if you pull any cheap or dirty stuff in juniors, you might get the crap beat out of you so it is kept to a minimum.

 

Agreed. This is why it exists and is allowed.

 

In regards to those saying Olympic hockey is better. It's probably better to you because there is something on the line with Olympic hockey. You're playing for a medal and your country, not just another win-loss.

 

Night in and night out in the NHL, you're not necessarily playing for something as motivating as an Olympic medal might be. Why is NHL hockey so much better in the playoffs? Because something is one the line.

"I fart in your general direction."

 

"Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries."

 

:laugh::thumb::notworthy:

 

Anyone who quotes Monty Python receives my applause!!! :thumb:

"I fart in your general direction."

 

"Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries."

 

:laugh::laugh::laugh:

Ohhhhhh, it's hockey. I was wondering why they had to play hockey during the fight.

We Americans are all about violence... 1/4th of the crowd attends hockey games to watch fights :lol: North American hockey is just as good if not better, when it comes to playoff time people rarely fight it's all about the game.

 

The same % go to nascar to watch the wrescks... :lol:

The same % go to nascar to watch the wrescks... :lol:

 

Yup... or watch highlights for it.

This is how the players police each other. If someone delivers a cheap shot he may not get it that night but will in following games, even if you don't play the same team, he will get his turn. They all have friends around the league that would love to have the opportunity to even the score.

 

Growing up in "Hockeytown" this practice of self policing is the standard in all leagues, including youth on up. Man, it reminds me of the old neighborhood!

 

A good example is hockey great Gordie Howe...he was playing for the American team along side his son Mark in a series against the Russian national team. In the very first game Mark gets a cheap shot from a Russsian defenseman and is knocked out of the game. No retaliation given out that night, but the next game that defenseman went "sleepy time" with one of Gordie's patented high elbow shots along the glass. A perfect example of self policing.

This is how the players police each other. If someone delivers a cheap shot he may not get it that night but will in following games, even if you don't play the same team, he will get his turn. They all have friends around the league that would love to have the opportunity to even the score.

 

Growing up in "Hockeytown" this practice of self policing is the standard in all leagues, including youth on up. Man, it reminds me of the old neighborhood!

 

A good example is hockey great Gordie Howe...he was playing for the American team along side his son Mark in a series against the Russian national team. In the very first game Mark gets a cheap shot from a Russsian defenseman and is knocked out of the game. No retaliation given out that night, but the next game that defenseman went "sleepy time" with one of Gordie's patented high elbow shots along the glass. A perfect example of self policing.[/QUOTE]

 

 

I understand THAT. And to me, I have no problem with most of the action that takes place in the flow of the game. But, I think the original question in the thread involved fighting. To me, that's when the action is stopped because two guys decide to drop gloves and go at it. Yes, it may still be a form of policing...but, it is entirely different than what you just described.