I can’t believe I am saying that. I grew up in Philly remember. But more than that, I have been on the pro-fighting the bandwagon for as long as I can remember. I understand its place in our game. I love a good hockey fight. I have seen it used as an effective deterrent to protect stars. I have seen it change the momentum of a game. I have felt the drama of an enforcer stepping over the boards and knowing his job is to let the guy who injured his star player know that he got the number. I have moved to the edge of my seat as two tough guys sit and wait for the puck to drop, leaning on their crossed sticks while jawing at each other. As a kid I was at more than a few bench clearing brawls that are great memories. I think Ross Bernstein’s book, “The Code: The Unwritten Rules of Fighting and Retaliation in the NHL,” may be one of the best hockey books EVER penned. You would be amazed at how many players talk about this book.

So I do get it, and don’t anyone out there say that I don’t. I fully get it. And more still I have defended its place in hockey on this blog, on the radio, to girlfriends, to family members, and to far too many people in America who still to this day define hockey by the fact that it has fighting. I know many people out there can relate to the conversation.

“It’s a part of the game.”
“Why does it need to be?”

Etc., Etc.

I also get how the instigator penalty is horribly flawed. The instigator penalty has driven the stick fouls up and is likely why guys like Chris Simon don’t think "drop gloves" now and instead swing their sticks.

I have defended it because I don’t want to see Euro-NHL. I don’t love games without intensity or drama. Many players will flat out tell you that they coasted through the first two-thirds of this season due to a lack of hitting. Teams could play three lines and not get winded this season.

BUT…..

Someone is going to get killed. These fighters aren’t the “Hanson Brothers Type” NHLers of the seventies who sat on a boat all off-season eating Cheetos and drinking Beer. These guys are highly conditioned athletes who get more leverage with better skates, more motion form lighter equipment, and lessons from boxing trainers. They are trained by men who, as ACTUAL boxers, would never be allowed to box bare-fisted legally in their sport.

When guys scrapped in the 70’s and 80’s they were tough guys, but it was slightly more dangerous than two tough guy college football players brawling at a frat house. Plus, they were on skates and had heavy equipment to throw around. People got cut, got beaten up, points were made, but rarely was anyone seriously hurt. And when you woke up with a headache your friend said, “yeh, you really got knocked around last night, get up we have practice in an hour.” We didn’t know about concussions or long term consequences as Ali was joking and talking trash on Monday Night Football.

I have heard NHL people say it too, many of whom were always big proponents of fighting. “One day, someone is going to get killed.”

Last night I saw Colton Orr do his job and literally knock out Fedoruk. Nothing against Orr AT ALL. It was a clean fight. It even looked to me that Orr tried to help Fedoruk from falling and hitting his head again on the ice after Orr realized that he had connected.

As Fedoruk lay prone on the ice, and knowing what Todd has gone through, I feared for about thirty seconds or so that I may be witnessing that “One Day.” I thank God Todd is fine.

I do admit it is a million times harder now, as a reporter who actually knows these guys, to think you maybe witnessing something so terrible.

But as a human being we need to end it before we all know we have to end it; because someone in an NHL game gets killed.

As a person who loves the sport, I am terrified what the results would be long term to our sport if that occurs. All the kids that won’t be playing it anymore to start with...

We need to end it.

We also obviously need to address the stick stuff, and we need to encourage hitting. That is where the physical aspect of the game can live on. Like pro football, great hits can turn games. We need referees to allow great hits to happen…

Anyway, that is just my two cents.


Some of you may think I am over-reacting to last night, others may think I am late to this party...but none of that matters at all.

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