Keep Fighting, Save Hockey

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

After this year’s NHL season is over, the general managers will get to together to possibly eliminate fighting in the game.

The sport has finally recovered its fan base with new, young players, along with some players who are having historical years.

But if fighting is banished, the fans and the players are not going to be happy.

Hockey is obviously a tough sport. You got to be able to take a hit and dish one out. It is reasonable that coaches and managers do not want to see their star scorer getting pummeled in front of the crowd and getting injured, but that is why you have enforcers.

If the players knew that fighting was not allowed, the only way they could retaliate would be to play dirty. Even worse, those jerks that play cheap will not get what is coming to them. Let the enforcers protect your team because they love it, their teammates love it and so do the fans.

That is another thing. Does no one care about the loyal fan anymore? You would think in an economy like this, the NHL would want to sell as many tickets as possible. If you have watched a hockey game before, you have noticed the entire arena gets on their feet for a goal and a fight. The fights are what initially attracts most fans and keeps them watching.

If fighting dies, so does the NHL. I do not think the majority of the owners will allow that, but if they did, it would be a true shame.

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