Don't Fall for It: Diving Has No Place in Hockey

          For example, a third offence should include the five minute major, a $50,000 fine and a one game suspension. I cannot imagine any player would go further than that but if so, more money and games must be sacrificed. Not to mention the label of cheater that goes along with it.              

          Players in today’s NHL rarely accumulate multiple diving penalties in their careers so to assume that it would happen on a regular basis is a stretch, but with the new standard anything is possible. A strong point needs to be heard.  

          The fear alone will have a great affect on the mentality of players. If they get checked, they will pop right back up. If they are tripped they will jump to their feet and begin to skate. They will fight through the hooks and the holds, rather than put their hands in the air and look at the referee to make a call.

          Even the goaltenders who get nudged may think twice before doing a back flip in the crease. The product will improve and the players will appear tougher and not like cry-babies, pleading for a penalty when they should be continuing on with the play.

          It would be wrong to suggest that the league is full of cry-babies since just about every player asks the referees to call a penalty now and then. But the new standard would eliminate this tactic somewhat for the better, as players would understand that there is no benefit to hitting the ice and they should instead make the extra attempt to stay on their skates to help their team.

          The overall impact these changes would have on the NHL during its crackdown on dives would be to firstly remove most diving from the game, but more importantly, it would send the message that this kind of behavior is forbidden and that no one in any league (or any sport for that matter) at any level, is allowed to flop.

          It is wrong. It is faking. It is cheating. It is dishonest. It is simply unacceptable. It is about respect, and for a professional sports league to take such a stand would bring immediate credibility to itself in this area.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?