Patrick Roy Fallout: No Room for Fighting in Amateur Hockey

Recently there’s been a lot of debate regarding fighting in amateur hockey—junior hockey specifically.

We can all thank the Roy family for that. On the heels of this incident it appears that the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is on the verge of outlawing fighting altogether.

David Branch, the president of the Canadian Hockey League, which oversees all three major bodies in major junior (WHL, OHL and QMJHL) also stated recently on XM Home Ice 204 that this ruling will inevitably spread to all three junior leagues.

Of course, this has many hockey fans fired up. I’ve heard several different opinions as to why fighting needs to remain in amateur hockey. I’m taking this opportunity to play devil's advocate and offer a different opinion for each of these arguments:

“How are these kids supposed to prepare for life in the NHL?”

Less than 6% of kids playing in Major Junior Hockey make it to the NHL. In one case study following the 1975 OHL draft class, which was considered a very deep talent pool, only 32 skaters played in an NHL game, with only 15 of those 32 dressing more than once. Out of those 15 skaters only six qualified for the NHL's Player Pension (minimum 400 games in the NHL). To sum up, only six kids out of 232 "made it" as an NHL pro. That’s less than 3%. Furthermore, I have a hard time believing that all six players were fighters or fought often enough to say their apprenticeship in fisticuffs during their stay in major junior allowed them to survive the big leagues.[i]

“Messages need to be sent if your team is losing badly!” or “If you can’t beat ‘em on the scoreboard, beat ‘em in the alleys”

This is as asinine a remark as I’ve ever heard. Amateur sports are about teaching kids fair play, teamwork, social skills, and the value of commitment. Only in hockey is it acceptable to react like a spoiled child and physically assault another player simply because your team is being outplayed and outclassed. Could anyone imagine this occurring in a college basketball game or high school football contest? I would think not.

“Fighting is needed to deter certain players from taking liberties on star players or playing over the edge.”

I can see the merits of this argument. However, fighting never deterred former pests like Esa Tikkanen, Ulf Samuelsson or Claude Lemieux from playing their brand of irritating hockey. I also doubt it will have any affect on how current players such as Cory Perry, Sean Avery or Steve Ott ply their trade.

“Boys will be boys”

Very true, but does this mean that any and all behavior should be tolerated from our young adults? I know full well that my children will more than likely drink before they are legally of age. Should I cease any sort of discipline for this infraction? Or how about if they skip school, cheat on a test or experiment with drugs? How many who are reading this can say they never engaged in any of these activities in your youth? Does it make it right? No.

“It’s entertaining and the game has always had it.”

Bingo. Let’s face facts; we’re a violent nation. If you saw a fight on the street, chances are you would stop and watch. If the NHL initiated cock-fighting between periods I imagine beer runs and washroom breaks would vanish during intermissions.

When I was younger I would attend the weekly Junior C and B games and would be disappointed if there was an absence of fisticuffs over the course of the evening. As I've grown older, perhaps I’ve gotten softer. Once I became a father (now with 2 young boys) I know it to be the case. At a recent Junior C game, I couldn’t help but cringe when I saw a grown man salivate at the site of two 16-year olds who were about to engage in a fight. During the tilt, I don’t believe he, or anyone else, were considering how this was going to help the combatants in their future endeavors into professional hockey.

In the Roy incident I couldn’t help but think how the parents of Bobby Nadeau (the goalie who was jumped by Jonathan Roy) must have felt. In many cases, when a player is drafted into the CHL, they leave their families and friends to live and pursue their dreams far from home. If I’m lucky enough to have my sons embark on the same journey I can only hope that the community, coaching staff and billets treat my boys with the same love, care and respect that they’ve received thus far from their mother and I. I couldn’t imagine watching one of my sons experience an assault similar to what young Nadeau was forced to endure.

It’s true that this incident shouldn’t even be classified as a fight. In fact, most proponents of fighting in amateur hockey feel that these types of shenanigans have no place in the game. But one has to wonder if they would even occur if fighting was banned to begin with.

It might be a revelation for some to hear that several kids play the game for the joy, fun, and simplicity of it. Nobody should be forced to suffer through fear or intimidation as an amateur in order to continue playing the game they love, and certainly not to satisfy the bloodlust of a few thousand bystanders.

In regards to pro hockey, I have no issues with fighting. They are professionals and are being paid to take these risks. However, in amateur hockey, I see no place for it. Former NHL pugilist Tiger Williams once said, “If you’re not being paid to fight, you’re an idiot." I tend to agree.

Note: I have no delusions in believing my opinions on this subject are popular ones. I’m fully aware that most, if not all, arguments will be the opposite of my point of view. Still, I welcome your comments and look forward to reading them. Thank you.

Henry Dyck

[e-mail]

---

[i] http://www.cumberlandminorhockey.ca/to_the_nhl/chances.htm