McKenzie on Fighting

In the wake of Jonathon Roy’s suspension, Bob McKenzie has summed up my thoughts exactly on fighting in hockey.

Coming from someone who’s played the game at a competitive level and always in leagues where fighting is banned, let me tell you, you will never be able to keep fighting entirely out of the game. Game misconducts and certainty of suspension doesn’t dissuade 16 year olds from getting involved in a scrap when the game gets emotional. I’ve been a player in those fights, and I’ve been a linesman trying to break up those line brawls.

Roy committed a straight-up dumb attack on an unwilling opponent. He was suspended. The circle of life continues. And don’t think the Sagueneens will forget; this rivalry has more fighting to come, whether the Q tries to ban it or not.

For me the litmus test regarding fighting in hockey is this: Do fans cheer when a fight breaks out? We all know the answer is a resounding "yes". It’s emotional and it’s entertaining. Let the willing combatants duke it out, and suspend players for attacks and showboating like Roy.