In the NHL why do the refs allow players to fight and not stop it?

Question

I have seen NHL players fight many times but the refs do not stop them until one of them reaches the floor? Why is that and how come they dont get suspendend like the NBA?

Answer 1

It depends. A small guy vs. a much bigger one, usually they do stop it. 2 evenly matched guys (or 2 people who are known as that team's "enforcers") the thinking (right or wrong) is: they get paid to fight, the players don't want it broken up, nobody will get seriously hurt, they may get it out of their system, the fans want to see it. And so they let them go at it.

I have no good answer for your second question. I think they should, Hockey needs less fighting and more hockey. The present situation just proves to people that won't watch the games that it's too violent. I think that's a myth, but the stupid media just televises the fights, not the goals and saves, and that doesn't help. Watch the 7th game of a playoff series sometime. All of a sudden, the enforcers are not dressed or sit on the bench because the game is too important, they need to play the skilled players. Suspensions would help the sport. But the NHL never learns.

Answer 2

well..if one of the players fighting has a much bigger advantage than the other one (hes taller or stronger or something) then the refs will try to stop it..but if its an even fight then they will let them go..and they dont get suspended cuz fighting is a part of the game..and there is nothing you can do to stop it..if the players got suspended everytime they fought..there would hardly be any players in the nhl! basketball players dont fight cuz its not a fighting sport..and its just very funny to watch them try..and another thing..if the ref tried to stop the players..he might as well get knocked out too..plus..the nhl players can take pain..they dont cry over things like nba players would..cuz see..hockey players get off the ice after being shot in the face by a frozen puck travelling 100 mph..get stitches and get back to playing that same game like nothing happened..but if something happened to a basketball player..he dramatizes the hole thing acting like a little baby

Answer 3

Fighting is part of hockey, for the NBA the players really dont wear gear so they not proctected at all. When there is a hockey fight it is safer for the refs to back away until one player hits the floor because then its really not fare game. If you think about it , if they took hockey away, then there we be lets hype about it. Just think if there was no hockey fights there would be no battle of Ontario. When the leafs go to ottawa , look at all the money the NHL and owners make. Even the cities make money from it.

Answer 4

The refs don't stop fights. Linesmen jump in and stop them. What hockey are you watching? Do hockey fights run until someone is KO-ed?

Anyway, this ain't the '70s. There are hardly any fights at all in hockey esp. in the playoffs.

Who cares about the NBA frankly? Honestly, fighting is hockey is stupid at times but it does act as safety valve. It stops people from taking cheap shots if you know you may have to drop the gloves. I mean, Iginla vs. Lecavalier was awesome in the '04 Final.

Sure beats the NBA where Carmelo throws a girly punch and runs away.

Answer 5

The last time they did that, it started a riot. See the link.

1) They want to go in at a point where the players see they are in and not during a flurry of thrown fists where collateral damage may take place.

2) If both players aren't restrained equally it could give one a chance at some free bees.

This usually is when they are tired and tangled up, which a lot of times is when they hit the ice.

Answer 6

it is because hockey is a physical sport.

basketball and soccer, among other sports, are about as physical as golf, so any little contact that occurs leads to a foul, suspension, etc.

dont get me wrong, basketball and soccer are ok sports, but some people just prefer the physicalness of hockey.

fighting is a way that players express themselves... most of the time, the fights in hockey arent because the players hate each other, but because they went to give a spark to their team and give them a boost. because who doesnt enjoy a good fight?

many teams have a certain player on the team just for fighting. these players will be sent on the ice if the coach thinks that their team could really use a boost.

Answer 7

Referees won't step in if both participants are willing to fight because in doing so they

a) might accidently create an unfair advantage for one fighter and actually cause the other to get pummelled by jumping in too soon.

b) Might get accidently hit themselves by a wayward fist .

The Refs generally let them combatants tire themselves out by fighting ( which takes only about 60 seconds) before stepping in.
The fight itself apparantly is hugely draining. I've known a few guys who've played at the professional level who tell me that after getting into one of these scraps they are often physically exhausted and often don't get their full energy back for a period or so.

Answer 8

Fighting is a classic part of the game of hockey. It's kind of a way that players police themselves. If you do something uncouth, then you're gonna get beaten on. These guys are tough, they can take a little pain. I wish there was more hitting in hockey, but the league went all wussie on us after the lockout.

Answer 9

The refs don't break upa fight right away in oreder to let the players get it out of their system.
The players are rough and tough. They can take it.
No one really seems to get hurt. The players are well padded.

Answer 10

Have you tried to stop a couple of 200+lbs guys going at it on skates? Would you like to try? And hockey isn't a sissy sport; fighting is as part of it as boring is to baseball.