Why do hockey goalies fight each other?

Question

Why do goalies always fight each other instead of fighting with other players? Is it because of the pads they are wearing?

Answer 1

It's pecking order or the code of the ice. Times have changed recently, but it plays out this way. Goalies are off limits. If you hit a goalie you are marked. If you punch a goalie, expect the largest goon from the other team to jump you. If a goalie punches you a) you punch back and the largest goon from the other team to jump you, or b) you don't punch back, and the largest goon from the other team sees his goalie is mad and figures you deserve it and jumps you anyway. Therefore the only person that can fight a goalie is the other goalie. That big goon can't go hit your goalie for punching his goalie. That brings your biggest goon jumping him.

98 percent of the time it happens when everyone on the ice squares off. You goalie would have to tie up their goalie otherwise one guy would have to fight 2 guys. And many of those the would just match up, grab each other's jersey to keep them out of it. But, goalies can hate each other too. Or it could just start.

So, if a goalie is being too much of a goon himself, say he smacks up your star player, skip all the formalities, it is your goaltender that is the goalie enforcer - he'll skate down and pick a fight with the goon goalie.

Now, I believe if there is a fight in your end the goalie is suppose to go to his crease or by the bench - whichever is a safe area. And they are not suppose to cross center ice.

Answer 2

Goalies Fighting

Answer 3

Goalies have fought other players in the past but the player has many advantages. The goalie is not as stable on his skates and one punch may knock him over. The goalie is not as experienced in fighting as many other players are as most goalies do not fight their entire career. The goalie as you say has extra padding on but the worst part are his arm protectors. All that added weight and restriction will make his punches slower and softer than any players. Unless they get rid of the "Rob Ray" rule that does not allow players to peel their equipment off before a fight(that is why they have a fight strap in the back of the jerseys). If the golies were allowed to do this they may fight more often. The last point would be that the teams may not want to lose a star goalie due to concussion from fighting so this is another reason why you do not see them fight very much at all.

Answer 4

First ahh we goalies are more stable on our skates. Maybe less stable other ways.
As far as why goalie on goaile action (G on G action) several reasons. Those nut bags aren't affaid of pucks moving at three digits who would through a punch at one and expect a reaction?
Have you ever been near a Goalie, good god they stink. They can get all stinky with each other.
Goalies are crazed, even thier own players avoid close contact with them. You just don't know what to expect. You might get bitten, Tyson style. My ear my ear... Stay away.

Answer 5

Normally there's an unwritten law about hitting goalies,
Most players won't take on a goal tender
This rule does not apply to other goalies

Answer 6

they don't know unless one of them makes a move. If the goalie on one team starts skating towards the other one while staring him down then the goalie can either accept the fight and meet halfway or stay where he's at and make the other goalie look dumb. The goalie can't get kicked out if he's defending himself but if he initiates the fight he can.

Answer 7

Fighting in pro hockey is both a tradition and a charade. While there is at times genuine animosity between players, for the most part, the players that square off to fight, are team enforcers who understand that their role is to either act or react to the prevailing momentum of the game. Some examples:

Team A lays out one of Team B's best skill players.
Team B's enforcer goes after a number of Team A's skill players, sending the message of "tit for tat, you try and intimidate our superstars, we go after yours." This usually culminates in Team A's enforcer interceding.

Team C is getting whooped by Team D. Team C's enforcer, squares up with Team D's enforcer. In doing so, he hopes to interrupt the flow of the game and reverse the momentum. Fights basically stop the game, and can get a listless crowd re-engaged, or fire up the bench.

It's well known that the great majority of these fights are seen by the combatants as "part of their job." Not only do a lot of the players fighting not dislike each other, not unlike other full contact sports like football, it's not unusual that enforcers on opposing teams are good friends off the ice. A recent fight that included 2 enforcers, one of which was mic'd, revealed that a fight ensued from an exchange basically like this:

Player X: "You want to go?"
Player Y: "Yeah"

They drop the gloves and square off. Listening to it was amazing, as the conversation sounded like two guys talking about having a beer.

Once a fight starts, players all pair off in twos. On the rare occasions when there's a melee, the oppossing goalie will skate down and grab the other goalie. In one way this is logistically important, because 2 guys fighting results in offsetting penalties, while a 3rd person who gets involved in a fight between two already engaged players is heavily penalized (3rd man in).

Additionally, teams are understandably protective of their goalies, being the specialized and fundamental role that goaltenders provide. Players simply don't go after the opposing team's goalie directly. Even crowding the goalie, screening or allowing yourself to be pushed into the goalie, is often the spark that ignites a brawl. Goalies are in a special class, and the only player who can engage the opposite team's goalie, is your own goalie.

Answer 8

Fights between goalies are very rare

Answer 9

because if a goalie got into a good scrap with a regular player, he would get pummelled mercilessly due to the weight and bulkiness of the equipment.

so when bench clearing brawls used to happen, the goalies would skate toward each other, meet and go at it.!!

Answer 10

Yes, it's because of their gear that goalies take each other on. However the donnybrook seems to be a thing of the past, at least in the NHL.