Why do ice hockey players fight all the time?

Question

Sorry, im not very familiar with the sport,
I just don't get it, can't they accept hits are part of the game like players do in other sports, its almost like fights are accepted, that everyone stops to watch them.

i get your points that its a very physical and tough sport, but for example i play water polo. If someone holds me under for so long that im struggling and it doesn't get called, i don't go and start throwing punches, il grab him back or hold him under, il treat it on the same level.

Answer 1

it's a very physical game no sport can even try to compare to. with a game that physical fights are going to happen. and fights are acceptable in hockey they too are a part of the game. and the fights greatly contribute to the ratings in hockey

Answer 2

First, players do not fight all the time in hockey. The last game that got bizarrely out of control was in 2004 between the Flyers and Ottawa. Yes, there have been a few line brawls, but you do not see anything like what you saw in the 70's and early 80's. A line brawl is less common in today's NHL than the benches clearing in a baseball game. There are many, many games played now where there are no fights at all.

Regarding the reasons why players fight, there are a few. A player may have felt an opponent took a cheap shot at himself or a teammate. They accept clean hits, they take exception to dirty hits and other infractions that occur. This is the same reason players fight in other sports such as a high and tight fastball in baseball or elbow to the head in basketball.

The fighting that would technically get away from the game a little is when two tough guys square off. A guy may fight to give his team a lift if they are playing a little flat. Momentum and emotion play huge roles in hockey. When a fight breaks out in an NHL game, the entire building comes to life.

While it is not the most civilized aspect of the game (no less than boxing anyway), they do have an unwritten code of conduct especially when you have two enforcers fighting. You don't usually see a guy get punched when he has been put into a vulnerable position. You don't often see a tough guy fighting a guy who doesn't fight. There are others and "the code" gets broken from time to time when emotions run hot.

I personally, as someone who has played the game at some fairly high levels, think there is a place for fighting in professional and junior hockey. It has been mostly removed from youth and amateur hockey and rightfully so, but it is one of the most exciting and the players and fans generally enjoy that aspect of it.

Where has ZamDriver been lately? He would have a strong opinion on this question.

Answer 3

Be thankful they don't give the players guns then.
And I have to say that you may be genrealizing a fair bit when you say they fight all the time. Some games don't have fights. Fighting has been a part of hockey since it began. It isn't about the hits. And if you've never played you will have a hard time understanding. There is no sport which is more physically demanding on a player and during exertion most people get a heightened level of adrenaline in their system. That leads to the fights. Honestly, most fans of the game like it or at least accept it. For those that don't I recommend they watch NASCAR. But hey I've seen those guys fight using their cars.

Answer 4

Intimidation and to try and make sure the other team isn't taking cheap shot hits at their teams star players. In other words, to protect their star players, because hockey is a full contact sport where hitting is the norm. You have to discourage big hits against your star players somehow and fighting is the best way. Winning a fight can also turn the moentum of a game in your teams favour, just by picking up there energy level. In the majority of fights, it is a tie game or the initiating team of a fight is behind in the game. Very rarely do you see a team who is winning even want to fight, unless one of the teams stars has been overly targeted. Yes, you do usually get a 5 minute penalty for fighting, but if one player from each team both decide to fight, each team loses the player for 5, so there is no advantage to one team in many cases. I would also say that it's not true that they LIKE to fight, most players who do fight fairly often don't exactly like it. In fact I would say quite the opposite, but they realise it's part of the game and part of their job. Some players are on pro teams just because they are good fighters, that is not to say they like it , in fact most admit they really don't, but it's worth a good paycheck. A really great fighter can earn over a million dollars US in the NHL per year.

Answer 5

First, do some research get some perspective there are not fights "all the time" it depends on the players, teams, rivalries etc but overall there is probably only one fight in every 5th game played. There are players who go through their entire careers getting in maybe 5 fights.

Second, it isn't really a no holds barred cage match like Ultimate Fighting Championship there are certain unwritten rules. Using a helmet, stick, skates(razor sharp), kicking, kneeing is unheard of and would get someone instant long suspensions and fines.

Third, although the checking is hard in hockey I don't consider it any more punishing than american football where there are multiple unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness calls in every game. In soccer, the rules say that players should NEVER make any bodily contact with each other they are constantly pushing each other with their hands, elbows and arms and kicking the shins and legs of other players. They say it is "part of the game" but if it is was more closely called then that wouldn't happen. Also, when there almost fistfights in soccer they usually do even more low class animalistic things like spitting, kicking from behind, etc.

Answer 6

Is punching someone really any worse than trying to DROWN them? In hockey if you did tit for tat like that, it would turn into fencing. At least they aren't bashing each other over the heads with their sticks (oh, wait a minute they do that too) Well at least they usually drop the gloves.

In all seriousness most fights are agreed upon by two roughly equal fighters and there is a fair degree of sportsmanship even when fighting. They rarely bite or head butt and most times if one player goes down, the other guy stops punching him. Its a gentle kind of thuggery.

Besides, the fans like it, the players like it, the management likes it, and most times it gives the team an emotional boost which helps play. Its only NON hockey fans that seem to have a problem with it. They spend a lot of time skating and passing and scoring too. Its not all thuggery, there's an artistic side too.

Answer 7

Good to know you'd resist the urge to punch someone and would instead do something that if done long enough would DROWN THEM---LOL.

Okay, after that, there's not much to say to you.

FACT: More players are hurt in STICK-RELATED incidents, which players can be fined and suspended for. I guess they shouldn't play with sticks, hmm?

Fighting IS accepted. Like people have said, hockey = high adrenaline & intense emotions which leads to a fight. Not everyone plays CLEAN and when they do something dirty, keep hitting the same guy, or hit him too hard, there are guys to defend the star players. Plus, fighting affects the momentum of the game. Don't worry, both parties get at least a 5 minute "time out" for this.

Answer 8

It's just the culture of the sport. Way back before the NHL (around late 1800s), hockey made the now-UFC look like Tinkerbell fight Mary Poppins. If you think it's violent now, you should see it back then. Until it became more of an organized sport (thanks to the Patrick brothers), a check was seen as a sign of a fight, and once that started, all the players would find a dancing partner. It didn't really stop going into the NHA (now NHL) and it just continued on.

Bettman's an idiot for trying to change an over-hundred year culture by attempting to eliminating fighting.

Answer 9

I'm sorry, but, watch a game. There really isn't much fighting anymore. Fighting though is generally excepted. It's been in the game for more than 80 years. The players know what they're getting into, and it usually isn't a big deal. I enjoy watching fights, but I could see how someone who isn't familiar could find it misleading. It upsets me though when someone who isn't familiar with the game assumes they fight all the time; they really don't. That is the part they highlight during the regular season, but many league don't allow fighting at all (refering to European leagues). I recommend watching a couple games, maybe attending one; you'll gain a better understanding, and I also think you'll find it very entertaining, regardless of the fighting.

Answer 10

I think the answer is very simple. If you have ever played the game you would know that it is quite possibly the most frustrating game there is. It is very cathartic, and necessary. I don't think its any coincidence that the more they try to eliminate fighting (i.e. instigator rule), the more stick work there is.
Contrary to what other posters have stated, it has very little to do with the fans. Some players fight because it is the only way they can stay in the game, others do it based on my aforementioned cathartic contention.