No. Hockey is about skill, strategy, and technique in moving the puck and the players on the ice. I think fighting diverges from and takes away from the game. If they want to show their skills as fighters they should take up a second hobby in some form of combat.

No. Fighting is unruly behaviour and destroys the game. Edit For the person who keeps trolling me, why don't you come out and tell me how I got my own opinion wrong again?! The question says "Do you think...", this is my OPINION. Stop trolling my answers! *Signs out for the night.*

No it should be monitored a closer however Watching a fight at the NHL is reminiscent of scenes from the movie Gladiator where two people fight in a circular ring while in the stands people yell and scream and cheer for the two people beneath to fight to the death. When one goes to a hockey game, it is easy to see why the attitude a crowd exudes during a fight is like a scene from Gladiator. Sometimes the build-up of emotion during a hockey fight can override people’s common sense and make them do actions they would not normally even consider. Many people thought that in the aftermath of the violence, something would be done about the rules regarding the treatment of violence in the NHL, but, instead the rules remained the same as they have always been.

No, not at all, in hockey or any other sport for that matter. It happens a lot in physical sports like hockey, but i think it detracts from the game. Same thing happens here in Australia with sports like rugby union (which i have played for half of my life) and rugby league.

Of course they should fight. But it should be "clean" and not inflict crippling or disabling injury. IMHO the NHL should have parameters set for fisticuffs (they probably do have some in the rules somewhere) the same way certain moves are allowed or prohibited in boxing. Many folks go to NHL games in hopes of watching somebody fight. Not me, though, I do like to watch the sport when it's played "peacefully". I do admit to a little adrenalin rush when there's a couple or a few guys mixing it up.

yeah it's part of the game man.

YES, YES,YES! It keeps the sticks down, it protects the better players and it never happens unless you have two willing combatants. It's been a pat of Hockey since the beginning, Buttman is ruining the game......don't get me started!

Yes, thats the main reason i watch hockey.

i think fighting in hockey is something we all have kind of gotten used to, hence it is a part of the game. I don't believe it should be an all out blood shed, broken bones and eye gougeing... and most of the time it isn't. Personally i think it's great when a random fight breaks out on the ice.. it's a crowd pleaser and it gives the players an engery boost. My boyfriend plays hockey and this last year he was pretty well know for fighting,... he's calmed down a little now though. But still, when he feels someone is taking advantage of his teammates, or someone is just being an ass he'll give it to them because they deserve it or they brought it on. It's not like hockey players just out and start fighting each other for nothing at all (at least not where i live anyways, lol), they usually have a reason... Personally i think hockey fights are great... for me (as a photographer), for the crowd, for the players... think of it this way, at least you know they don't bottle their feelings or hold grudes long.. lol. that's just my opinion... =^_^= nikki

No I do not think so but the players seem to be as proud of their penalty time as scoring goals

Hell yeah! It makes it more entertaining!

Totally against violence, but man, look at all that gear they wear, let them beat each other up. I LOVE IT! It makes the game that much more interesting! Plus, they're on ice, reduces swelling, haha!

Yes, emphatically. Hockey is too physical, too emotional a game to take it out completely. The argument may be trite, but fighting is a part of the game. I think that the NHL is reaching a good level of fighting. With the advent of the new rules, skill is back on top, meaning teams have less room for boxers on skates. There is such a thing as too many fights, but a conservative sprinkling helps ensure the NHL keeps its physicality.

How else would I get my fill of slippery boxing?

yes, it wouldnt be hockey w/o the fights. do you think that chess shouldnt be silent? no it wouldnt be chess w/o the silent.

No, I do not think that fighting is part of hockey. It interrupts the game and makes it rather unsportsmanlike.

Yes. Fighting in hockey (don't forget it IS penalized, just not banned) is something that sets it apart from baseball/basketball/football in that it doesn't result necessarily in auto ejections. It is an extra way a team can set a tone or send a message. When a team has an 'enforcer' the other team is less likely to try and 'play dirty' as they know a consequence will be coming. Having the ability to 'drop gloves' allows teams to protect their star players (ask Gretzky how much it helped to have Semenko on his team). Hockey is INCREDIBLY fast and even with 2 refs there are still plenty of things missed and fighting allows some self policing to occur.

No. I have not played Hockey (played baseball and football) so this opinion is from a spectator’s point of view on good sportsmanship. In my opinion the fighting is retaliation for cheap shoots taken in an attempt to slow down an opponent who has found an advantage. I am referring to the trailing defenseman’s use of a hockey stick applied to the skates and legs of an opponent and other such moves. I also don’t understand the acceptance of the hit to the back of an opponent, apparently at any time with or without the puck under you. I know that hockey players are well padded under those clown suits, but back injuries can end a career suddenly. I appreciate the skating and shooting skills of a hockey player who can thread through the defense and score in the top corner of the goal, but not the defensive mugging used so often without penalty in Hockey.

Yes. There is an actual valid reason for fighting in hockey, which is simply unknown to, or ignored by those who do not know the sport. Fighting is allowed in hockey to protect the skilled players of the game. A 5'8"/180 lb forward with incredible skill IS A MOVING TARGET ON SKATES. Pair this with a lesser skilled, 6'3"/220 lb defenseman (with a big stick nonetheless) who an opposing team may happily sacrifice to the game misconduct/major/match penalty gods in order to remove said skilled player from a game. Not a good combo when there are little to no repercussions for unethical, disrespectful play handed out by the league. Now, let's say we have 3 or 4 major "enforcers" on the opposing team. This may make big, brute defenseman think twice before he goes after the little guy with more game skills than him and the rest of his team, will it not? Maybe our defenseman would rather not become a punching bag for the rest of the game and/or season. The refs can't catch every cheap shot, slash, hook, trip, cross check, elbow, board, charge, spear, high stick, interference, and hold in a game. It's just impossible. If they COULD, then vigilanteism wouldn't be quite as necessary as it is. All you fight haters (misunderstanders), be happy to know that there are rules in place to keep fights to a minimum. We only want fighting when it's necessary, no gratuitous fights here. There is actually a written set of rules for fight conduct, no hair pulling, eye gouging, or humorous kicks to the groin will go on, I assure you. We now have the instigator rule. Any player charged with starting a fight not only gets the standard five for fighting, but also an additional 2 minutes for instigating (2 of these gets you ejected from the game). We also have the third man in rule (any player who chooses to join a fight already in progress), to discourage bench clearing brawls. So it's not just a "law of the west" type situation. The fact of the matter is, fighting is necessary in hockey. It is necessary to protect the smaller, skilled players from the dangers on the ice of an extremely very fast paced, emotional game (again, with big sticks nonetheless) where tempers and frustrations sometimes boil over.

yes i do,it is part of the game and if there wasn't it would be kinda boring to me. If a goalie gets ran at by another teams player, he is suppose to let it go.I don't thik so, his teams players should be backing him up,to protect him from injury. and to give notice you jump our teammate and we will fight.

No I do not , Regrettably the game would be very much less popular if the fighting was not a part of the game.

Yep. Its one of the biggest and best parts of the game!

No. I think Hockey is exciting enough without the fighting. I it were up to me Id allow fighting in golf and curling.

Yes - I live in Minnesota, which claims to be the State of Hockey and I can't see hockey without it - it's part of the game, brutal as it may seem.

Yes. Fighting in hockey isn't just wanton violence. There is a pretty cool unwritten code among enforcers and it's a dynamic that is as much a part of hockey as the puck is

Absolutley not, especially when little kids are at the game, what message are the atheletes sending? If I go beat up someone on the street, I'll get arrested. That same law should apply to them.

yes that's the best part!

The thing with fighting is that it brings a SHIFT of MOMENTUM for any team. I have watched games where a team was losing and plodding along until a fight occurred; within seconds it was a completely different game. If you take fighting out of the game, it will not stop certain individuals taking cheap shots.

Yeah for the same reason race car drivers should be allowed to do things that might lead to a crash. It's boring as Hell to watch otherwise.

I don't watch any hockey at all. I've watched some games 10-15 years ago, but never watch it anymore. The fights were always fun to watch. I liked them, but the sport could live without it. Every other sport does. Hockey doesn't need fighting -- it give younger fans of the game a sense that popping someone in the jaw is the essence of playing a sport. Where's sportsmanship, now?

Yes!!!!!!!!! Hockey would not be itself without it. It's just part of the game. Fortunately, the leaders of the NHL are planning on keeping it.

Yes. I also think players should be allowed to fight in Golf. It would make the sports much more fun to watch. I might even play it then. LOL!

Of course, it is a important part of the game, and a tradition. The people above who say no are definitely not hockey fans, or they would have replied otherwise.

No. Kids emulate their hockey heroes. In peewee hocky all the kids fight, curse, and have no sportsmanship. They think that being a brute is part of the game. The game is no longer only about skill. Having two grown men try to inflict as much pain as possible to their oponent is considered "part of the game".

I think they should be able to fight. Certain players are really aggressive. If the refs wont do anything to stop a guy from throwing an elbow or boarding, then I think the players should get a chance to stop them, them selves. Its not like there killing each other and they do get a five minute penalty, (on top of fines).

Yes, Hockey and fighting just go hand in hand. Its part of the game and it always has been.

Of coarse, its all part of the game. Its not like the guys are out there with knives killing one another. Fights work as a very good way to shift momentum.

yes yes yes yes anybody that says otherwise is weak and should be fed to the goalie gods

I think players should be able to fight because it can improve players play by getting the adrenalin flowing. Also. its fun to watch! lol

Heck yeah! It's another element of the game. Some people are scorers, some are leaders, some are goalies, and some are enforcers. Can you imagine what would happen in a game where you can check a guy, whack him in the shins a bit when no one is looking to rile him up, spray the goalies with the ice when you stop, "accidentally" not stop and plow into a goalie, poke at a puck the goalie has covered with a big wooden stick, but not fight? You'd get more McSorley's hitting guys in the head with sticks, you'd get Bertuzzi's breaking players necks because they can't hold themselves back any more. Fighting and hitting is the way the players police the game themselves because the game is fast, physical and the refs can't be everywhere. It IS an essential part of hockey. Anyone who doesn't believe in hockey fights has never played the sport.

NO! It is uncivilized and dangerous! SCREW JONATHAN ROY!

PATRICK AND JONATHAN ROY ARE NOT TRUE HOCKEY PLAYERS

Sure, why not? They do it anyway. Might as well make it part of the game. When two players are about to get into it, they have to go center ice and duke it out. Whoever loses does a minute in penalty! Could make the game a whole lot more interesting!

it's fine of how they are allowed to fight right now. it just makes the game more interesting and pumps up the teams. but when it starts becoming like it has been in the movie Slapshot, thats whent hey need to stop. there shouldnt be any fuss over this

I think fighting is part of the sport. Not only does it help protect some of the smaller players, but it's also entertaining. I bet you would have a hard time finding an arena that wouldn't all get to their feet when a fight breaks out on the ice. Saying it's too brutal is an absolutely absurd argument. Especially when there are sports built completely around two people fighting each other. MMA & boxing for example.

Fighting is part of hockey. Without fighting you would have a lot of the dirtier players getting away with murder. And I think the NHL has a pretty got handle on it with the Instigator rule and all.

I think NHL fights should not be banned from the NHL because it adds more entertainment to the game and the NHL itself! Imagine the puck is flying down the ice a player body checks another player into the glass The player that gets pushed into the glass gets angry and then …..TELLS ON HIM!?...that would be BORING! See it would be more accurate if I said “The player that gets pushed into the glass gets angry and then wails the other player in the face!” Think about it. It sounds more interesting with the fight then without the fight! I know “it’s too violent and gives the wrong message to the kids that watch the fights” well no it shows us that fighting can get over done, messy and lead to injuries. It sometimes gives SOME people the wrong message and tells them that fighting is ok. Sure it gives us a bad role model when you see them fighting. But quite often very few swings get through as most are blocked. And besides hockey is a game of emotion. When emotions get high like frustration or anger fights are just going to happen. But these people are what some people would call “Rough-Hounds”. Hockey players are really competitive. Lots of athletes are competitive like the NHL. So a fight is just bound to happen sooner or later. Some people say that a hockey fights don't belong in the NHL. They are wrong. Nothing gets the crowd out of their seats like NHL fights and it is an important part of the game as well. Players are more seriously hurt by the puck or skates, or knee on knee contact. The players are tough, that is why they play hockey, and they don't mind standing up for themselves or their teammates. The history of fighting and the future of violence in hockey are also addressed in this powerful tribute to the players who go out there night after night and fight for their team.

ITS PART OF THE GAME, but u dont have to listen to me, im only a goalie that is.

It sells tickets.

Absolutely, that the best part of hockey.

HELLZ YEAH!!! thats the best part of the game! with out the fighting u might as well make them play in figure skater outfits. when watching a hockey game ppl anticipate the fights and are estatic when they finally get to yell "KILL 'EM!!!" or the slightly more popular "KICK HIS ASS!!!" once the fighting gets good. if u dont like the fighting then watch a different sport u flaming retard!

I'm on the fence about it. I understand it's part in history of hockey and it's relevance, but it is unique that the NHL is the only team sport that allows it to happen. As a kid I never even thought about it and have been in quite a few fights on the ice, but today I think the game would be able to move on without it. I don't think a lot has to be changed in hockey, and I am no peacenik, it's just that fighting doesn't really contribute to the growth of a chronically 4th place sport that may find itself 5th pretty soon.

what was the old saying I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out! so yes

Yes. I remember the frustration and anger I experienced while playing hockey. If someone hit me, I was sure going to hit them back. You can't appear weak.

most definitely....it is part of the game!

yes its part of the game and fights swing the momentum of games and get the crowd into it

Reason for allowing fights: the hardcore fans love it and expect it. Reason for not allowing fights: to all but the hardcore fans, it seems stupid and keeps hockey from becoming a major sport in the US. As long as there is fighting many fans will stay away and hockey will always be a minor blip on the US sports scene. This is not an indictment of the game, and is not fatal. It's just going to always be a minor sport on the level of (US) soccer. This is purely a marketing analysis, nothing to do with whether fighting is right or wrong. The league has apparently decided that ending fighting would cost them more fans than it would gain. It's their business and they're probably right.

Yes. Think of it this way, they all play in an enclosed area where tensions can get pretty high with all the hitting, slashing, tripping, pushing and trash talk that goes on and everyone has a weapon and sharp skates. In any competative sport, rough stuff is allowed to a degree and penalties or fines are accessed when combatants are too unruly, thats fine and dandy....but should the NFL take away hitting? If a pitcher in baseball beaned a guy in the temple and that guy died, would baseball ban pitching? When Dale Earnhardt died in his wreck, did NASCAR ban driving or crashing? The Don Sanderson incident shouldn't sway your belief...it's the first time someone died on the ice due to a fight (he fell and hit his head). It's part of the game and always should be.

of course all of the opinions expressed from people are from people who have never played hockey or even been in a fight. I say that if hockey players want to fight let them it's there choice.

Absolutely. It is sacred tradition.

Yes, that's what makes Hockey interesting when a player is fighting for the puck!

Yes, fighting in hockey adds another element to the game that almost all major sports leagues in the world do not have.