A fight during a junior league ice hockey game between Frölunda HC and VIK Västerås HK

Fighting is an established aspect of ice hockey in North America, with a long history involving many levels of amateur and professional play and including some notable individual fights.^[1] Although a definite source of criticism, it is a considerable draw for the sport, and some fans attend games primarily to see fights.^[2] Fighting is usually performed by one or more enforcers on a given hockey team^[3] and is governed by a complex system of unwritten rules that players, coaches, officials, and the media refer to as "the code".^[4][5] Some fights are spontaneous, while others are premeditated by the participants.^[6] While officials tolerate fighting during hockey games, they impose a variety of penalties on players who engage in fights. Unique to North American professional team sport, the National Hockey League (NHL) and most minor professional leagues in North America do not eject players outright for fighting^[6] but major European and collegiate hockey leagues do.^[7] Therefore, the vast majority of fights occur in the NHL and other North American professional leagues. Image File history File links LinkFA-star. ... Referees attempt to break up a fight around the Tampa Bay goal during the first ice hockey playoff game between the Ottawa Senators and the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 2006 Stanley Cup. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Frölunda Indians HC, formerly Västra Frölunda HC, is a Swedish professional ice hockey club from Gothenburg. ... VIK Västerås HK (VIK Västerås Hockey Klubb) is an ice-hockey club from Västerås in Sweden. ... Ice hockey, known simply as hockey in areas where it is more common than field hockey, is a team sport played on ice. ... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... In professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, athletes receive payment for their performance. ... Enforcer is an unofficial role in ice hockey. ... Coach in ice hockey refers to a head coach or an assistant coach given responsibility of organizing player offence and defence. ... American Hockey League referee Dean Morton In ice hockey, an official is a person who has some responsibility in enforcing the rules or maintaining the order of the game. ... A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. ... “NHL” redirects here. ... The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA, often pronounced N-C-Double-A or N-C-Two-A ) is a voluntary association of about 1,200 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States. ...

Physical play in hockey, consisting of allowed techniques such as checking and disallowed techniques such as elbowing, high sticking, and cross-checking, is inextricably linked to fighting.^[8] Broadly speaking, fighting exists in organized ice hockey to help deter overly rough play, to allow teams to protect their star players, and to create a sense of solidarity among teammates.^[4] It is possible for players to become notable solely for their fighting ability. These players are known as "enforcers". The debate over allowing fighting in ice hockey games is ongoing, with most players, administrators, and fans favoring condoned fisticuffs. Despite its potentially negative consequences, such as heavier enforcers (or "heavyweights") knocking each other out, administrators like NHL commissioner Gary Bettman are not considering eliminating fighting from the game, since most players consider it essential.^[9] Additionally, the majority of fans oppose eliminating fights from professional hockey games.^[10] However, considerable opposition to fighting exists and efforts to eliminate it continue. Checking in ice hockey is the act of physically keeping an opposing player in check. ... A sideways elbow strike. ... A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. ... A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. ... See also bare-knuckle for other uses. ... Gary Bruce Bettman (born on June 2, 1952 in Queens, New York City) is a Jewish American lawyer who has served as commissioner of the National Hockey League since February 1, 1993. ...

History

Fighting has been a part of ice hockey since the sport's rise in popularity in 19th century Canada.^[1] There are a number of theories behind the integration of fighting into the game, the most common of which being that the relative lack of rules in the early history of hockey encouraged physical intimidation and control.^[1] The implementation of some features, such as the blue lines in 1918, actually encouraged fighting due to the increased level of physical play. Creation of the blue lines allowed forward passing, but only in the neutral zone. Therefore, puck handlers played at close quarters and were subject to a great deal of physical play. The emergence of enforcers, who protected the puck handlers and fought when necessary, followed shortly thereafter.^[8] hi everybody A hockey rink is an ice rink specifically designed for the game of ice hockey. ...

In 1922, the NHL introduced Rule 56 which formally regulated fighting, or "fisticuffs" as it was called in the official NHL rulebook. Rather than ejecting players from the game, as was the practice in amateur and collegiate hockey, players would be given a five-minute major penalty. Rule 56 and its language also filtered down to the minor professional and junior leagues in North America.^[8] Promoters such as Tex Rickard of Madison Square Garden, who also promoted boxing events, saw financial opportunities in hockey fights and devised marketing campaigns around the rivalries between various team enforcers.^[11] See also bare-knuckle for other uses. ... A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. ... George Lewis Tex Rickard (1870-1929) was an American boxing promoter, and founder of the New York Rangers NHL franchise. ... Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, known colloquially simply as The Garden, has been the name of four arenas in New York City, United States. ... For other senses of these words, see boxing (disambiguation) or boxer (disambiguation). ... For the magazine, see Marketing (magazine). ...

In the current NHL rulebook, the archaic reference to 'fisticuffs' has been removed; fighting is now governed under Rule 47 in the NHL rulebook. Referees are given considerable latitude in determining what exactly constitutes a fight and what penalties are applicable to the participants. Significant modifications from the original rule involve penalties which can be assessed to a fight participant deemed to have instigated the fight and additional penalties resulting from instigating a fight while wearing a face-shield.

Though fighting was rarer from the 1920s through the early 1960s, it was more brutal than it is today. Star players were also known to fight for themselves since fewer professional teams existed and competition was fierce for roster spots. Therefore, enforcers did not typically make professional teams. However, with the NHL expansion in the late 1960s and the emergence of skilled players like Wayne Gretzky, enforcers became more common. The average number of fights per game rose above 1.0 during the 1980s.^[5] Many teams signed enforcers such as Dave Semenko, Marty McSorley, and Stu Grimson to protect and fight for smaller offensive players such as Gretzky, Paul Kariya, and Teemu Selänne.^[12] George James Parros (born December 29, 1979 in Washington, Pennsylvania) is an American ice hockey player of Greek descent, who plays right wing for the Anaheim Ducks. ... Caption Brian McGrattan (born in 1981, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) is a professional ice hockey player for the NHLs Ottawa Senators. ... Krzysztof Oliwa (born April 12, 1973 in Tychy, Poland) is a former professional ice hockey player. ... Jody Shelley (born February 7, 1976) was born in Thompson, Manitoba, Canada, but moved to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia shortly after he was born. ... Peter Worrell (b. ... Wayne Douglas Gretzky, OC (born January 26, 1961) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently part-owner and head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes. ... Dave Semenko was a hockey player for the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL from 1979 to 1986. ... Martin James McSorley (born May 18, 1963) is a former professional hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) and former head coach of the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League (2002-2004). ... Stu Grimson (born May 20, 1965 in Vancouver, British Columbia) is a former Canadian ice hockey forward. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Since the 1970s, three rules have curtailed the number and scope of fights in the NHL. In 1977, the league created the "Third Man In" rule which attempts to eliminate the bench-clearing brawl by providing for the ejection of the first player that joins a fight already in progress.^[13] Another rule automatically suspends the first player from each team that leaves the bench to join a fight when it is not their shift.^[14] As of the 2006–07 season, the "Instigator" rule, which adds an additional two-minute minor penalty to the player who starts a fight,^[13] has contributed to the decline of fighting in the NHL. As of the 2006–07 season, the average is just over .61 fights per game.^[5] A bench-clearing brawl, sometimes known as a basebrawl, is a form of ritualistic fighting that occurs in sports, most notably baseball and ice hockey, in which both teams leave their dugouts, bullpens, or benches and charge the field or ice surface in order to fight one another. ...

Rules and penalties

Fighting is illegal in the NHL, the North American junior leagues, and other North American professional minor leagues, where a five-minute major penalty is given. What separates these leagues from other hockey leagues and nearly all other sports is that they do not eject players simply for participating in a fight. However, fighting is punishable by ejection in the Peewee, College and European leagues, Olympic competition, and in women's hockey at any level.

The rulebooks of the NHL and other professional leagues contain specific rules for fighting. These rules state that at the initiation of a fight, both players must drop their sticks so as not to use them as a weapon. Players must also "drop" or shake off their protective gloves in order to fight bare-knuckled (essentially, "throwing down the gauntlet"), as the hard leather and plastic of hockey gloves would increase the effect of landed blows. Players must also heed a referee warning to end a fight once the opponents have been separated. Failure to adhere to any of these rules results in an immediate game misconduct penalty and the possibility of fines and suspension from future games.^[13] Pair of gauntlets, Germany, end of the 16th century Gauntlet is a name for several different styles of glove. ...

In many leagues, referees will permit a fight between two players to run its course until one or both players end up on the ice. Referees will actively try to break up fights involving more than two participants or multiple fights.

North American professional leagues

In the NHL, American Hockey League, ECHL, CHL, International Hockey League, and other notable minor leagues, officials punish combatants with five-minute major penalties for fighting (hence the phrase "five for fighting"). A player is automatically ejected and suspended if the player tries to leave the bench to join a fight, and is also automatically ejected for using weapons of any kind (such as using a skate to kick an opponent, using a stick to hit an opponent, or wrapping tape around one's hands), as they can cause serious injury. A player who receives two instigator penalties or participates in three fights in a single game is also ejected automatically. Furthermore, his coach can be suspended up to ten games for allowing players to leave the bench to join a fight.^[8][14] The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America, that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League (NHL). ... The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada, generally regarded as a tier below the American Hockey League. ... This article is about the current CHL; for earlier leagues also called the Central Hockey League, see Central Hockey League (disambiguation) The Central Hockey League (CHL) is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. ... The International Hockey League (IHL) is a professional ice hockey league with teams in the United States. ...

A player who commits three major penalties, including fighting, during a game is automatically ejected, suspended, and fined. A player ejected for three major penalties in a game, or for use of weapons, cannot be replaced for five minutes.^[8]

In 2003, the ECHL added an ejection, fine, and suspension of an additional game for any player charged as an instigator of a fight during the final five minutes of the third period or any overtime. The NHL and AHL adopted the rule in 2005–06, and the NHL includes a fine against the ejected player's head coach.^[14]

European, Collegiate, and Olympic

In Division I & III NCAA hockey, the fighters are given a Game Disqualification, which is an ejection from the game and a suspension for as many games as the player has accrued Game Disqualifications during the course of a season. For example, if a player engages in a fight having already received a Game Disqualification earlier in the season, he is ejected from the game and then suspended for his team's next two games. This automatic suspension has made fighting in college hockey relatively rare. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA, often pronounced N-C-Double-A or N-C-Two-A ) is a voluntary association of about 1,200 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States. ...

Fighting is prohibited in Olympic ice hockey^[15] and in European professional hockey leagues.^[16] The international rules (by IIHF) specify in the rule 528 – Fisticuffs or Roughing^[17] the following penalties (among others): Ice hockey tournaments have been staged at the Olympic Games since the 1920 Summer Olympics. ... Categories: Ice hockey stubs | Ice hockey ...

• Match penalty (the player is ejected from the game and another player serves 5 minutes on the penalty bench) for a player who starts fisticuffs.
• Minor penalty (2 minutes) for a player who retaliates with a blow or attempted blow.
• Game misconduct penalty (ejection from the game) in addition to any other penalties for any player who is the first to intervene in a fight which is already in progress.
• Double minor penalty (4 minutes), major penalty + game misconduct penalty (5 minutes and ejection from the game), or match penalty (at the discretion of the referee) for a player who continues the fighting after being told by the referee or a linesman to stop.
• Misconduct penalty (cannot play for 10 minutes; the second misconduct penalty in one game means automatic ejection) for a player who intentionally takes off his gloves in a fight.

Enforcers

Main article: Enforcer (hockey)

The role of "enforcer" on a hockey team is unofficial but crucial to the game.^[3] Enforcers occasionally play regular shifts like other players, but their primary role is deterring opposing players from rough play. Coaches often send enforcers out when opposing enforcers are on the ice or any time when it is necessary to check excessively physical play by the opposing team.^[18] Historical players who have made a name for themselves within the sport by frequently engaging in fights include Red Horner, Lou Fontinato, John Ferguson, Dave Schultz, and Tiger Williams; modern-day players include Tony Twist, Jody Shelley, Marty McSorley, Rob Ray, Tie Domi, Kelly Chase, Georges Laraque, Ken Baumgartner, Donald Brashear, Joe Kocur and Bob Probert.^[19] Enforcers, particularly those with questionable playing skills, can be colloquially referred to as goons. Enforcer is an unofficial role in ice hockey. ... George Reginald Red Horner (May 29, 1909 - April 27, 2005) was an ice hockey defenceman for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League from 1928 to 1940. ... Lou Fontinato (born January 20, 1932 in Guelph, Ontario) was a defenceman in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens. ... For other persons named John Ferguson, see John Ferguson (disambiguation). ... Dave Schultz was an ice hockey player in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1970s. ... David James Williams was born on the 3 February 1954 in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada. ... Tony Twist (born May 9, 1968 in Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada) was a professional ice hockey player. ... Jody Shelley (born February 7, 1976) was born in Thompson, Manitoba, Canada, but moved to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia shortly after he was born. ... Martin James McSorley (born May 18, 1963) is a former professional hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) and former head coach of the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League (2002-2004). ... Rob Ray was born on June 8, 1968 in Stirling, Ontario. ... Tahir Tie Domi (born November 1, 1969 in Windsor, Ontario) is a retired professional ice hockey player. ... Kelly Chase (born October 25, 1967 in Porcupine Plain, Saskatchewan, Canada) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and current radio sportscaster. ... Georges Laraque (b. ... Ken Baumgartner (born March 11, 1966 in Flin Flon, Manitoba) is a retired Canadian ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and the Boston Bruins. ... Donald Brashear (born January 7, 1972 in Bedford, IN, USA) is an American-Canadian professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the National Hockey Leagues Washington Capitals. ... Joe Kocur is a retired professional ice hockey player from Calgary, Alberta Province, Canada. ... Robert Probert (born June 5, 1965 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward. ...

Causes

There are many reasons for fights during a hockey game. Some reasons are related to game play, such as retaliation, momentum-building, intimidation, deterrence, attempting to draw "reaction penalties", and protecting star players. There are also some personal reasons such as retribution for past incidents, bad blood between players, and simple job security for enforcers.^[18]

Game-related reasons

A large fight in an OHL hockey game between the Sudbury Wolves and Ottawa 67s

Of the many reasons for fighting, the foremost is for retaliation.^[18] When players engage in play that members of the opposing team consider unscrupulous, a fight can ensue. On rare occasions, the fight may be between the assailant and the victim or between the assailant and an enforcer from the victim's team, but most of the time the fight is between any two opposing enforcers. Fights that occur for retaliation purposes can be in immediate response to an on-ice incident, to incidents from earlier in the game, or to actions from past games.^[18] Enforcers who intend to start a fight have to consider their timing due to the Instigator rule. For example, putting the opposing team on a power play due to penalties incurred from fighting is less advisable when the game is close.^[20] Download high resolution version (711x664, 63 KB)Hockey fight File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (711x664, 63 KB)Hockey fight File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... OHL All-Star Game 2006 Opening Face Off. ... Sudbury Wolves make an entrance on home ice Sudbury Wolves, 1938 The Sudbury Wolves are a junior ice hockey team that play in the Ontario Hockey League. ... A Powerplay is a new rule concerning fielding restrictions in one-day international (ODI) cricket. ...

Enforcers sometimes start fights to build game momentum and provide a psychological advantage over the opposing team. These fights usually involve two enforcers, but may involve any player who is agitating the opposition.^[2] This type of fight raises morale on the team of the player who wins, and often gets the home crowd into the game as well. For that reason, it can also be a gamble to start a fight for momentum; if an enforcer loses the fight, the momentum can swing the wrong way.^[21]

Intimidation is an important element of a hockey game^[3] and some enforcers start fights just to intimidate opposing players in hopes that they will refrain from agitating skilled players.^[22] For example, in the late 1950s, Gordie Howe helped establish himself as an enforcer by defeating Lou Fontinato, a notable enforcer who tallied over 1,200 penalty minutes in his career.^[23] After that incident, Howe got a lot more space on the ice and was able to score many goals over the span of his career because he intimidated other players.^[24] Conversely, games in European professional leagues are known to be less violent than North American games because fighting is discouraged in Europe by ejection and heavy fines. Since the penalties for fighting are so severe, the enforcers are less able to intimidate opposing players with fighting and said players take more liberties on the ice.^[9] Gordon Gordie Howe, OC (born March 31, 1928 in Floral, Saskatchewan) is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers in the NHL, and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the WHA. He is often referred to as Mr. ...

For teams that face each other frequently, players may fight just to send the message to the opposing players that they will be the target of agitation or aggression in future games.^[25] Teams that are losing by a considerable margin often start these fights near the end of the game when they have nothing to lose.^[26] Enforcers may start fights with more skilled players to draw what is called a "reaction penalty", an undisciplined reaction to aggressive play on the part of the enforcer. This practice is also known to be difficult due to the Instigator rule.^[27]

Another reason is the protection of star players. Over the history of hockey, many enforcers have been signed simply to protect players like Gretzky, who was protected by Semenko, McSorley and others, and Brett Hull, who was protected by Chase and others.^[28] The NHL averaged twice as many fights during Gretzky's prime with the Edmonton Oilers than it did during the 1970s; some sources credit Gretzky with being a major cause in the statistical rise.^[29] This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... “NHL” redirects here. ... The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. ...

Personal reasons

Many young enforcers need to establish their role early in their career to avoid losing their jobs.^[30] Due to the farm systems that most professional hockey leagues use, enforcers who get a chance to play at the level above their current one (for example, an American Hockey League player getting a chance to play in an NHL game) need to show other players, coaches, and fans that they are worthy of the enforcer role on the team.^[31] A farm team, or farm club, generally refers to a minor league baseball league in the United States which are at a lower pay level and play in smaller cities and towns than do Major League Baseball, and which are under the control of the two major leagues and are... The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America, that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League (NHL). ...

There are also times when players and even entire teams carry on personal rivalries that have little to do with individual games; fights frequently occur for no other reason.^[32] An infamous rivalry that produced many fights was between the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche during the 1990s.^[33] The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. ... The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. ...

Efforts to ban fighting

Criticism of fighting in ice hockey typically arises after acts of violence committed during fights are singled out in the media. For example, on March 21, 2007, Colton Orr of the New York Rangers fought with Todd Fedoruk of the Philadelphia Flyers and ended up knocking him unconscious. is the 80th day of the year (81st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... Colton Orr (born March 3, 1982 as Colton Douglas Orr) is a North American ice hockey player. ... The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York, New York, U.S.A. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). ... Todd Fedoruk (born February 13, 1979 in Redwater, Alberta) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for the Philadelphia Flyers. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Unconsciousness is the absence of consciousness. ...

Fedoruk already had titanium plates in his face from a fight earlier in the season. The resulting media coverage of the incident renewed calls for a fighting ban.^[34][35] Some players acknowledge that there is no harm in discussing the issue;^[36] however, most players and administrators continue to insist that fighting stay as a permanent element of organized ice hockey.^[34] Some league administrators, such as NHL senior vice-president and director of hockey operations Colin Campbell, have been circulating and considering the idea of banning fighting in response to incidents such as the Fedoruk-Orr fight.^[37] Colin Campbell (b. ...

Some sports journalists have been articulating the idea with increasing frequency during the 2006–07 NHL season that fighting adds nothing to the sport and should be banned. Among the reasons they cite are that it is unsportsmanlike,^[38] is a "knee-jerk" reaction that detracts from the skillful aspects of the game,^[39] and that it is simply a waste of time.^[40] Opponents of fighting cite that international and college hockey, which both harshly penalize fighting with suspensions, lack the incidents or "stick work" violence proponents claim to fear, and question what it is about North American professional ice hockey players — unique to major professional team sport — that renders them incapable of controlling themselves on the ice without fighting.^[41]

Community members often become involved in the debate over banning fighting. In December 2006, a school board trustee in London, Ontario attended a London Knights game and was shocked by the fighting and by the crowd's positive reaction to it. This experience led him to organize an ongoing effort to ban fighting in the Ontario Hockey League, where the Knights compete, by attempting to gain the support of other school boards and by writing letters to OHL administrators.^[15] On the advice of its Medical Health Officer, the Middlesex-London Health board has supported recommendations to ban fighting across amateur hockey and to increase disciplinary measures to ensure deterrence.^[42] This article or section should be merged with board of education A school board (or school committee) is an elected council that helps determine educational policy in a small regional area, such as a city, state, or province. ... Nickname: Location of London in relation to Middlesex County and the Province of Ontario Coordinates: , Country Canada Province Ontario County Middlesex County Settled 1826 as a village Incorporated 1855 as a city Government  - City Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best  - Governing Body London City Council  - MPs Sue Barnes (LPC) Glen Pearson... This article is about the OHL London Knights. ... OHL All-Star Game 2006 Opening Face Off. ...

Etiquette

There are several informal rules governing fighting in ice hockey that players rarely discuss but take quite seriously.^[43] The most important aspect of this etiquette is that opposing enforcers must agree to a fight, usually via a verbal or physical exchange on the ice. This agreement helps both players avoid being given an instigator penalty, and helps keep unwilling participants out of fights.^[44]

Enforcers typically only fight each other, with only the occasional spontaneous fight breaking out between one or two opponents who do not usually fight.^[45] Enforcers spend time researching the techniques and weaknesses of other enforcers, and many carry on long-standing rivalries.^[46] There is a high degree of respect among enforcers as well; they will respect a rival who declines a fight because he is playing with injuries, a frequent occurrence, because enforcers consider winning a fight with an injured opponent to be an empty victory.^[47] This is also known as granting a "free pass".^[48]

Long-standing rivalries result in numerous rematches, especially if one of the enforcers has to decline an invitation to fight during a given game. This is one of the reasons that enforcers may fight at the beginning of a game, when nothing obvious has happened to agitate the opponents.^[49] On the other hand, it is bad etiquette to try to initiate a fight with an enforcer who is near the end of his shift, since the more rested player will have an obvious advantage.^[50]

Another important aspect of etiquette is simply fighting fairly and cleanly. Fairness is maintained by not wearing equipment that could injure the opposing fighter, such as face shields, gloves, or masks,^[51] not pulling the opposing fighter's jersey over his head, and not assaulting referees or linesmen.^[52] Finally, whatever the outcome of the fight, etiquette dictates that players who choose to fight win and lose those fights gracefully. Otherwise, they risk losing the respect of their teammates and fans.^[53]

Tactics

Fighting tactics are governed by several actual rules, and enforcers also adopt informal tactics particular to their style and personality.

One tactic adopted by players is known as "going for it", in which the player puts his head down and just throws as many punches as he can, as fast as he can. In the process, that player takes as many punches as he delivers, although some of them are to the hard forehead. Fighters usually must keep one hand on their opponent's jersey since the ice surface makes maintaining balance very difficult. For this reason, the majority of a hockey fight consists of the players holding on with one hand and punching with the other.^[54] Enforcers such as Darren McCarty advocate letting the opposing enforcer get a few punches in before putting in maximum effort, and assert that fighting is as much about knowing how to take a punch as it is about delivering punches.^[55] Darren McCarty (born April 1, 1972 in Burnaby, British Columbia) is a professional ice hockey player. ...

Other examples include Gordie Howe's tactic of holding the sweater of his opponent right around the armpit of his preferred punching arm so as to impede his movement. Bob Probert, of the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks, was known to allow his opponents to punch until they showed signs of tiring, at which time he would take over and usually dominate the fight. Some consider long-time enforcer Rob Ray to be the reason that hockey jerseys are now equipped with tie-down straps that prevent their removal; he would always remove his jersey during fights so his opponents would have nothing to grab on to. This is commonly referred to as the "Rob Ray Rule".^[56] The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. ... The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. ... Rob Ray was born on June 8, 1968 in Stirling, Ontario. ...

Notable fights and brawls

Some fights have attracted significant media attention due to injuries sustained by one or both participants and other factors.

• Maurice "Rocket" Richard knocked out enforcer Bob Dill twice in one game. Dill had been hired by the New York Rangers specifically to rough up Richard.^[57]
• World Hockey Association Birmingham Bulls enforcer Dave Hanson, known for his 11-year professional career and role in the movie Slap Shot, fought hall of famer Bobby Hull of the Winnipeg Jets and in the process got Hull's wig caught in his knuckles. The incident landed Hanson in the news, and irate Winnipeg fans attempted to assault him on his way out of the arena.^[58]
• April 20, 1984 - A second-round playoffs matchup between the Quebec Nordiques and the Montreal Canadiens became a team melee at the end of the second period, after many smaller scaled battles had occurred throughout the game. The teams erupted into battle again before the third period began, provoked by the announcement of penalties and misconducts. A total of 250 penalty minutes and 10 game misconducts were handed out. This game prompted referee Bruce Hood to retire from the NHL once the playoffs ended.^[59]
• January 4, 1987 - A World Junior Ice Hockey Championships game between Canada and the Soviet Union was the scene of a bench-clearing brawl that lasted 20 minutes and prompted officials to turn off the arena lights in an attempt to stop it. The fighting was particularly dangerous as fighting was a surprise and a custom unknown to the Soviet players, some of whom escalated the fighting beyond what was considered acceptable in North America. The incident caused both teams to be ejected from the tournament, costing Canada an assured medal.^[60] A book by Gare Joyce was written regarding the event.^[61]
• 1992 - St. Louis Blues and the Detroit Red Wings had a brawl featuring Blues goalie Curtis Joseph squaring off with Wings goalie Tim Cheveldae. ^[1] Later, in March of 2003, the teams had another violent meeting, featuring several fights near the end of the game.
• March 26, 1997, Bloody Wednesday - The Avalanche and the Red Wings engaged in nine fights, including bouts between Darren McCarty and Claude Lemieux and goalies Patrick Roy and Mike Vernon. Lemieux, once ranked by ESPN as the NHL's most hated player, did not drop his gloves and instead bent down to his knees, and covered his head with his gloves to protect himself — a maneuver known as "turtling".^[62]
• March 5, 2004 - A Philadelphia Flyers – Ottawa Senators game resulted in five consecutive brawls in the closing minutes of the game, including fights between many players who are not known as enforcers and a fight between Flyers goalie Robert Esche and Senators goalie Patrick Lalime. The game ended with an NHL record 419 penalty minutes.^[63]
• February 22, 2007 - Every player on the ice in a Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators game, including goalies Martin Biron and Ray Emery fought following an unpenalized hit and injury to Sabres captain Chris Drury. More than 100 penalty minutes were distributed^[64] Sabres coach Lindy Ruff was fined $10,000 by the NHL. He admitted to sending out a line of enforcers against Ottawa's skilled players and instructing them to "Go out and run 'em."^[65]

Joseph-Henri-Maurice Rocket Richard PC, CC, OQ (August 4, 1921 – May 27, 2000) was a professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens from 1942 to 1960. ... Bob Dill (born April 25, 1920 in St. ... World Hockey Association logo The World Hockey Association (French: Association Mondiale de Hockey) was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. ... The Birmingham Bulls were a hockey team based out of Birmingham, Alabama that played in the World Hockey Association. ... Dave Hanson (born April 12, 1954 in Cumberland, Wisconsin) is a retired American ice hockey forward. ... Slap Shot is a 1977 Hollywood film starring Paul Newman and Michael Ontkean and directed by George Roy Hill. ... Hockey Hall of Fame logo The Hockey Hall of Fame, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is dedicated to the history of ice hockey with exhibits featuring memorabilia and NHL trophies (including the Stanley Cup) along with interactive activities. ... Robert Marvin Bobby Hull OC (born January 3, 1939) is a retired Canadian ice hockey player. ... The Winnipeg Jets were a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. ... is the 110th day of the year (111th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... The Quebec Nordiques (in french Nordiques de Québec, pronounced ; translated into English as Northmen or Northerners) were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. ... The Montreal Canadiens (French: ) are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ... Bruce Hood was born in Campbellville, Ontario, Canada. ... is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... The World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, (WJHC, formally the IIHF World U-20 Hockey Championship) is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... The St. ... The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. ... Curtis Shayne Joseph (born April 29, 1967 in Keswick, Ontario, Canada), is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for the Phoenix Coyotes in the NHL. // Playing career Joseph is nicknamed Cujo and has played wearing the number 31 for the St. ... Tim Cheveldae (born February 15, 1968, in Melville, Saskatchewan) is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender. ... March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 26 is the 85th day of the year (86th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Darren McCarty attacks Claude Lemieux. ... Claude Lemieux (born July 16, 1965 in Buckingham, Quebec, Canada) is a former professional ice hockey player active in the National Hockey League from 1983 to 2003. ... This article is about the goaltender in ice hockey. ... Patrick Roy (IPA pronunciation: ), (born October 5, 1965, in Sainte Foy, Quebec, Canada — a suburb of Quebec City) is a retired ice hockey goaltender. ... Michael Mike Vernon (born 24 February 1963 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada) is a retired professional ice hockey player. ... ESPN/ESPN-DT, formerly an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an [[United States|Amer<nowiki>Insert non-formatted text here--68. ... This article is about the day. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Ottawa Senators (disambiguation). ... Robert Esche (born January 22, 1978 in Whitesboro, New York) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender. ... Patrick Lalime (born July 7, 1974) is an Canadian born NHL goalie who currently plays for the Chicago Blackhawks. ... is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. ... Martin Biron (born August 15, 1977 in Lac-St-Charles, Quebec, Canada) is a French Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for the Philadelphia Flyers. ... Raymond Ray Emery (born September 28, 1982 in Hamilton, Ontario) is a starting ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Ottawa Senators of the NHL.[4][2] He has been awarded multiple honours, with the majority while playing in numerous minor leagues. ... Christopher Chris Drury (born August 20, 1976 in Trumbull, Connecticut) is a professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the New York Rangers of the NHL. He is the younger brother of former player Ted Drury. ... Lindy Cameron Ruff (Born: February 17, 1960 in Warburg, Alberta, Canada) is head coach of the Buffalo Sabres and former left winger in the National Hockey League. ...

Notable promoters

• Fighting is a popular component of Don Cherry's Rock 'em Sock 'em Hockey video-highlight series. Cherry made 17 editions of the series which has sold more than a million videos.^[66]
• The Battle of the Hockey Enforcers involved Link Gaetz and featured just fights on ice but with no actual hockey played. The City of Prince George, British Columbia tried but failed to cancel the 2005 sporting event at the city-owned arena.^[67]
• In 2007, Derek Boogaard of the Minnesota Wild started hockey fighting camps for children, complete with T-shirts splattered with pretend blood. Boogaard argued that the focus was on teaching players how to protect themselves while critics argued that it contradicted efforts to renew youth interest in joining leagues.^[68]

For other individuals named Don Cherry, see Don Cherry. ... The Battle of the Hockey Enforcers was a sporting event held in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada, on August 29, 2005. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... These cutbanks on the Nechako River are Prince Georges signature natural landmark. ... Derek Boogaard (born on June 23, 1982 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) is a professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Minnesota Wild of the NHL. Boogaard was drafted in the 7th round, 202nd overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. ... The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. ...

See also

• Gordie Howe hat trick
• Pest (hockey)
• Violence in ice hockey

In ice hockey, a Gordie Howe hat trick is a variation on the hat trick, wherein a player accomplishes the following in a single game: scores a goal, gets an assist, and participates in a fight. ... In ice hockey, a pest is a type of player who attempts to annoy, anger, or distract opposing players in order to reduce their effectiveness or cause them to take a penalty. ... Referees attempt to break up a fight around the Tampa Bay goal during the first ice hockey playoff game between the Ottawa Senators and the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 2006 Stanley Cup. ...

Footnotes

References

The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ... is the 101st day of the year (102nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... ESPN/ESPN-DT, formerly an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an [[United States|Amer<nowiki>Insert non-formatted text here--68. ... is the 201st day of the year (202nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 95th day of the year (96th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... The Rochester Post-Bulletin is the major newspaper for Rochester, Minnesota. ... is the 201st day of the year (202nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... The Canadian Press (CP) is a Canadian news agency established in 1917 as a vehicle to permit Canadian newspapers of the day to exchange their news and information. ... is the 106th day of the year (107th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 201st day of the year (202nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), a Canadian crown corporation, is the country’s national public radio and television broadcaster. ... is the 107th day of the year (108th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), a Canadian crown corporation, is the country’s national public radio and television broadcaster. ... is the 200th day of the year (201st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 84th day of the year (85th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... The Denver Post is a daily newspaper and online website published in Denver, Colorado. ... is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... The Ottawa Sun is a conservative daily tabloid newspaper in Ottawa, Ontario. ... is the 83rd day of the year (84th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... The Edmonton Sun is a daily tabloid newspaper published in Edmonton, Alberta by Sun Media. ... is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 112th day of the year (113th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. ... is the 105th day of the year (106th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 105th day of the year (106th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... A cover of the Canadian magazine Macleans. ... is the 202nd day of the year (203rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 86th day of the year (87th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... The Province is a daily newspaper published in British Columbia by the Pacific Newspaper Group Inc, a CanWest Global Communications Company. ... “NHL” redirects here. ... is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... “NHL” redirects here. ... is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 82nd day of the year (83rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA, often said NC-Double-A) is a voluntary association of about 1200 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletics programs of many colleges and universities in the United States. ... is the 96th day of the year (97th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... ESPN/ESPN-DT, formerly an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an [[United States|Amer<nowiki>Insert non-formatted text here--68. ... is the 102nd day of the year (103rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 102nd day of the year (103rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... The Windsor Star is the regional newspaper of Windsor, Ontario (the only daily newspaper in Windsor and Essex County), and is owned by CanWest Global Communications. ...

Further reading

External links

• Hockey Fight Video Clips
• Hockeyenforcers.com
• Hockeyfights.com
• Rough House Hockey
• DropYourGloves.com