On Saturday night in British Columbia, somebody put on a night at the fights on the ice called "The Battle of Hockey Enforcers". Chris Lynch had some thoughts:
Canada is becoming even more divided than the US. On one hand you have the people typified by Don Cherry and on the other hand you have the people typified by just about any Ontario liberal MP. Scooters and trees versus hockey and fights.This dynamic seems to be going largely unnoticed.
Thankfully, James Mirtle was available:
Me? I think it reflects the country quite well. Hockey is our game, to be sure, and it's a game of equal parts grace and power. I'm sure I won't have to explain which was on display last night in B.C.The cries of barbarism from the
Remember the good old days, when people could disagree on something like hockey fighting without being reduced to a blue-state, red-state stereotype?
I liked the consensus that emerged in the comments on Benjamin’s post.
I also like the fact that hockey fights happen for a reason and are governed by an unofficial code, in which the most important tenet is that you leave it on the ice. Of course, I still can’t see what good it does in the long run. Would a professional defenseman really ease up on an opposing left wing just because the left wing’s enforcer beat up the big guy on the defenseman’s team?
A hockey fight is a very useful thing. There is a code of conduct and fights can be on the ice and guys can be friends afterwards. It’s something many people don’t understand and can’t seem to be explained. Kind of like I can’t understand women =)
Cheers,
“The GM”
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