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Matthew Carter

Professor Needham

English 101

4/23/2021

You Want to Fight

As the famous Rodney Dangerfield said, “I went to a fight and a hockey game broke

out!” This, while it sounds funny, is entirely true. Fighting has long been apart of the history of

hockey. Teams used to employ players whose only job was to inflict pain on another player of

the opposing team. The nickname they gave these players were enforcers. These tactics included

dangerous blindsided hits and fighting. Fighting in hockey has always been favored but it is time

to take a deep look into the harm that it causes players and the image it portrays to the youth who

idolize players. Things from concussions and long-term health, influences on youth and how

NHL players voluntarily subject themselves to fighting are the most talked about issues when it

comes to fights. There is no room for any of this in today’s game and the NHL should be the first

to changes its rules on what is allowed.

Fighting is causing long term health issues for players. Players are committing suicide

and it is found that most of them had one thing in common. CTE. Chronic traumatic

encephalopathy is a degenerative brain disease that is being linked to athletes across all platforms

and hockey is no exception. As Charlie Gillis writes, “Fighting is on the decline in hockey and

for good reason. Over the last five years mental health and physical tolls have taken some of the

so called “enforcers” out of hockey and some out of living their retired life to the fullest. Todd

Ewen, considered an enforcer in hockey lingo, died by suicide, which has been linked to the

injuries sustained during his career to include fighting. The NHL has a class action lawsuit, filed
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by former players, stating that scientific research is showing the growing link between

concussions and having depression, mental illness and long-term brain damage. This could spell

bad news for the league and its revenue. So, with this in mind, GM’s (General Managers) are

turning an eye to the enforcer role and are taking on players that are more rounded,” (Macleans).

Todd Ewen, who last played professionally for the San Jose Sharks as a right winger, is only one

of many that have died with links to CTE. With how much CTE has been brought to light

recently it is a wonder that hockey, especially the NHL, allows this to happen. Commissioner

Gary Bettmann has consistently turned away from any links with CTE and hockey, Bettman has

gone on record saying that, “The science regarding CTE, including the asserted ‘link’ to

concussions that you reference, remains nascent, particularly with respect to what causes CTE

and whether it can be diagnosed by specific clinical symptoms… A causal link between

concussions and CTE has not been demonstrated… the relationship between concussion and the

asserted clinical symptoms of CTE remains unknown,” (Hockey writers). This comment came

after three players died in a four-month span, the two things they all had in common, CTE and

being labeled as an enforcer. Mr. Bettmann is completely missing the point. With all the research

that has gone behind CTE, all the doctors, scientists and researchers, that have done their due

diligence with this, to say what he did is appalling. What Mr. Bettmann does not realize or fails

to get is the fact that CTE is a major concern in every contact sport. He must have people around

him saying that he is dead wrong. If a 100 people had it, his comments could be understandable,

but thousands of athletes living and deceased with major CTE issues, please Gary Bettmann get

ahold of yourself. The NHL needs to do something about this and needs to do it fast.

Kids grow up idolizing people whether its your parents, musicians, athletes or actors.

When NHL players have a fight, it is showing the younger up and coming hockey players that
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this is ok. Kids learn by watching and then will use that knowledge to play that way on the ice as

well. If my favorite player does this then this is the way I need to play. It will get me recognition.

This is not the way it needs to be. The youth does not have a good understanding about

something like CTE or having a broken hand from fighting. In an article published by G Keays

MSc and B. Pless MD, “The behavior of children and youth playing in minor leagues seems to

be influenced by their watching televised NHL games. A survey showed that 90% reported

having learned a ‘‘behavior, technique or skill’’ from watching professional hockey players. In

addition, 56% stated they had copied illegal tactics of professional players at least once during

the current hockey season. Another survey indicated that high school hockey players who chose

aggressive NHL players as role models were more likely to assault others during games. More

recently, a report commissioned by the ministry of sports in British Columbia noted that 27% of

the 144 young hockey players surveyed imitated illegal hits they had seen after watching NHL

players.” (Chronic disease and injuries in Canada). When does it stop? When will the NHL

finally see that the product, they allow effects the youth as well?

NHL players are to blame here as well. They sign multibillion dollar contracts and

subject their bodies to this punishment. The surprising consensus is that the players want

fighting! “Ninety-eight percent of NHL players voted to keep fighting in the game, yet somehow

members of the news media take it upon themselves to try to convince the players that the

scribes know what is best for them. They do not write about the times a heavyweight skates by

his opponent's bench to say, "Settle down, or I'll settle you down," and it works. They don't

notice a tough guy warning an opponent at a faceoff. They've never heard a star player march

into their office, slam the door and demand the team get tougher because he's getting killed out

there by opponents playing without fear. They've never seen a chippy game on the edge settle
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down after a good fight,” states Brian Burke, President of Hockey Operations of the Calgary

Flames. Players should start taking note of retired players and the tole that it has on their bodies

both mentally and physically.

Fighting is exciting to see in a ring, not a rink. It is a determent to the game. Players

putting their body on the line to change what, maybe the momentum of the game? When these

players retire and start having health issues, they will have nobody to blame but themselves. Yes,

they know the risks but at some point a change needs to happen. It obviously will not come from

Gary Bettmann, so logically the players need to take a stand. Policing themselves is fine but not

at the risk of serious injury or even worse yet, death.

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Works Cited

Burke, Brian. “Guest Column: In Support of Fighting.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite

Information Network, 31 Oct. 2013, www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2013/10/30/pro-

fighting-column/3320245/.

Charlie Gillis October 4, 2015. “The Last Days of the Hockey Brawler.” Macleans.ca, 7 Oct.

2015, www.macleans.ca/society/the-last-days-of-the-hockey-brawler/.

Silber, Sammi, and Sammi SilberSammi Silber covers the Capitals beat for The Hockey Writers

and is an NHL contributor with Sporting News. She has also contributed to USA TODAY

College. “War on Ice: The Chilling Truth of Enforcers, CTE and Fighting in the NHL.”

The Hockey Writers, 3 Oct. 2016, thehockeywriters.com/war-on-ice-the-chilling-truth-of-

enforcers-cte-and-fighting-in-the-nhl/.

“Study Shows Hockey Hall of Famer Stan Mikita Suffered from CTE.” USA Today, Gannett

Satellite Information Network, 30 Sept. 2019,

www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2019/09/13/study-shows-hockey-great-stan-mikita-

suffered-from-cte/40145889/.

Keays, G, and B Pless. “Influence of Viewing Professional Ice Hockey on Youth Hockey

Injuries.” Chronic Diseases and Injuries in Canada, vol. 33, ser. 2, Mar. 2013, pp. 1–6. 2.
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