About:
For our english reflection, we found reasoning behind why fighting is in the NHL. We talked about pros and cons of fighting staying in the NHL, after extensive research we found that there are more pros than cons. We came to the conclusion that fighting should stay in the NHL, it is better for it to stay than leave.
If you want to learn more read our reflection on it below
If you want to learn more read our reflection on it below
Reflection:
The NHL has had problems with fighting over the years. Officials, players, viewers, and upper management in the NHL have thought that fighting is fine, or too violent in the game. For this project, we have done research on the pros and cons of fighting in the NHL. A big question came up while doing this research, and that question is, why is there fighting allowed in the NHL?
Any player who fights is automatically subjected to sitting in the penalty box for at least five minutes, so why did they make this the only rule, instead of banning fighting all together? Fighting acts as policing, if a player would cheap shot a fellow teammate, your initial reaction would be to stand up for them. Fighting in hockey developed primarily as a way of policing the game without involving the formal authorities when things got out of hand on the ice. Cheap shots happen often in hockey, it would be too difficult to enforce a rule on “no cheap shots” or have the ref call out every cheap shot as soon as it happens. This can even make the sport safer by holding players accountable, which does sound weird but it is true. Just think, if someone throws a cheap shot and there is a fight right after, why would that person, or someone else, throw another cheap shot? There would just be another fight.
Another pro to fighting, is the increase in fan base and the games entertainment value. A lot of fans show up to a game to experience watching a fight. It's just a thrill to watch one break out. I talked to a couple people about why they would watch hockey, or what makes hockey exciting to them and a lot of the responses were “because of the fighting”. Fighting is a hockey tradition that exists in the official rules and as an unwritten code among players, but there are downsides.
Fighting in hockey leads to concussions, mental health problems, and death. Death isn’t very common, but concussions and mental health problems are very common. Although players have helmets on, they do drop gloves and use their bare fist. Also, during some fights, the helmet will be knocked off, ripped off, or just fall off. This will lead to concussions or any other mental health problems. Fighting can also set a bad example for a younger fan base.
Every kid has a favorite team, or a favorite player, and kids love fighting. Fighting at a professional level can influence the younger viewers to take this into their game, and start fights are into a game, or just with friends. Fighting does glorify violence, but it does have a reason for staying in the NHL.
Fighting is a fan appeal, it impacts the game, it acts as a policing, builds teams together, fighting is better than maiming, it builds rivalries, and it is a long lasting tradition. Fighting is a special tradition subjected to hockey, and the unwritten code has been so well known throughout the players, that it seems like players know when it does get out of hand or when to stop. In our opinion, fighting should stay. Yes there are serious downfalls, such as concussions or other mental health problems, influence violence, and set a bad example for a young fan base, but those downfalls are unlikely.
Any player who fights is automatically subjected to sitting in the penalty box for at least five minutes, so why did they make this the only rule, instead of banning fighting all together? Fighting acts as policing, if a player would cheap shot a fellow teammate, your initial reaction would be to stand up for them. Fighting in hockey developed primarily as a way of policing the game without involving the formal authorities when things got out of hand on the ice. Cheap shots happen often in hockey, it would be too difficult to enforce a rule on “no cheap shots” or have the ref call out every cheap shot as soon as it happens. This can even make the sport safer by holding players accountable, which does sound weird but it is true. Just think, if someone throws a cheap shot and there is a fight right after, why would that person, or someone else, throw another cheap shot? There would just be another fight.
Another pro to fighting, is the increase in fan base and the games entertainment value. A lot of fans show up to a game to experience watching a fight. It's just a thrill to watch one break out. I talked to a couple people about why they would watch hockey, or what makes hockey exciting to them and a lot of the responses were “because of the fighting”. Fighting is a hockey tradition that exists in the official rules and as an unwritten code among players, but there are downsides.
Fighting in hockey leads to concussions, mental health problems, and death. Death isn’t very common, but concussions and mental health problems are very common. Although players have helmets on, they do drop gloves and use their bare fist. Also, during some fights, the helmet will be knocked off, ripped off, or just fall off. This will lead to concussions or any other mental health problems. Fighting can also set a bad example for a younger fan base.
Every kid has a favorite team, or a favorite player, and kids love fighting. Fighting at a professional level can influence the younger viewers to take this into their game, and start fights are into a game, or just with friends. Fighting does glorify violence, but it does have a reason for staying in the NHL.
Fighting is a fan appeal, it impacts the game, it acts as a policing, builds teams together, fighting is better than maiming, it builds rivalries, and it is a long lasting tradition. Fighting is a special tradition subjected to hockey, and the unwritten code has been so well known throughout the players, that it seems like players know when it does get out of hand or when to stop. In our opinion, fighting should stay. Yes there are serious downfalls, such as concussions or other mental health problems, influence violence, and set a bad example for a young fan base, but those downfalls are unlikely.