Coaches Address Fighting
By Tom Layberger
January 24, 2009
Montreal -- Don Sanderson’s death the day after New Year’s was a shock to all involved with hockey. The Ontario senior league player hit his head on the ice during a fight and, three weeks later, he was dead at 21. Just last night, Philadelphia Phantom (AHL) Garrett Klotz suffered a seizure following a fight.
Sanderson’s passing re-invigorated the fighting debate and also sparked a closer look into helmets. (Sanderson’s helmet fell off during the bout.) The Ontario Hockey League, one of three major junior circuits, took immediate action and announced it would hand down a one-game suspension to any player removing his helmet before a fight. Klotz and his opponent, Manchester's Kevin Westgarth, removed their helmets before going at it.
As for the National Hockey League and the players’ association, both bodies are looking into how to make fighting less dangerous, including better fitting helmets and other safety elements. But for those who continue to think banning fighting would be good for the sport, well, they remain in the minority.
San Jose coach Todd McLellan is certainly not alone in expressing that the occasional rubarb is one of the game's key components.
“I'm of the opinion that it's still important to the game,” he said during the all-star coaches’ conference in the bowels of the Bell Centre on Saturday. “I think it has its role in history, it has its role today. But I really believe as a league we have to look at our responsibility when it comes down to it, and the helmet issue is a big one.”
As in most sports, player size and strength has increased as conditioning and the like continue to advance thanks to technology and other modern resources. Players are more conscious about year-round conditioning than ever before and that translates into bigger and stronger hockey players. Of course, the nature of the game incites the emotions. If fighting is banned, might something more dangerous become problematic?
“For every solution, there's always consequences,” said Boston coach Claude Julien. “This is a very emotional game, so you ban that with the emotions running high, we might have some other issues that might be even worse. So it's certainly something that needs to be addressed and thought out.”
Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau pointed out that Wayne Gretzky suggested fighting can be phased out, starting at levels below that of the professional ranks.
“I think that would be a start,” he said. “If they're not allowed to fight in the minor hockey or in organized hockey, maybe in five, 10 years there will be no fighting in the NHL. But it has its place. I don't think they're going to be able to get rid of it. But they have to start somewhere.”
Given the thinking that fisticuffs will not be abolished in the world’s greatest league, the NHL and the NHLPA have their work cut out for them in enhancing the safety aspect.
“First and foremost, the safety of players is your number one concern,” said Detroit coach Mike Babcock. “And as a league, you're always looking to handle that and address it. And the players' association, they are as well. But I'm under the belief that there is a place in the game, and we've just got to handle it correctly.”
Tom Layberger is the NHL Editor for Versus.com
Also: Lecavalier, Crosby Grab the Spotlight | Stamkos Not Deterred
