Imposing an outright ban on all fighting in hockey would result in greatly increased incidents of dangerous high sticking and other ‘cheap shots', says Connie Anderson, the past president of Sundre Minor Hockey and a current member of Hockey Alberta Zone 6.
“There are too many good hockey players who need to be protected from cheap shots, and to do that you need enforcers (who can fight),” said Anderson, who has more than 50 years' hockey experience. “You have to have a deterrent to stop the cheap shots against the good players and you need an enforcer for that.
“I think it would be a really bad idea to get rid of fighting. If they take it out, there will be more high-sticking and more slashing and that would be very dangerous.”
Anderson says he does not believe the call for an end to fighting will translate into a ban.
Last week the Canadian Medical Association published an editorial calling for an end to fighting in hockey, along with “severe deterrent penalties such as lengthy suspensions” for violations.
The editorial's author, Dr. Rajendra Kale, said he was “appalled by the disgraceful and uncivilized practice of fighting” in hockey.
“The tragic story of Sidney Crosby's layoff due to concussions has not been sufficient for society to hang its head in shame and stop violent play immediately.”
The CMA says consequences of head trauma can include memory disturbances, behavioural and personality changes, Parkinsonism, and speech and gait abnormalities.
“This brutal tradition (fighting) should be given up now that research has shown that repeated head trauma can cause severe progressive brain damage,” he said.
Incidentally, Sidney Crosby, a player with the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins, has been sidelined due to a severe concussion sustained during game play, not during a fighting incident.
