Hockey confrontations may appear as nothing more than mindless violence but there are unwritten rules even amidst the chaos
When done properly, a hockey fight between two (or more) consenting adults is a beautiful tradition with its own rules. There’s a disagreement between opposing players due to a rough hit or perceived dirty play – either in the immediate moments before a fight or in a prior meeting. Then there’s a square-up, a silent agreement between the two enemies that a brawl is about to happen. After that there’s a roar from the crowd as they realize what’s taking place, and finally, a slippery festival of lefts and rights as both players attempt a delicate balancing act in which they damage their opponent with punches without embarrassing themselves by falling on their asses. (There’s a reason they don’t sanction proper
boxing matches on skates!)
The hockey fight looks to be a dying art, sinking below a fight every five games in the NHL – and rightfully so, given the fact that the NHL’s top enforcers of yesteryear have a habit of dying too young. But whether they’re brutal or sloppy, they’re woven into the history of the sport just as much as dramatic goals or show-stopping saves. For my own favorite team, the Detroit Red Wings, former team bodyguard Darren McCarty’s beatdown of Claude Lemieux for a dirty hit on his teammate Kris Draper remains one of the franchise’s most iconic moments – perhaps more memorable than anything besides Steve Yzerman’s double-OT winner in the 1996 playoffs.