IS THIS HOCKEY?
The old joke has it, “The other day I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out.” Well, last Saturday night in a game between the Quebec Remparts and the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, a level of violence occurred that was nothing to laugh about.
Chicoutimi was ahead 7-1 nearing the end of the second period when a brawl broke out between the teams. Now, this in itself is not unusual. In hockey, when one team is trouncing the other on the scoreboard, tempers can flare and fights can and do happen.
What was unusual and extremely disturbing to witness was what happened next. With all the players on the ice paired off, Quebec Remparts goalie, Jonathan Roy, suddenly darted down the ice towards the other goaltender. The other goaltender happened to be Bobby Nadeau, the top goaltender in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League or QMJHL. He was standing in his crease, leaning against his net as Roy barreled down on him. Roy proceeded to grab Nadeau’s mask, tear it off and pummel him to the ice. Nadeau seemed in shock just prior to Roy’s arrival in his crease. He showed absolutely no signs of wanting to fight. Even when Roy had pounded him to the ice, he continued to beat on Nadeau, who cowered in fear, absorbing blow after blow.
Now, let me say this. I am a fan of hockey and will admit to being a fan of fighting in hockey. I’m not going to lie. I find it exciting and have always gone along with the notion that fighting is a part of the game. In a hockey fight, two players will agree to square off and they will proceed to drop their gloves and go at it. More often than not, the combatants are the designated “tough guys” on their respective teams. I’ve heard on more than one occasion that these guys will go out for a beer after the game. They share a mutual respect and brotherhood.
I played hockey while growing up in Toronto and in my 5 year, not so illustrious career, got in one fight. I had bodychecked a guy clean into the boards. It was a great hit. We both fell to the ice from the impact. As I went to stand up, he punched me in the head. Stunned, I gave him a good shot back and he stumbled and fell. In the penalty box we laughed about it. If anything it just felt dumb. It certainly didn't feel necessary or "part of the game".
Well, what happened the other night in Chicoutimi was different for a number of reasons. First, as I mentioned, in a hockey fight both players agree to fight one another. This was not the case with Roy and Nadeau. Roy attacked him and beat him senseless. Secondly, in a hockey fight, once one player is down, the other will let up. It’s part of the code. Not only did Roy not let up, he began punching Nadeau in the stomach when he tired of trying to hit him in the face. Lastly, Nadeau is a goalie. He’s not expected to ever have to drop the gloves and fight. He’s expected to stop the puck from going in the net. Period.
When I saw the footage of what happened, I was disgusted. What Roy did to Nadeau was an act of cowardice. Rather than find the footage exciting, I found myself upset and outraged. I couldn’t help thinking that what I was witnessing was not a hockey fight, but instead, an illegal assault.
Reflecting on this, I imagined the same thing happening in another sport. It would be unacceptable in basketball, baseball, football, soccer and any other sport I could imagine.
So why is it accepted in hockey? As of yesterday, Roy and his coach/father, (the legendary Patrick Roy) were both suspended for their actions: Jonathan Roy for seven games and Patrick Roy for five. In the footage, it appears that Patrick waves his son on, immediately preceding Jonathan’s charge down the ice.
Okay, they’ve been suspended. That’s all well and good. I still believe that assault charges should be at least considered. And, as to my long-held belief that fighting is “just a part of the game”? I’m not so sure now. Certainly, what Roy did was way outside the code of fighting in hockey. But should ANY fighting be allowed in the sport? Is it integral to the game? I don’t think so. Players don’t fight because it’s “a part of the game”. They fight because IT’S ALLOWED.
On the other hand, consider Olympic hockey. It’s a beautiful spectacle of the best in the world competing for gold. But curiously, there are no fights. But…isn’t it a part of the game? And here in Toronto, we pride ourselves on being fans of the hockey Mecca. True-blue Canadians. As such, I’m all for good, physical hockey. And like I said, I’ve been happy to deliver a good clean bodycheck. But the fighting?
