Fighting Has a Place in Hockey - Premeditated Assault
Does Not
By Valerie J. Wood,
Author of Enforcer (With a Foreword by Link Gaetz)
March 14, 2004
Exclusive to Femmefan.com
Like most of you, I was shocked and stunned by the
blatant assault attack made by Todd Bertuzzi on Steve
Moore in the Avalanche/Canucks game last week. Fortunately
(and most important of all), it appears that Steve
Moore will recover, although a verdict on his career
in hockey from a medical standpoint is not even being
discussed as of yet. Bertuzzi has been suspended
for the rest of the season and playoffs, and will
have to apply for reinstatement before next season.
This assault was also disquieting on other fronts.
Not only as an incident on the ice, but as it relates
to the perception of fighting in hockey and violence
in the sport. To say that this action was very much
out of character for the mode of play of All-Star
Bertuzzi would not be an understatement. He is known
for gritty play, but not for cheap-shot tactics.
In fact, Bertuzzi may well face criminal charges
for the assault; a legal move that has precedence
in the McSorley/Brashear incident a few years ago
which effectively ended Marty McSorley's career as
he was suspended for a season, then retired. McSorley,
well known and feared for his fighting prowess, basically
served as the L.A. Kings' protector for hall-of-famer
Wayne Gretzky. Nonetheless, the stick shot he took
at Donald Brashear's head was violent, inappropriate,
and out of place in the game, just as was Bertuzzi's
attack from behind on Moore.
One thing, which has become quite apparent, is that
those who do not truly follow hockey and understand
the emotion, impact and the pace of the sport, view
an episode like this as a prototype argument for
banning fighting in hockey. An action such as this
brings out the 'hockey haters' en masse.
Using this incident as a basis for that kind of argument
(banning fighting) only shows that those who would
do so truly do not understand the finer points of
the sport. First, and foremost, this action did not
occur during play on the ice; it occurred during
a halt in play, as players were skating towards their
benches. It never was a fight scenario, as it were.
It is ironic then, that it would be used by proponents
of banning fighting as a symbolic 'black eye' for
the sport.
Fighting primarily has its place in hockey as an
equalization tactic. Most teams have a player with
better than average skills who serves as the team's
policeman, or enforcer, as it were. During the course
of play, emotions run high. Players sneak in elbows,
gloves, and even sticks on their opponents hoping
the moves won't be seen by the referees and linesmen.
Anything that will give them and their team the edge.
Enforcers have a role in making sure that these tactics
do not get out of hand. You can bet that over 99.9
percent of fights in hockey occur at a point during
play or immediately after the whistle.
My novel, Enforcer, is a tale that centers around
the lifestyle of a
professional hockey player who has made his name
in the sport as a fighter.
Fighting has its own psychology, as it were, and
affects those involved
emotionally as well as physically. My fictional enforcer,
Cole Bowman,
understands the role, and while he has his own demons
of self-doubt to
battle never doubts the importance of the role he
has been asked to play.
My book evolved out of the 4 years I spent as a photojournalist
for a
monthly hockey magazine, Hockey Ink!, that covered
the minor leagues.
Seeing these players up close, and what they went
through, was a fascinating experience for me, and
gave me an appreciation and respect for what they
go through on a game-to-game and daily basis.
There is a distinct line, as it were, between fighting
conduct and these rare, though violent, instances.
Fortunately, the line is seldom crossed and when
it is, the NHL does have to be given credit for swift,
effective action.
Fighting has its place in hockey. Crossing the line
and engaging in
premeditated assault and just plain hooliganism does
not.
For information on Valerie Wood's novel, Enforcer,
visit
http://www.enforcer.fcpages.com/ (Official Website
for Enforcer) or
http://www.1stbooks.com/bookview/14441 (Publisher's
Website/read an excerpt).
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