Violence in Hockey, Love it or Leave it?

The Original Six. The Miracle on Ice. That photograph of an airborne, horizontal Bobby Orr with his arms outstretched. The Great One¹s record-setting goal to pass Gordie Howe. These images are embedded in hockey and pervade montage clips from Hall of Fame ceremonies to flashy introductions during the Stanley Cup Finals. These images are unique because of the tradition they embody, a tradition that transcends boundaries and blends binary opposites such as elegant skating and bone-crushing checks.

This tradition, though still vital, is being redefined. An influx of European players has changed defensive strategies. European goalies and their flopping, sprawling styles (see Dominik Hasek and Arturs Irbe) have influenced young net-minders in North American junior hockey. Rules have changed within the last few years to return to the ³glory years² of the ¹80s. Players and management complained of the new ³clutching and grabbing² style of the neutral-zone trap. In an effort to increase scoring and minimize physical play, two refs will officiate every game next season (about two-thirds of the games operate under system this year), and the new four-on-four overtime format has been hailed by players and fans alike. These changes have been made to improve the game for the new millennium, but ruthless violence and pointless enforcers still haunt the sport.

Bench-clearing brawls were about as common as a six-point night from Gretzky during the early- to mid-80s. Enforcers usually logged about 300 minutes in penalties per season. So why was everyone so shocked when Bruins defenseman Marty McSorley (himself a veteran of those Edmonton teams) blind-sided Canucks forward Donald Brashear with a chop across the head with 2.7 seconds to go in regulation?

I was certainly upset, but was I surprised? Not in the least. McSorley has received three other suspensions of 10 or more games during his career. For this atrocious act, he was suspended for the remainder of the season ‹ 23 games ‹ and the playoffs, should Boston qualify. The suspension is also open-ended, which means that it could continue next year. Vancouver police have turned over a report to the prosecutor¹s office and McSorley has been charged with assault. The enforcer could face up to 18 months in jail. After the slash, Brashear¹s head smashed into the ice, leaving him unconscious while his body twitched and blood streamed out of his nose. He has had headaches every day and remembers little of the attack.

Flashback to the 1993 Playoffs. After Islanders center Pierre Turgeon scored the series-clinching goal against the Washington Capitals, gutless Caps center Dale Hunter hit Turgeon from behind as he began celebrating. But that¹s not all, folks. Tony Granato of the Sharks slashed Neil Wilkinson of the Blackhawks back in Feb. of ¹94 and received 15 games. After Mike Modano of the Dallas Stars scored a goal in a game back in October, Sharks goon Ruslan Salei checked him headfirst into the boards, resulting in a mere 10-game suspension. And everyone remembers Gary Suter (then of the Blackhawks) sticking wunderkind Paul Kariya of the Mighty Ducks in the head, causing the star to miss the entire season and 1998 Olympics with post-concussion syndrome.

Let¹s face it folks, this has been a pattern for awhile and it¹s not going away. In the past 13 years, there have been nine suspensions of 10 games or more. What¹s most frightening is that there only have been 15 suspensions of 10 games or more in the history of the game.

Why have the suspensions been concentrated over the past 13 seasons? Players are bigger and stronger, and the game has gravitated towards a more physical, bullish-type play, especially in the Eastern Conference. That is why there are so few goons on teams¹ rosters these days. The Stu Grimson, Tie Domi, Bob Probert types are no longer needed. The Jagrs, Lindros¹, Leclairs and Shanahans are tough enough without the enforcers. Interestingly enough, the change from smaller, lighter skaters of the 80s to the more popular ³power forward² archetype of late has translated into more injuries but less fighting. Why? The league has cut down on fights and has handed out game misconducts and lengthy suspensions at the drop of a hat. The new boards have less give, meaning harder hits equals more time in the trainer¹s room. The league obviously welcomes the bigger, stronger and faster players and the excitement they have brought, but, with the crackdown on fighting, there has been a rise in retaliatory and vicious tactics.

While the crackdown on fighting and the concomitant rise in cheap shots has accounted for the increasing amount of violence and number of injuries, the real reason is the institutionalized violence within the sport ‹ players, coaches and GMs alike. There is still a rampant old guard of Don ³Old Time Hockey, Eh!² Cherry. If the league cuts down on fighting even more, then there will be more cheap shots. What will it take for the league to do something drastic? A stick fight? Players taking off their skates and threatening goalies?

Here are a few changes that will help hockey reverse the tide. To begin with, ban fights. As stated above, the game has changed and enforcers are the first to go. An easy way to bridge this transition is to nominate one ³ref goon² to break up the altercations before they occur. Next, get rid of the red-line. This idea has been thrown around over the last few years with little success. What it would do is open up the ice a little more and allow quick forwards to sneak around the blue-line and wait for an outlet pass, since there would be no two-line pass infraction. Defensemen would then be forced to guard outlet passes, meaning more end-to-end action and fewer whistles.

The rinks should also be a little bigger. Though this idea may be a little far-fetched financially, it would allow European players more freedom to roam and cause the ³power forwards² to hustle a little more. Hockey can return to its glory years, but more changes need to be made in an effort to curb the exorbitant acts of violence. No one wants to see their favorite player rehabilitating a torn MCL, nor do they want that same player to sit out 10 or 15 games for a stupid hit. Think about it.