CBC-Sports

OHL ruling will affect NHL in long run

January 20, 2009 12:27 AM | Posted by   Elliotte Friedman  

It's undoubtedly the most passionate debate in hockey. Whether or not fighting still has a place. But what if its future at the professional level is not determined by the NHL?

Last March, Colin Campbell asked, "It’s probably time that the general managers ask the question, 'Where are we at with this?'" On Saturday’s Hot Stove, Pierre LeBrun reported that Campbell will - once again - ask if it’s time to change things. And - once again - the NHL senior vice-president will get the same response:

"No."

NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly said in his interview with Ron MacLean that the union is willing to listen to debate on the issue. But Jason Spezza, who recently participated in a competition committee conference call, said the players aren’t interested in removing it from the game.

Takedowns, grappling not part of the game

At the very least, the league should look into takedowns. (I’m actually stealing this from the president of the Mixed Martial Arts Fan Club, Jeff Marek, but he’s got a great point.)

Hockey fights used to be two guys throwing them until either one went down or both became too exhausted to continue. Now grappling is a major reason guys are going down on their heads. I personally don’t mind a good scrap between two guys who can really play the game, but this isn’t Royce Gracie, Chuck Liddell or Brock Lesnar in the Octagon.

However, what happens to fighting in the NHL if it all but disappears in senior, junior and minor hockey? Because that’s where we’re headed.

In the past few days, two influential hockey figures made powerful statements. Wayne Gretzky publicly wondered why there is fighting outside the NHL and even hitting at the senior level. And Wendel Clark, whose toughness could never be questioned, expressed shock at what’s happening at the bantam and midget levels.

Last week, Canadian Hockey League president/Ontario Hockey League commissioner David Branch made headlines when the OHL announced there would be a one-game suspension for any player who removes his helmet or undoes their chinstrap during a fight. A similar penalty would come for removing an opponent’s bucket.

Branch’s ruling came following a meeting of the league’s executive committee, which includes five owners/governors: Sherry Bassin (Erie), Jeff Hunt (Ottawa), Scott Abbott (Brampton), Dr. Bob Neville (Peterborough) and Rick Gaetz (Guelph). And, during that conversation, the idea of banning fighting itself came up.

"Attitudes are changing," Branch said. (Watch our full interview with Branch).

Last year, several players complained when neck guards were made mandatory after Richard Zednik’s horrifying throat slice. But according to the commish, parents were very thankful. And that tells you where this is going.

As Spezza said, "You can’t have 16-year-olds fighting 20-year-olds."

'You can't ban fighting': Branch

Branch admits you can’t ban fighting, just make the penalties so severe that it only happens in extreme situations. There could be a sliding scale, like a one-game suspension for your first scrap of the season, three for your second, five for your third, and so on.

But there are a few other questions that must be addressed. First of all, will star players become even bigger targets because they can be roughed up with impunity? Will it be better to decrease roster sizes instead of making the penalties more severe? (This would eliminate players who can’t do anything but fight, and it’s something Campbell has thought about for the NHL.)

And most interestingly, will this hurt the bottom line? Don’t forget that the OHL amended its own rules to make John Tavares eligible at age 15 rather than lose him to the USHL. That was a controversial decision, made because it didn’t want to lose the attraction of a star player.

But it’s clear what Branch thinks and he’s got support within his league. It may not happen for next season, but it’s coming - eventually. And if it happens in junior, it’s going to happen at the minor hockey levels. In the long run, that will affect the NHL.

De-emphasizing fighting next evolution of game?

Teenagers won’t want to fight at the expense of playing games and, even if the penalties aren’t as severe once they reach the Original 30, it just won’t be ingrained into them. Many more will reach hockey's highest level and not even know how to do it.

After the NHL lockout, the game changed with the emphasis on speed and skill over size. It was the biggest adjustment in hockey philosophy since Patrick Roy popularized the butterfly style of goaltending. It’s possible that de-emphasizing fighting will be next.

In a few years, assuming Campbell is still in place and not driven crazy by his job, he might not need to even ask the question. Stricter penalties at the grassroots and junior levels will take fighting out of the game for him.

" Previous Post | Main
  •