Grapes weighs in on the kinder, gentler NHL

Hey Don, I grew up playing hockey in Mississagua Ontario. Got pretty good before giving it up to cars and girls. Mistakes Mistakes!! I have recently returned to my roots as an NHL fan. It is great to see you are still the iconic leader of the NHL, even here in the US. The game has changed alot, I miss the old raw game it used to be! The fighting seems fake or planned. However the goaltending now is truly spectacular. We used to use wooden hockey sticks, and they rarely broke. Now I see players breakig sticks regularly. What are they made of? and why this cahnge? loose you stick and your out of play!!

Very much enjoyed the 'real time' exchange between Don Cherry and Ron Maclean. Ron...good for you in taking it to Don. If you are not "allowed" an opinion, then we are left with merely Don the "Guru".

All due respect Don, you need to learn the value of dialogue. While a national icon, you are far from the ultimate authority on anything.

Having said that, I LOVE your emphasis on the birth of baby Jesus rather tha Santa Claus as the true meaning of Christ X.

God bless you Don,

Gary Weeks
"Gary and Dave"

By the way, you are still BMOC (big man on campus) down in these parts even though it has been years since you were here.

Hey Don - offer them a simple solution to this water bottle nonsense. Ever hear of velcro? Put a strip of loop around the bottle, attach a piece of hook to the top of the net in back and it will stay where it belongs. When the goalie needs a drink, pull it off. When he's done, put it back. No obstructed views, refs fooling around with the bottles, goalies getting accused of more shenanigans. Beauty !

Let us pray...
Our God who art in Scotiaplace, Senators be thy name. Thy puck come, Thy save be done in the air as it is on ice. Give us this day our Stanley Cup and forgive us our slashing as we send out Neil for those who slash against us. And lead us not into golfing, but deliver us from injury. For the Senators are the team, the power and the glory, forever and ever, amen.

Don,

What is wrong with professional hockey?

I grew up in rural Maine where we got "Hockey Night in Canada" and I grew up loving hockey. Then, when I moved to civilization, I used to love to go to Boston Bruins games or meet people at a bar to watch a game and it was during some pretty golden years of Bruins hockey when Cam Nealy was there. Now, I don't care about professional hockey and it seems that too many people feel that way. What has happened? I still like watching college hockey. I am not a fan of fighting in hockey, by the way. Blame it on Harry Sinden and Gary Bettman?

Hey Ron/Don,

I just wanted to send a quick email to say way to go. By that I am referring to support our troops overseas. It is important as you know. Whether you believe in the cause or not, they are our troops putting their live on the line day in day out; trying to make this world a safer place. Doing it for those who cannot do it for themselves. I am a Toronto firefighter, the reason I bring this is up is because we as a department support our troops. The next time your in Toronto, have a look at any of the fire trucks they all have support our troops ribbon decals proudly displayed on the side of all of the trucks. Thanks again for doing what you do to make our troops feel good in your own way.

Jay Horner
Station 312 (Yorkville) A-shift
416 922 4302

My family and I are huge hockey fans. We were watching the Sens and Penguins game Sunday evening, and we heard how the Penguins' arena won't sell any home game tickets to anyone outside of their zip code area. That is not a proper act on their behave to do. You don't see any Canadian teams doing that to the Americian fans. There should be something done about this. They should at least offer a minimum of ten percent of tickets to oppisite teams fans that they are playing against. Could you please say something about this? Can anyone do anything about this? Thank you,
Disgrunteld Canadian Fan

Dear Don and Ron,
I've been listening to Gary Bettman say how he's been trying to listen to the fans, and what they want. So then If he wants to listen to the fans then please listen to this one. I have been watching the new NHL for too long silently. And If they want to know what the fans want then listen clearly please. I love the pre lock out era hockey. We need to keep clean shoulder hits to the head and fighting. Because this hardcore hockey fan loves the old game and not this gimmick ridden circus, of continuous penalties and softness. Please Ron and Don enlighten the rest of the NHL brass what the real hockey fan loves and not what they are trying to sell us please!!!!!!!!

As a parent from Thornton, I want the coach and (illegal) trainer of the peewee team to stop embarrassing our hockey association and just take the blame for their mistake. By going to the media and making up stories to get the focus turned elsewhere, they are only reinforcing to their kids that it is ok to break rules and then lay the blame on somebody else. I don't want my son growing up with these values. It is not ok to cheat and then lie your way out.

Dear John,

Now hear me out before you call me crazy ok? Ive been thinking about some of the fighting in the league lately and it comes of interest to me that most of the fighting is perpetuated from non calls that the officials are letting go after tenacious hits are made from behind and so forth.I really think that scince referees are paid individuals like the players themselves, they should be left unaccountable for the blatent mistakes they make on the ice, sometimes costing the players and hardworking ticket holders the right to a fair outcome. Thus my new idea..it is called the Referee Accountabilty Panel. Every coach and G.M combined would have a minimum amount of compalints to make each game and it would be reviewed by an unbiased panel of retired officials and the such.If an official has a required of amounts of complaints justified by the panel, that particular person would be subjected to a fine or suspension(demotion to a lower league).An official from lets say from the Rochester leaugue would be given a chance to ref for a few games until that penalty was served.If this idea were to be implemented over the course of the next regular season, i really think we would see more attention on how carefully and quickly calls are made without the expense of the players and fans at the hands of lazy and unproffessional officialting in the N.H.L

Jerry faynt, Regina

I just want to say that I can't get enough of coaches corner .I can't believe that coaches in the NHL don't listen to Grapes ! His comments are so on the money it hurts . I think the whole league should start listening to him and take his advise from types of shoulder pads that should be banned to whether fighting should be banned .By the way they should never ban fighting in the NHL it adds a certain flare to the game . Grapes should have Bettmans job.!!!!

The NHL, its games/players, fans, commentators, parents, etc., remind me of a puppet show. It's a caricatured version of real life. That's why it engages so many people so passionately, more starkly than other venues of modern life. We're all part of 'real life', so it's tough for many to be disengaged from it. I think back on the 'real life' of past millenia, and ask myself, do I want to revel in it and sustain it now, any more than in the past? Or do I want to be a what? It seems to me we're all in a process of going 'somewhere'. Where?, is what we decide and commit to. An alternative would be to milk the passions of what 'is', I suppose. To get something moving forward you either get in front and 'point',(and take the shots for it), or stay behind and make money from where it's all been before it's gone. I took the national coaches certification in several sports, thinking I could 'point' to something better for kids in several sports. Guess what?, I gave up in hockey. It's a great sport, but the money grabbers and dynosaurs hold sway. But then it's always that way about anything, until it isn't anymore.
Why did I give up coaching minor hockey?, you say. Good question!

Thank you Don Cherry for not getting involved with Hux's side of the story on the Nobleking/Thornton fiasco / smear compaign. This lady's report of facts was so offside. These people have told so many lies that they don't even know what's true anymore. If the Thornton coaching staff had spent as much time telling the truth before the series started as they are making it sound now like they are the victims of an evil person then they would have ended the season with their head held high.

The problem with the NHL today is that there are simply too many teams. The league is watered-down, and that means that players who really shouldn't be in the NHL are clutching and holding back the real stars. Everyone agrees that the best hockey is played at international competetions; we need to cut down the number of teams.

I started watching hockey back in 1969 and totally enjoyed it until the mid 90's.The game was very exciting to watch back then lot of great scorers Guy Lefleaur the French connection. I enjoyed the hitting and of course when two tough guys dropped their gloves everybody in the arena would be on their feet cheering. Now I watch a couple of minutes here and there and quite frankly the game bores me to death. Getting rid of fighting would do nothing to making the game more exciting and letting the stars score more goals. Fighting is part of the entertainment of hockey and should be a deterrent to players who like using their sticks and taking cheap shots. I used to love watching coaches corner on my buddies satillite Grapes told it like it was even if some people did not like to hear it. Who did you like watching better Bob Probert or Ulf Sammuelsson a genuine tough guy who could play or a player who would cut Gretzsky's eye out with his stick without a thought then cowar behind his body armour if somebody challenged him. What made the NHL boring is too much expansion not enough good players too many penalties. I might watch a game for 3-4 minutes now but I am sure to see a power play. I cannot enjoy watching 30 minutes of power play hockey. But this is the opinion of a person who lost interest many years ago and no longer considers himself a fan of the game. Even if the Penguins were in the cup finals I would be no more than watching the game while commercials were on the program I was watching. The NHL lost me as a fan and it was not because of fighting who many people think the game would be better off without.As I said I do not watch much now but what I watch is just as boring as it was 10 years ago which is a real shame Hockey was my 2cd favorite sport after football during the 70's and 80's had season tickets for many years and attended many games. Now I would never even think of purchasing a ticket to a hockey game.

don, as usual, you are always correct. If there is no fighting, players like Shane Doan, Sidney Crosby, and Jordan Staal will get more cheap shots and possible damage their careers. Get rid of the intisgator rule and there will be less cheap shots. Don and Ron, you guys rock.

Don, I have a question that you might be able to answer.

A few years ago, when both the Canadian men and women won Olympic Gold, I have to say that was some of the best hockey I've ever seen. Even with some questionable officiating (women's game), everyone played a played, clean game.

My question is this: Why can't the NHL be like that?

Thanks

Don,
This is one of the best Coach's Corner ever. You are the man!

Thanks for your expert analysis every Saturday,
John

Tie Domi may be in the wrong by the way he conducted himself after his son's game recently but I can certainly sympathize with his frustration at his son's hockey coach. Too often kids are sidelined by coaches whose "win at all costs" mentality takes the fun and good sportsmanship out of the game. We put our kids into these sports for the learning opportunities as well as the physical activity. Winning is great but playing well as a team, win or lose, is even better. Coaches that encourage unnecessary roughness and coaches that don't roll the lines so that everyone gets a fair chance to play and improve their game have no business being role models to our youth. Let somebody start looking at the reason why parents sometimes lose a gasket and maybe you won't see so much rink rage going on anymore.

Why not just change the name from "Hockey Night in Canada" to "Hockey FIGHT in Canada"?

Goons.... get rid of the goons and the game will be better and watched by more people.

Everything Cherry and others say in favour of condoned fighting in the NHL is all geared toward justifying violence that should never have been allowed in the NHL or any sport.

Violence is encouraged by the likes of fighting in the NHL - that fighting is the way to solve issues, relieve stress, etc..., by the idiotic likes of Wrestling (which is not even a sport in the true sense of the word), by extreme fighting, and of course boxing (that should never have been allowed in a sane an peaceful society).

The sooner we get rid of the goon mentality of the Don Cherry's and many current and past hockey players, the better the game will become, and the more people (who just want to see a fair and sportsmanlike game) will watch.

The Europeans certainly proved many years ago that expertise and not brutality was far more entertaining to the non-goon public than was/is the goon-run NHL.

Cherry makes out to be in favour of helping kids.. then says that fighting is OK - so if fighting is OK in hockey Don, then why not in the schoolyard?

Hey Don: No matter what I'm watching or doing, I turn to CBC at 7:35 PM every Saturday night just to catch you and Ron. Love the relationship you two have. You fight a lot, but I know that you each respect each other immensely. My question is this: What do you think of your FRIEND, TIE DOMI, and the trouble he is presently in, berating a coach and swearing in front of the kids. I sure don't like what he did, and I wondered if you would give your two cents on the matter publicly. Thanx, and keep up the great work, especially speaking up for the kids, the troops, and the cops. Ken Texmo, Kincardine, Ontario

Don understands something the suits will never get. Violence Sells! Look at the papers. The only time hockey makes the papers is when there's a fight or a strike. Most sports writers in the US don't understand the game and only cover it when something goes wrong. Here's the bottom line: Fighting sells hockey tickets. Why doesn't Bettman get it?

Mandate no helmets on pros and bring back the days of Orr!

Fighting in the NHL. So much can be said on the subject that its hard to get it all into words. I would like to say that I can't imagine hockey without fighting, but I can. I see a game with an increase of shouting and vulgar language between players, an increase in light shoving, and an increase in stress and anger issues that ultimately players may take home. I can imagine some players falling to other means of dealing with the anger and stress from the game and begin using drugs or alcohol. Does any of this sound familiar, perhaps in another contact sport?
It seems that when a fight in an NHL game is over, a cloud seems to have lifted from the entire team and fans. An appreciation to the combatants on both sides fill the huge arena's in the way of applause. Does everyone understand why there is a huge applause after each fight? Apperently not, and those people are why there is an issue. Thanks to close up television, rarely have I seen in a players face a sense that they wanted to deliberately injure each other during a fight. I've read some opinions of people who say that it isn't right to let players "kick each others teeth in" but I've never in my life seen anyone kick another players teeth. It's a shame we're in a time that it's fasionable to be fasionably correct, I wish those who oppose fighting and want a change in the NHL so their kids would stop be little punishers would concern themselves with other things that actually do cause injury in the game. I wish I'd see parents taking action about their little kids skating around in 5 star crash suits. I can understand the lack of understanding many who watch the game have and can only hope that they will one day comprehend the true nature of the "Canadian Game". I would also like to welcome those same fans to the 2006-2007 season, glad you came to join us for the playoffs.

grapes,

i was watching atlanta vs boston in the afternoon on sat mar 31/06- the score is 2-0 atlanta and the game is boring- even the camera man is people watching- suddenly 2 nobody's drop the mitts and get at it- the building erupts and their is excitement for at least 5 minutes- all because of a good scrap- nobody got hurt and the crowd got something for their money.

This is off topic, but this e-mail is for Don Cherry himself. I would like to know if it was alright with him if I could repaint his Mcfarlane figure, by putting "support our troops" ribbons on his jacket as well as customizing the figure utself, and then sell it on e-bay with some of the proceeds going to supporting the Canadian Troops overseas. I would also like to add a special touch by getting Mr.Cherry to sign the ice base which may in fact attract more bidding yet increasing the donation. If he could please respond to the email that would be greatly appreciated and I could get started on it right away, please and thank you. Long time fan Tom.

Hi all.
I'm reading through comments on fighting in hockey and just wanted to put in my two cents..for what its worth. I hear Don, all the time, talking about the "kids". Mr. Cherry understands that children look up to the NHL players out there and I for one appreciate having a game where talent is rewarded over brutality. I love hearing Don talk to the kids on Coach's Corner, telling them how to be safe and how to improve their game. I am a single mom of one beautiful little girl. I hope she will play hockey some day and enjoy it as I have as a spectator and a player. Never do I want her to feel that hurting others for ones own personal gain is OK. For all those rallying for less fighting in hockey...keep up the good work!! By the way..Jessie is only 15 months now, but hey, one can always dream!!

Fighting should not be allow. If two or more players got into a fight at a bar or other public area, they would be arrested. As far as the comments about how it's been in hockey for years, there are alot of things that people found acceptable long ago and are not acceptable now. It time to accept the fact that things dont stay the same nor should they stay the same if it's wrong.

People like Ron are ex-refs seen all what happens on the ice,but hockey players know what they are signed up to do,they know the risks,luckly no player has died on the ice so far,and if they did it was something they loved doing.IF YOU DON"T LIKE CANADIAN HOCKEY,WATCH OVERSEAS HOCKEY.LEAVE ARE GAME ALONE BLOWHEARTS.If you don't like it,watch golf.CBC probably shows it...not.

I love Don Cherry! Tell it like it is! Make Don the NHL Comish, and the game will be better than ever!

If they continue to take the hard hitting and fighting out of the game. Hockey is going to be nothing but soccer on ice. Keep it up Don we need you in Hockey for the sake of the game!

Continued from below:

This same coach, hearing commentary about this on the Fan590, called in and was interviewed. He used the names of serial killers as nick names for his players, and described how they had taken runs at the Thornton goalie and another player (who also happens to be my niece) and laughed about it. In 20 some games this year his team has amassed over 200 penalty minutes. (The Thornton team was rewarded for penalty free games)

He (and the same player) has also been suspended from games in the current series. The Toronto Sun has run two stories on this sorted affair, though when noting a parent was tossed from a game it was a NobleKing parent who was tossed, and that the NobleKing fans chanted "CHEATERS, CHEATERS" at the Thornton team.

What started as a debate over the logic of penalizing some 11-12 year olds over a rule dispute has evolved into a morality play regarding the mentality behind winning at all costs. It has become painfully obvious that the NobleKing coach in question does not understand sportsmanship, fair play, and the fun of the game. His team's penalty minutes are a reflection of his attitude towards how the game should be played to achieve a win. That is not what our great sport is about, and is certainly not what Hockey Canada espouses in its coaches' training program.

The issue now is not whether Thornton should be in the finals, but whether this coach should be allowed to coach hockey, at any level, anywhere.

Speaking of talking back to refs and poor sportsmanship, here is something for Coach Cherry to talk about, and hopefully have the OMHA & Hockey Canada take to heart.

How about the fracas now going on with the NobleKing Pee Wee coach and his win at all costs mentality? Distraught at having been ousted by Thornton in the playoff semi-finals in six games, he protested to the OMHA and had Thornton DQ’d on a rule “violation” that he new about and agreed to in advance of the series.

Thornton, whose trainer was away on vacation during March break, requested that another certified trainer be allowed on the bench. The NobleKing coach approved of the substitute, and agreed to have the NobleKing trainer tend to any players injured on the ice. Throughout the series there was nary a word said about it, until they lost, and the NobleKing coach suddenly decided that the lack of a PRS number (a recent requirement) for the trainer was cause for protest.

Of note, this same coach was tossed from a game earlier in the series when one of his players exceeded the penalty minutes limit and was tossed as well (though he claims to the Toronto Sun that he was wrongly suspended which is how he "noticed" the PRS problem). The next game that player tried to dress for the game and the Thornton coaches notified the NobleKing assistants that they would forfeit if that player dressed for the game. They could easily have said nothing, and then notified the refs and obtained the win.

To be continued in next post:

Just a quick response to some of the comments.
I dont know what was homophobic about Don donning a laughable stereotype of what a homosexual might be. Did you see him with the kid in the hall Scott Thompson. That was parody at its finest. Check it on you tube.

I forgot about the other comment I was going to respond to, but I think its funny you're still reading this and procastinating at work just like I am.
Peace

i have often heard about the leadership skills of leaf captain, sundein. if in fact he does have any leadership skills, they are not apparent on the ice. what i see is a cheap shot artist, usually rubbing his gloves into the face of an opponent during any sort of altercation. his hits from behind, usually in the crease area, are a wonder to behold and often neglected by the refs. i do not see any leadership qualities in sundein, i see a player, above average for sure, who has not led his team to a conference title nor a stanley cup. i would say the greatest leaf in the modern era would be daryl sittler, leadership, heart, desire, none of which captains sundein has.

Watch the show a lot, have the DVDs.

Don,
When are you going to mention that it's not 'right' to talk back to the referees or argue calls? Hockey Canada listens to you. You have to say something. It's about respect for the players and the refs and it's all about respect for the game.
Thanks for the entertainment and memories!

Why should the game continue to change more? If your not happy watching a fight then hit the off button! You don't need to fix something that's not broken! Thanks Don for sticking up to all the politics that hs come to hockey with Gary Bettman! Don you shouldn't have to be sensored for giving your opinion! Thanks and Great Job!

I would like to get Don Cherry's opinion on this question, which is:

Does he think the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to make the playoffs?

Can he answer this question on Coach's Corner, becauase I watch it every Saturday night, and I can get his answer

Thank you

Hmmm!!! More hockey and less fight, or more fight and less hockey?
I love hockey, therefore I vote more hockey and less injuries and less concussions and less blood and ....

Don,

This Saturday Dallas and Nashville will have their first re-match since the Tootoo suspension. Jordin will have served his time for being overly aggressive and inappropriate in his actions and will be eligible to play.

I find it ironic how 'The Code' is used as a tool of convenience, in support Belak/Jansen, on the shelf for Robidas/Tootoo and ignored for Fedoruk/Orr. The media commentators pandering away.

The Code says you don't treat our star players that way or-else. Jordin hits Madano and expects the what-else but instead gets Robidas. Robidas trying to enforce the Code says, "I was only going to talk first and then fight." Colin Campbell seems to agree with Robidas.

What part of the Code was Robidas referring to? And, why is Colin Campbell handing out suspensions under a Code the NHL has been avoiding?

Given that Robidas failed in his attempt to enforce the Code, should Jordin be expecting a Dance or a Chat?

Don, I am not for a kinder gentler NHL. But, I do think matters pertaining to this Code you often refer to have to be addressed. The Code has been undermining the Officials Rules of the Game. Any rule that isn't applied fairly, written or unwritten, should disappear.

The Code is often referenced to justify fighting as part of the Game. Vendetta's are issued, sometimes carried forward to subsequent periods or games. The ensuing battles are then falsely held up as examples of how the Code works, the Players can police them-selves and fighting should stay in the Game.

The Belak and Jansen fight is just one example of the hypocrisy engaged in by the league, the teams and the media. Jansen was punished under suspension by the League and yet further punishment was to be meted-out in accordance to this Code.

The Fedoruk and Orr fight had a much more serious consequences, yet is was still by the Code. I didn't hear anyone using the same reasons they did to support the Belak/Jansen fight.

Put the Code in writing or be quite about it.

Hey Don and Ron great show. I was watching the leafs in buffalo. You can"t blame raycroft. The team ran out of steam in the third and when you get six breakaways in a row in eight minuts. And that was two alone on Raycroft. Where was the defenes. So start blaming the guys in front of the net.Don i know you are smart and agee with me. Thanks and pleases let the leafs fan know. Mark from Vivtoria.

Don, I just had to bring this to your attention - Points-Per-Game in the NHL right now has 7 CANADIAN players at the top and 10 out of the top 11!! Enough said!

Always enjoy Coach's Corner, keep up the excellent work. With your knowledge of the game & the no holes barred approach to issues, I applaude you both.

Don,

Why is Gary Bettman still the Commissioner?

Since he took over hockey there are been two work stoppages, attendance is down, they have no national (USA) tv contract, at least not one that matters and overall populartity of the sport has plummetted (remember the Sports Illustrated cover with Messier on the cover asking if Hockey could overtake basketball as the 3rd most popular sport in the states?) at a time when other sports are setting record numbers for revenue, attendence and tv ratings?

I just don't get it?

Why don't you "weigh in" on why the Flames are not on every Saturday night like your precious leaves? Why not show games that actually have a bearing on the stanley cup race?

FIGHTING IS A PART OF HISTORY IN THE GAME OF HOCKEY YOU TAKE THAT AWAY AND YOU ARE DISTROYING HISTORY .If you watch a game and you say a nice goal and fight happens before the goal what will you remember first .I know what i will remember the long fight just like the one between belack and the guy from new jersey 5 minute long fight thats the kind of fight gets your team pumped up and the fans of course .GO Don Go

I have watched hockey my whole life.Where ever i go what ever I do I love talking about the game of hockey .My Question is to Ron not not to Don if you do take the fighting out of hockey do you think there well be more stick work .Please do not take fighting out of this game you will ruin it for us canadians who do love the game .Fighting is apart of hockey and as been for years .If you see a fight in a game it's for a reason to get your team fired up and it works it does for me as a fan. I'am a BIG fan of my Montreal Canadiens and have been for years .They had some great fighters and some bad ones ,but all in all you cannot take away my canadian game .Play it the Canadian way and stop your dam complaining .One more thing one someone please listen when Don Cherry speaks he knows waht he his talking about .Give them hell Don don't back down .My nickname at work is Little Don cherry .

Thanks ,
wade loveless

P.S.
Don't take way the canadian game

I've been following hockey since I was a kid, and as I'm now 53 years old that means I've been tuning in to CBC for about 45 years. I am disgusted by your re-playing that odious homophobic clip of Don Cherry mincing and lisping. Are you so desperate for ratings you will pander to the absolute lowest common denominator? That's it! I'm done with CBC. I've argued often in the past to protect the Corporation but we now seem to share different values and you are not worthy of my ongoing support.

Hello Ron and Don, I am a huge fan of hockey. Played allot when I was a kid on the Miramichi NB. My son is 12 he played in Petawawa Ontario in Atom Rep, we went to many Tournaments,Bell Capital Cup in Ottawa to name a few(almost won it) played in the Upper Ottawa Valley hockey League. Because of my job we went to Europe. And he is now playing in Belgium. Last year he played in Holland. I can only tell you with the experience I have had for the last 2 years, we have it right in Canada. I know its not Russia and Chech republic but these guys are trying to teach there kids the game...its tough when you have no experience, but they try and they are dedicated and they love our game. I have seen many things, heard many things that can only tell me that when Dillon(My Son) was in Canada he was in Hockey land. I know that is something that you already know, but to all the negative people out there who say that our game is weak and we have no talent, but just grit... bullucks!! Canada is hockey and always will be! Thanks for supporting the troops.

All the best, and by the way "Bobby Orr is the best I have ever seen". Go Bruins

Sgt Barry Wright
Canadian Forces
Germany

Hi Don and Ron, just like to say a couple things on fighting. Many conversations have been about taking fighting out of the game. Heres one reason they shouldn't. I just remember a couple of days ago when my dad was telling me how back in the old days when Gordie Howe played, if one of your players received a cheap shot they were going to endup paying for it. I really dont think anything is wrong with that. In todays hockey that has to be done, you have guys like sydney crosby and pavel datsyuk that cant fend for themselves against the guys like cris neil and etc. If fighting is taken out of hockey then those guys like neil can throw cheapshots on crosby and datsyuk with-out any payback. Teams have to be able to protect their young guns.
Thanks Guys
p.s. great show

To the poeple out there that think cheap shots don't happen in miner hockey they better think again.I have two sons that play i have seen young men get there heads all most taken off from a crooscheck or the elbow to the head i have seen some to handed slashs to the legs and head that would make any man cringe,and most off this stuff does come from the more skilled players who cant take a good cleam body check so the only way to stop that stuff is with the big boys to step in and they do think twice about doing it.Now to the NHL which has turn into open season on goalies and the players are not held accountble for ramming the net more goalies have been hurt in the last 2 years then i have seen in all the years off playing and watching hockey at all levels off hockey,the stick work is higher now then it has ever been the only way to stop that stuff is with the big boys stepping in.And hockey has turn into the power play game now 5 on 5 hockey just not there anymore so lets get back to 5 on 5 hockey let the players fix the game not people who have never played the game ?? P.S. i do not watch to many games anymore i find them boring now, they are no battles in the corners anymore they just turn there backs to the play now and go back and forth the D man cant touch the guy in front off the net now and that was allways a good part of the game watching the battle and who was going to come out on top but now its just like watching figure skating ///

Good Morning Don

I have been a Bruin's Fan Since I first saw Bobby Orr's Photo in an Imperial Oil's Maginzine in the late 60's. What would you do to fix the Bruins.

If you find time in the near future to anwser my email great see you on Coaches Corner

Tommazz

Hi Don and Ron, Just like you to know that i have watched hockey sense i was 5 with my dad every saturday night and have to say i find myself turning the stations looking to see what else is on tv, its something i would have never done a few years ago but i feel the game has changed so much in the last few years, its becoming a league of power plays and no passion for the teams the players play for. The players move around so much on different teams and now i cant even think of who is my fav player anymore. I would love to see the great canadian game get back to its roots again, please bring back the policeman again who took care of his teams mates.

Obviously the people who feel hockey should be eliminated from hockey have never played the game at a high level. It's a very important factor in a sport, that because it is the fastest in the world, leads to some ugly incidents. It's no different than a brush back pitch in baseball or an intentional foul in basketball or football. It sends a message. What would those of you suggest to replace fighting --and the message its sends....crosschecks to the face??? I cringe more when I see someone cross check or slash a player than when two guys drop their gloves to fight. In its entire history only a handful (yes, less than five) players have seen career ending injuries during a fight. Hundreds have seen their careers end instantly or prematurely by crosschecks, high sticks, cheap-shot hits to the head and kneeing. Fighting is a necessity in hockey because not enough is done to protect the "skill" players from cheap shots. Steve Moore should have been suspended for 10 or 20 games for his elbow to the head of Markus Naslund. If that had occurred he wouldn't be in the predicament his is now. So many defenders of Moore cite his Harvard education. Well if he was so smart he should have known better than to try to injure a fellow player with a cheap shot to the head and he would have known turning around to fight Todd Bertuzzi would have put a quick end to the entire incident. He was brave enough to cheap shot a far more talented player than himself, but was too cowardly to stand up for his action. Just like I don't want to see a batter beaned in the head (by a 100 mph fastball) I don't want to see a fight in every game, but if it happens so be it. It's part of the "code" of some sports. If people who can't comprehend this don't like it. You have the option to turn the channel.

To the people who maintain that hockey would eb a 'sissy' game without fighting, cast your minds back to the Salt Lake Olympic tournament and magnificent, beautiful hockey played by a skilled team Canada - no fights, record audiences, unmatched pride in a well played game. I could counter your comments by saying "if you want fighting, watch boxing". If there's a fight in a game, it's garbage, an insult to the beauty of the game, and I just turn the TV off and stop wasting my time.

I think Don's outdated opinion on violence in hockey is a defensive manouevre and perhaps one of desperation as he realizes his views are becoming less and less relevant in a more civilized, skill oriented and exciting NHL. He should be fired and replaced with someone who has something meaningful (and coherent) to say about the game. Telling our childeren week after week that it's okay to grow up and fight is just wrong.

don't get me wrong fighting IS entertaining...but to say that hockey needs fighting..to say that hockey is nothing without fighting??? this makes no sense...you have to think about this one for just a litle longer than a couple of seconds to realize how illogical it is to think this way...all you have to do is take into account all the fine tournaments that have been played without fighting....(for the most part)...Stanley Cup Playoffs...Olympics...Canada Cups,,,World Juniours....also..stickwork and cheapshots are still plentyfull in the game...I wonder if you researched this how many of the cheapshots and injuries would be the fault of unskilled players brought in to add an element of toughness to their team and NOT by skilled players...it doesn't seem like fighting serves any purpose at all..but what do I know I am just watching from home on TV...

you have to protect your star players,instigating rule should be ended

Does the NHL have too many teams in the league? I think so. What "good" reason was given about the schedule change to play a division team eight times a season? I think the main reason is some cities don't have enough fans to support their respective teams. So, you play a team close to home more often to attract loyal fans for the away team within a reasonable distance to help fill the arena that otherwise can't be filled by the home crowd. This is also cheaper on the teams travel budget. In reality it is really just marketing not good hockey. What has happened to this great game?

It is hard to believe that anyone who does not agree with Don Cherry knows nothing about hockey.He makes it seem we are all waiting for him to explain everything for us,like we are not capable of understanding the game. It is bad enough that we must sit and listen to this old bag of wind make a fool of himself and always talk about the way things were in the American Hockey League in the 40`s.The game has changed and has passed you by,Ron Maclean offers up to the date information regarding today's game.Please go back to your old memories and stay there,maybe you can sell your fighting videos 1940`s style.Hockey fans are not as stupid as you seem to think they are. I have no problem with fighting in the game ,but I do have a problem with arrogance and disrespect.Everyone is entitled to an opnion,but please use some class when you voice yours.

I cannot believe that you replayed that clip from 1991. It was in bad taste and offensive 16 years ago. it has not gotten better with age. Don Cherry is Archie Bunker without the redeeming qualities.

I simply do not grasp the ideas behind the argument that fighting is a good thing and MUST be permitted in the NHL. "we have to protect the stars" or "the code". What a pile of rubbish. At the World Cup, World Championships, (sr. & jr.), the Olympics, Canadian and American College/University Hockey and Highschool Hockey, there is NO FIGHTING PERMITTED. The game does not change, there is no "extra stick work" in those leagues. In all other major sports in the world, if a player throws a punch, he or she is ejected from the game. There is no outcry about ADDING fighting to these levels of hockey, in fact, in our highschool league, if a player fights on the ice, not only are they given a misconduct penalty, they are suspended in the hockey league AND in school. There is a whole lot more hitting in football, yet fighting is not allowed. The outcry of "noone gets hurt in a hockey fight", well thats just ridiculous - ask the guys with the broken cheeks, orbits and hands. Ask the Leafs Newberry - he nearly fractured his skull. Perhaps that might wake some people up - when a player who REMOVES his helmet in order to FIGHT, (something which will receive a penalty and the player is aware of this) - well that player takes a solid punch to the temple and takes a tumble and LITERALLY fractures his skull and dies right there live on HNIC, coast to coast. Wake up people. There is no need for fighting hockey. It works in the other major pro sports, and it has been shown clearly, that high level hockey can be played without any fighting. Wake up.

I've been a hockey fan/player all my life practically, and to those who say that without fighting hockey would be a boring game, they are not true hockey fans. Your telling me you watch 3 hours of hockey each night hoping for the off-chance their will be a 30-second fight? C'mon! I see no reason why players like Boogaard and Godard are playing when they're spot could've gone to someone who can contribute in other ways than enforcement.

Having said that, in the NHL game there is every reason for fighting to be in it otherwise the players will go crazy against each other, with how jacked up and competitive they are each game, referees won't stop them from making stupid decisions. What I want to see is the return of the skilled enforcer... guys like John Ferguson, Dave Semenko or Bob Probert, even dare I say it, Tie Domi. Those guys could contribute to the team in many other ways while at the same time holding the weasels on the other teams accountable. Ferguson and Semenko never had huge PIM totals, but they did their job as well as anyone, and allowed their stars to produce, as seen in the Cup rings they have.

Personally I think if you remove the instigator it will have a reverse effect, those McGratton's and Boogaard's will be gone and regular pluggers will fill in their shoes.

Fighting has been a part of hockey since 'fighting ' began.The third man in rule has been the bain of hockey in that it does not allow for team mate protection of the smaller and most often more skilled players from abuse. There are more injuries caused to players from stick, elbow and 'Hit from behind' infractions than have ever been caused by 'fighting'.
Mr Cherry while I have your attention I need some advice to settle an argument between my wife{Carol} and our grandson conner. Gramma and Conner, have a deal wherein he-plays at the Atom level-Gramma has two jars in one Conner gets two dollars {a Toonie} for every goal or assist, The other jar one dollar {a Loony}is removed for every penalty that Conner gets.
The other evening the phone rings, it's Conner calling from Camrose, where they have just played in a Hockey Tourney."Gramma , you owe me four dollars, I got a breakaway shot and hit the post, I then picked up the rebound and scored a goal. So gramma you owe me two daollars for the goal and two dollars for the assist" Gramma is quite taken back and says "We'll have to consult with an expert on this. Who do you suggest?" The response is immediate. " Don Cherry, of Course" Well Don gramma needs help!

Don Cherry is 100% Right! the fighting is a players code to protect the skilled players. Somenko allowed Gretzky to enjoy a 20+ yr. career. Sydney Crosby would love a Somenko on his line. The cheap shot abuse Syd takes every night will shorten his career by 5-10yrs. Also, look at every scrum on the ice and you'll see all the players sticks in each others faces. Far more dangerous than a fight. Ask Bryan Berard!

Grapes....You are the best!
I've been a hockey fan for 35 years now and this sport is mild now from what was 30 yrs ago, remember what a hockey players face looked like. Or Friday nights at the War Memorial.(I know you do).....By the way I still have fond memories when you coached me in jr hockey......Thanks for the memories

Tom

Don, in response to your comments about Maple Leafs penalty killing woes, ANDREW RAYCROFT is at fault 100% , the leaf defencemen try and block shots so that they do not get to RAYCROFT, fearing the puck will go in IF IT GETS TO THE NET.
MAURICE , wake up and play J.S. AUBIN, maybe then the LEAFS will make the playoffs.
GO LEAFS GO.

Wow. Just wow. I can't believe that in 2007 HNIC would play that idiotic homophobic clip of Don with the earring and lisp. This is way beyond Don's typical off-the-cuff bigotry and implicates the entire troglodyte cabal running the show. This was actually planned, executed and broadcast. Incredible. Do you people have any brains or decency at all? What the hell do you have to do to be fired from HNIC?
Disgusted,
Rob Reid

Could you please do a story about the artwork
done on the goalie masks, I find it really interesting and awhsome work. Who does the work? How much time and money does it take?
Do the goalies provide this for themselves?
Thanks for supporting out military troops.

Fighting in hockey has long been an honorable trait even during the seventies Canadien All Stars vs. The Russian Red Army Team!The fighters have protected the scoreres, goaliesand given teams momentum and motivation when they fell behind!If you take fighting out of hockey, you might as well make it a non-contact sport, since players are penalized for even looking at the so-called premiere players whom hardly get penalized for all their diving!

Being the direhard Canadiens fan that I am I thought I throw in my two cents. I am the son of a former QMJHL and would-have-been NHL player who decided to go the academic route. That said I think fighting should not be tolerated. Hard hits and the like are okay, for they are part of the game, but letting players beat the crap out of each other is ludicrous. It is a demonstration of how primitive the minds of some hockey players still are and encourages the wrong type of behavior in young people. If you want to throw punches then go take a few in the boxing ring, not on a ice rink.

Listening to home ice the other day on XM radio and there was a lot of people talking about getting rid of fighting in the NHL. This is not an option cause your going to end up with just a lot of nasty stick work like you see from time to time in the CIS. If this was to be the case the Simon stick work will be a weekly thing. There is no real fix for this except for a few players to learn how to pick your battles.

I don't mind the fighting in hockey, having played and watched hockey since i was a little kid, it's always been there.

Whether people admit it or not though, i don't think there's something honorable about hockey fights. When people fight, it's still fighting, it's still violence.

Sure there's an element of squaring things up, settling score man-o i man-o.

But when that happens, there's thousands of thousands of people watching, lots of them kids. The fight itself might make sense for the game, but as people watching it, i'm not so sure.

I think there needs to be that distinction - in the game you settle the score, everybody on the ice knows it's done. But fans, parents, kids watching, it leaves an impression, that that's okay.

Not to say it turns people into fighting machines after a game, but i think in subtle ways it does affect people. But we all know Mr.Cherry isn't the most subtle person around!

Grapes is right. Each year I would order the center ice package offered by my cable company, and I would hardly get any sleep making sure I watched every game every night. But with the new rules the games are usually so boring that I have not ordered it the last 2 years, not worth the money.
The instigator rule has to go!!! It gives guys like Hollweg, Ruutu, Hokik and many other European players beer muscles. They feel as though they can do whatever they want and never have to pay the price. Although I am American, I love hockey, and I prefer the Canadien style of playing it not the European style. The playoffs should be a war of attrition and not who has the better power play. Get rid of Bettman and Campbell or soon we will see Olympic size ice, tutu's and 5 on 4 hockey all 60 minutes.

Fighting is not the problem with the NHL, are these people serious? A hockey fan is a hockey fan and appreciates all that a fight can do for a hockey game, it is more than just watching two guys beat each other up. Its about momentum, its about protecting your skill players and letting the Tootoo's of the league know that if they take a cheap shot at someone they are not going to get away with it without and good honest man to man fight. This is why the instigator rule is garbage, if you try to stick up for someone, the guy who took the cheapshot comes out the winner. If the reason people think fighting must go is the threat of serious injuries to the players, how many more touch up icing clips does Grapes need to show before we get rid of this? Priorities are out of whack in the NHL, keep telling it like it is and eventually they will listen.

There already exists a no fighting policy in the NHL. It has existed for atleast 4 years. It is called the playoffs.

Don,
Regardless of the fighting debate, I'm disappointed that you choose to make homophobic comments and intimations to prove your point. Hockey fights have nothing to do with being gay, so grow up and open your mind.

Mr. Cherry is of course correct that fighting will always be a part of the great sport of hockey. While most of us understand and respect that a strong contingent of influential Canadians seem to equate national identity to NHL toughness, many of us don't understand the need for one-dimensional pugilists. There is a difference. Stiffen the fighting penalties with a multi-game suspension for a certain number of fights and you will lose the fighting specialists while boosting the importance of the skilled players who can also fight. I just don’t want to pay money to see Colton Orr intentionally kill someone with his bare hands. He’s seems like a good kid and I hope he does well in life. The minor leagues are a better place for a guy like that as they draw a stronger percentage hard-core fight enthusiasts, I think. I’ll take Colton’s two goals this year, since the powers that be in Toronto encourage that each team carry a guy like that, but I don’t agree there should be a place in the NHL for any man who primarily a fighting specialist.

Grapes,
You're the greatest! I grew up in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area, & I am a life long Wings fan. I've seen everybody from Ron Harris to Dan Maloney to Bob Probert. Those were the best years in hockey. Now, we have the most passive team in hockey, & it's sad.
Those who bitch about fighting in hockey don't go to games or support the league with anything more than lip service. The NHL will self-destruct if they keep pandering to the touchy-feely media & ignoring their fans. Keep up the good work!

Bill Grannis

For Christmas this past year one of my kids received a gift that included Encyclopedia Britannica 2006 on CD. Just today while fooling around on my computer I decided to look up "Hockey" to see what the encyclopedia had to say. To say the least, I was shocked at the first paragraph. This is what was written about OUR GAME...

The fastest of all team sports, ice hockey has been described as a combination of “blood, sweat, and beauty.” With an increased focus on the bloodshed, descriptions of professional hockey games today are more likely to include words like “goon,” “mayhem,” and “degenerate.” Stiffer penalties have not discouraged the players from using their basic equipment of sticks and skates as weapons, and this brutality has diminished the abstract beauty of the sport. Still, for a game in which bare-knuckle brawls have become the essence, one of the prestigious prizes is a trophy for the “most gentlemanly player.”

Do hockey players really use "skates as weapons"???...Are hockey players really "degenerates"???...Is "bloodshed" really the focus of the game??? I won'tsay that it doesn't exist but lets not let the exception become the accepted definition. I'm absolutely sure that degenerates have played baseball and soccer as well. Cleats have been used as weapons way more often than skates. And bloodshed is something that occurs, unfortunately, in every sport. Yet, when I looked up baseball and soccer in the same encyclopedia there was nothing negative mentioned. Who did the research on hockey I wonder.

I think that at the profesional level Canadians have been accustomed to seeing the fighting. I know I loved the blood sport when I was a kid, however the changes may not be so bad.
Its not the family values aspect that I find appealing, Infact I think thats a lame claim made by the management. I just don't think its necessary when they already have the instigator rule, so might as well make the full change anyway.
Hockey's changed as all things do, deal with it and try to enjoy the new nhl, its not like the kids will know the difference, and who knows maybe it will be like baseball and we'll see one dramatic brawl like that russia vs canada deal decades ago.

peace

Don, great job on HNIC!! Bettman needs to go before he relaizes all true fans won't watch (or buy tickets) to the "new " NHL.

How I long for a good old fashioned Cross checking call- even if it is from Frazier.

I have begun to follow hockey again after several years, thanks to its rejuvenation. Hockey is a fast and exciting game now that skill has returned to the forefront. I lived in Chicago in 1985 when no games were on t.v.
and it was hardly covered in the press because it was looked upon as a barbarian sport akin to the wrestling matches. The same people attended both along with boxing. They went to see the fights. Thank God I can watch Radio Canada with intelligent analysis of the games with Jacques Demers and company. May the NHL maintain its clean hockey and many new fans will be made. May bush-league hockey and those that promote it as "our game" be set aside once and for all and let the fastest game in the world be just that, a wonder for the eye and a pure thrill for the heart.

Davis Hull forgets that this has been going on for far longer than the 1970's - watch the Rocket movie to see the famous incident between Richard and Laycoe that led to the Richard riots. Fighting and intimidation has been part of the game for years; Fred Shero "perfected" it to a "winning" strategy for 2 years, but eventually the great Montreal Canadiens team of the late 70s swept them away.

Even if you "ban" fighting it will not disappear. Two things will happen- 1. Skilled fighters will "fight" or use their stick more and 2.When fights do happen there will be bench clearing brawls (see baseball and basketball).
Refs always have the option of giving game misconducts, so why do they need the instigator penalty?

I agree with Don the NHL is getting more Softer and Softer I am a Huge fan i fighting seeing two guys drop the gloves is so exciting, and not just that but fighting lets players like Crosby,Stall,Koivu and St.Louis perform at there best knowing that they dont have to always watch there back. So in the i end i say keep the fights keeps the hits and keeps the fans. GO LEAFS GO

I agree with Don regarding the fighting. I also agree with Brett Hull who today said the fighting is part of the game, NHL Honour. But let's get all the mugging, cheap shots, sucker punches out of the game, Way to go Brett. Allow fighting, two men face to face to settle a score. Not from behind.

Regards,

Tryg

Don,
A few things to add to this discussion. I think hockey was originally played as a sport of speed, skill and passion and not meant for fighting, fencing or seeing young kids get killed. Yes it is going to happen. Somebody is going to get killed one of these times and it is going to be too late. Don Cherry himself says it is senseless how Canadian and American kids are being killed in Iraq and Afghanistan How much sense does it make to be killed playing a game where you chase a frozen disk up and down a sheet of ice. The hugging and kissing thing is pretty crazy too but showing good sportsmanship when a goalie makes a good save or a laugh when a defenceman gets beaten is not a bad thing for the game. The game now more than ever is all about money therefore, I can't understand why you would swing your stick at an opposing players head or knock a player's lights out. The players are still getting payed, win or lose! One episode of Coach's Corner said the players can police themselves. That means if you take fighting out of the game the players can live without stick infractions. I love the new NHL it weeds out the lazy players and makes the game fun to watch. I think the NHL's target market are the kids and you are telling kids it is OK to fight?? That is crazy. The NHL would be much better as a game of skill, speed and finesse.

Keep up the good work Mr Cherry. I totally agree with your comments. Hockey is a contact sport plain and simple. If people do not like it maybe we should make ping pong the national sport and watch ping pong night in Canada. Just a thought. Fans need to understand that when you are playing hockey sometimes your opponents can be frustrating and they will keep on frustrating you until you score a goal or have a fight to solve the frustration. It does not mean you are going to like your opponent but after a fair fight at least you will respect him/her. I wish fans would come out and play the game a bit before they would give their uneducated opinions. Another thing, when was the last time that a European Captain in the NHL has ever won a Stanley Cup? Does anyone have any stats on this question...

As we all know the NHL has been considering getting rid of fighting, but what you haven't heard is that The NHL is considering getting rid of sticks and pucks. In other sports like the NFL And NBA, players are not aloud to carry weapons in their hands, or how about the fact that a frozen piece of rubber causes most NHL injuries. Broken Legs, fingers, wrist. There has been also talk of getting the game of hockey off the ice and on to something less slipery and wet. Oh yeah but Betteman took care of that with those new RBK Jerseys were the water just beads off. Did you see him at the all-star game with Ron Mclean he was so damn proud of that stupid ridiculous jerseys that he is oblivious to the fact that syncronized swiming is beating the NHL in ratings in America. No offense Canada but you could watch the game all you want but if americans don't care about hockey your game won't last

Although a longtime hockey fan, I do not like the fighting. A few years ago, while watching games at our local arena in rural Alberta, I actually left the rink, rather than continue to watch a game marred with frequent fights. Having said that, I still believe that the fights are part of the game. There does not need to be a fight in every game, and fights that seem to start just because the game is getting slow or dull, are not necessary.
I am now living in the US and hold partial season tickets to the Predators games. I was at the game where 5'9" Tootoo ran over 6'3" Modano. I could see it coming as Tootoo skated toward Modano as he always finishes his checks. Tootoo was well aware that knockint their star player to the ice was going to result in retalliation so turned to meet the oncoming charge. This was not a hit from behind on an unsuspecting player, S.Nichol did that earlier in the season and received a well deserved 10 game suspension. Tootoo does not "turn turtle" as stated by another fan but faces and fights anyone who challenges. He also goes to the penalty box with regularity without complaint to the referee, even when the replay makes it obvious that the opposition player took a dive, as happened earlier in the Dallas game.
Five games for meeting a charging player with a fist--correction--hitting him 'too hard' with the fist but no penalty for an intentional stick across the back. When you are a marked man and not an allstar, you are going to get penalties called on you that others can get away with.
Interestingly, the league in its wisdom has arranged it so that Tootoo's first game back will be against the Dallas stars.

What's with all this talk about no fighting lately? Does the NHL actually think this will "increase" interest in the game. I can remember when Potvin fought Hextall years ago people were talking about it weeks later.....ITS ENTERTAINING.....if you don't think it is, maybe there's a chess match on the next channel. Whether people like to admit it or not, violence sells....I can't imagine the NHL without the odd scrap here and there.....any game I've been to its the only other time the audience gets up on its feet besides goals, national anthems and beer breaks....what does that tell you???? And as for people taking shots at Don Cherry, the guy isn't afraid to speak his mind, what's wrong with that? I commend him for it. As someone who has played hockey my whole life I'm sick of people that have never played/watched an entire game or are fairly new to the hockey scene try to tell us what should/shouldn't be in the NHL. Fighting has been there long before the Leafs won their last cup [and that was a LONG time ago], and I don't see how this season is worse than any other...

I have been a hockey fan and player all my life. The league should focus more of its attention on the late hits similar to the Kaberle incident that could have seriously hurt him. Not taps to the arms that have recently been called interference ! Fighting -well maybe a minimum 10 game suspension for instigators and 5 for the other player. It seems some players are really getting hurt of late. Hard to take it out altogether.

Hi Ron and Don. I've been watching and playing hockey since the 1970's. Fighting is, for the most part, a self-contained mechanism so that cheap shots or running elite players is policed. One fight per game between two trained athletes is entertaining and serves a crucial purpose. In the absence of fighting, we all know that elite players take invisible 6-inches and goalies are run. And these days, with hard elbow pads and the sense of invulnerability due to helmets, significant injuries are all the more likely. While the Colton Orr incident was an anomaly (honestly, how often do we see a big guy drop like that?), incidents like the Simon one are becoming all the more familiar. This is precisely why a few boxing matches to deflate tensions are acceptable to those who know and understand the sport intimately. To my mind, fighting has and always will be one of the cleanest aspects of our game.

Ok. I think that, if we are going to have a debate on fighting in hockey, we should analyze the arguments and come to a resonable conclusion. I propose we look at the reasons in support of fighting and see if they pass muster.

1. Fighting is necessary to protect star players from abuse.

Unfortunately, fighting prevents nothing, it only punishes offenders. Cam Janssen didn't not hit Kaberle because he knew Belak would get him after. And even when Belak meted out his punishment, it had absolutely no impact on when Kaberle would recover. This argument loses even more impact when players can be punished for legal hits, like Robidas would have done to Tootoo for a clean hit on Modano. Why can't star players be checked? Furthermore, there have been many severe injuries to fighters, ie. Newbury.

2. Fighting is necessary because it is one of the most popular aspects of the sport.

Yes, fights are popular. I like fights myself. But the most popular games, the Stanley Cup finals or any playoff game with a Canadian team, have very few fights at all. Instead, the draw is intense, exciting hockey. I would imagine that few people don't watch the playoffs because there is less fighting. The Olympic hockey games are also very popular and there are no fights.

Conclusion

In spite of the relative brevity of this post, I would suggest two options. One is to either ban fighting or change it from a 5 minute major to a 10 minute/game penalty, while stiffening the consequences of penalties that could lead to injuries, like boarding. The second is to allow fighing in its present form, but require that all fighters must wear protective gloves like in the UFC to prevent injury, as well as the stiffened penalties.

Hmmm, well it could be worse, unlike Pakistani Cricket we have yet to "wack" a coach.

sorry, just one more comment.."hockey without fighting is garbage"? What!? How can anyone even think that..the besst hockey I have ever watched were world juniour championships, Olympics and canada cups...how much fighting was in that! If there was fighting, Gretzky would most likely be hit from behind by Suter, and Karya would still have been concussed by Suter..what happened to Suter anyway..did anybody fight him in the Karya case? I don't think so...crappy things will happen as long as dirty players are allowed into the league...

The Red Wings may finish 1st overall in the NHL but their games are
UNWATCHABLE....... never missed a minute when they had Probert and Kocur and rarely made the playoffs

What planet are we living on? When I was younger I thought fighting in hockey was great. I actually couldn't wait for a scrap to start. But as I got older and matured as an adult male and my brain fully developed, I realized that fighting really has no place in hockey or sports for that matter. Where else in society can two guys beat on eachother with bare fists and not get charged? You may say ultimate fighting, but to me that "sport" is another societal black eye. C'mon Cherry, fighting is so archaic and ridiculous. And why is the argument always, "Well if we take fighting out of the game, then superstars will get killed, stick use will rise, etc..." Why does that have to be the case? What's mentally wrong with hockey players that would cause them to swing a stick at someone's head or cross check someone from behind into an unforgiving boards? I guess it's like any job. Sometimes's there are real jerks who work in your office. The same goes for hockey.
Let's take fighting out of the game and let the skilled players flourish.
I enjoy Cherry's views, but have to disagree on this one

I have to agree with Davis Hull...I cannot get over how Kaberle is BLAMED for getting concussed.. aaawwwww!!!! that"s all I can say!..It's so frustrating to hear and see such nonsense! That fact of the matter is..and this is the bottom line that should be addressed..is that it was Jansen's CHOICE to ILLEGALLY through his shoulder into KABERLE"S face...and he had PLENTY of time to decide either to do that or not to do that.."he should have kept his head up"!!??? I can't believe what I am hearing. Hitting should be used for one thing only..to obtain position of the puck by forcing the player with possession off the puck...that's good hockey..that's good checking...hockey does not need UNNECESSARY violence...

I am lead to believe that 90% of the comments against fighting, hard hitting and defensive instincts to protect yourself, are from arm chair athletes (with small penises)that have never played the game.

Bettmann wants a faster game? Then have him throw the referees whistles away. How many times have we watched a great game turn boring because a "good clean" hit that rang someones bell initiated the stripes to blow the whistle and send us all to "ZZZZZZZland" early.

And "children"? If any kid watching a game goes out and pummels another kid because he saw it on a hockey game, has much more going on in that cement head than that hockey fight.
Kids are smarter than most adults....come on!

All of this mega rule changing, meetings and shit just shows that "Our Leaders" who are in charge of making decisions for our great sport need to take the pulse of the fans and players and not the $$$$ people who never laced on a pair of skates EVER!

QUESTION? If Tootoo and Orr apologized, and said they were real sorry and maybe even kissed, and nationally said that it(fingers crossed)would never happen again.....that would make us all get along right? LOL! Wow I cracked myself up this time!

Don all I can say is Bravo, Mr. Bettman please go back to the NBA!!!!

LET'S BE CLEAR - No fighting no hockey PERIOD.

Don Cherry is always right, fighting is part of the game why don't we get rid of something like touch up icing that actually causes injuries and brings nothing to the game. The skill players aren't the ones fighting anyway, they are the ones being protected and in a league that depends on skill players like the nhl now does shouldn't protecting these players be a concern. Take out fighting and let the dirty stick work begin, the stick to the face of Hollweg was such a big concern, well get ready for more of that if fighting is gone.

Hey Ron and Don
You guys were kind of all over the place last night with the show. But the bit on the end about violence and showing that clip from your show in LA was brilliant. The "New NHL" is a load of bullplop. The game is violent, tough, and even vicious. This lovey-dovey stuff between players is ridiculous. They don't have to be macho-uber-masculine men all the time, but when the lights come up and the games on then they should maintain that they are enemies, and enemies fight each other everyway they can, especially with their fists.
I think Ron made the right point during Satellite Hotstove. If you eliminate fighting you get more and more of the tough (and undeniably vicious) guys like Chris Simon, Jordan Tootoo or back in the day Marty McSorley who think cheap shot first instead of an honourable throw-down-the-gloves and fight first. Revenge and making your enemy hurt is a part of the game. A straight heads-up hand to hand fight is the best way to keep that side of it under control.

hey guys, a few things I'd like to say. First off, if you're not going to let fighting in the game there will be more cheap shots and that leads to more penalties and suspensions. That's not the way to make controversy. Furthermore if the rule makers see more cheap shots they're going to make more sissy penalties. And if you're going to try to improve the market in the American league, one way to prevent that is taking fighting out of the game and making sissy penalties. I mean if Phoenix is losing 4-1 they can still get the crowd pumping with hard hits and or fights. And if some clubs just won't perform attendance wise just make more Canadian clubs we only have six.

P.S.: Don I think you should insist on those rubber things for the boards you showed us last year to protect the players.

Fighting in hockey is the decline of self restraint and the rise of gutter culture.

Stick work is rampant in hockey, so how is no fighting going to increase it. Did Chris Simon fight the Ranger player or did he use his stick in a deliberate intent to injure?

I've always questioned the intelligence of Don Cherry and his followers. In fact, I laugh at them.

What a crazy topic. It's already been proven what hockey looks like without the violence, and it is "A Beautiful Game!" Am I not right Cassie (Campbell), that is. One need look no furher than the 2006 Gold Medal Game in Turin. Now having said that, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL ROUNDER THAT WAS, eh Jordon. Screw the suspension. Shoulda' got an extra 5 days pay for that one.

You can move the lines, put more officials on the ice, and adjust rules, and equipment all you like. What the Nhl really needs is olympic size ice. This would increase speed and allow skill players the room to move rather than change rules. The ice surface has not changed in 50 years. The average player size in the league has. The Nhl should seriously look at this glaring problem. In 10-15 years time players as big a Chara will become common. Sure the rinks will lose some seats. But after a couple years of this new Nhl I am not impressed. The goalies with smaller gear are now posting low goals against again. As for the officiating the incosistency is painful and upsetting to watch. One minute everything is being called, then the next things are let go. I would have to say that among pro sports are officiating is not consistent at all. Perhaps using technology would be a good start with the referees. There are too many times I have just not enjoyed watching this new NHL. Gretzky & Lemieux at some point consider becoming co-comissioners of the league

Get rid of fighting, Don Cherry, and the Maple Leaf cheering from Bob Cole and maybe I would watch Hockey Night In Canada. Can't wait for the playoffs when fighting vanishes and real hockey starts....I just turn off Cherry and wait for 'Behind the Mask'

If people don't like the fighting then don't watch it. Over the years the game has been changed and if they keep it up the game iv'e grown to love will be changed completely. Let us not forget these are grown men who are fighting, they know the dangers and consequences of fighting and if they choose to fight then they accept the consequences.

Don was not a fighter he was a lover when he played take the fighting out and you can forget about hockey

AS long as a new wave of change looms near by with regards to updating a few rules, why not add a bit of flash right on the ice as goalie nets could light up bright red whenever the puck crosses the line not
unlike an NBA backboard?
How about an (under-ice cam) under each goaline?

I keep hearing that hockey w/o fighting is not hockey,boring, and it doesn't attract fans,etc. Well, here are a few observations:
1)There are many MORE games WITHOUT fighting than there are games with fighting? So obvious fans watch hockey because it is an exciting sport...fights be might the icing on the cake, but definitely not the "part" of the game as most would think.
2)There are hardly any fighting in world hockey or the olympic hockey, why are there so many audiences? It is because hockey is an exciting sport and can stand up on its own w/o the fights.

3)Are there more cheers when there's a pretty goal or when there's a fight? Do fans cheered at all when someone is carried out on a stretcher??

For Don and the rest who thinks you have to fight to be a man. Here's what i think, drop those multiple million dollar contracts and fight in Afghanistan, that's being a man. Hockey players are paid to score goals, not to fight and get insured. This in fact, becomes a liability to the organization when it does, which equates to dollars and cents.

Here's where i think the local officials, those who have balls, to step in and investigate why there are so many near-fatal, near career-ending fights of late.

Hey Grapes, I'm glad you gave it to MacLean for grilling Colin Campbell! MacLean was wrong for trying to get Campbell to make some kind of commitment on national tv, for a NHL rule change. It's not something Campbell could possibly do. I think MacLean was thinking with his striped shirt on. Head hunting, cheap shots and hitting from behind are not something real fans enjoy, and those players should be punished, but if a guy is coming down the ice, doing the dippsy doodle and he's got his head down, then why is it a penalty if someone fills him in? You're taught from a very early age to keep your head up, from the time you can hold a stick. It's unfortunate if the guy ends up with a concussion, but if he had his head up, he wouldn't have got it, in the first place. I mean, what's next? No contact hockey? Maybe that's MacLean's problem, and if he wants to watch that, then he can go to any local rink and watch the boys playing in the beer leagues!

how about getting somebody like scott bowman as coach in coach's corner instead. enough already. the cbc has no backbone on this one.

I think the new NHL is great, but if fighting is removed this would change. The cheapshot players would gladly take a 2 or 4 minute penalty for (charging, slashing, high sticking,elbowing,or whatever) in order to put players like Crosby, Briere,Stall, and Ovechkin out of the game, IF they know that there can be no retribution for doing this.
In any physical sport like hockey or football intimidation will always be a part of the game, removing fighting will only change what players do to intimidate the opponent.

Just glad to see there are lots of others out there that feel the same as me, that fighting should be out. I'm not sure why the deciding factor as to why a fight is legal is a pane of plexiglas. I'm going to get a lot more than five minutes if I get into a fight in my rink-side seats, out front of the arena, or in my classroom and rightly so. It is the law. Professional or not, it is against our laws and sets a bad model for youth to solve problems with violence.
"But it's part of the game!"
Ah violence sweet violence. Our culture does look fondly upon thee. Look no further than when 'fans' get excited when there is a fight in hockey. Well sure, this shows the mob mentality of the average fan because they are encouraged want to see some blood. Just like in grade school when we circled up and chanted,"Fight fight fight!" and encouraged the two combattants instead of doing the right thing and stopping it.
What other major sports condone this type of behaviour? Lots of stick work and cheapshots in basketball and football? I know fighting is engrained as they say. ("Part of the game eh?!") What a cop out! To those I say, Good luck as an MP in goverment since that attitude demonstates the same lack of will to even try to do something about it. If no fighting means more cheap shots and stick work, then use a whistle to control it. Works in our Tuesday night league for us.
Of course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

I am a Canuck living in the US of eh! I get frustrated by my Yankee buddies ( not all of them) and the few Canadians out there that think there is no place for fighting in hockey. I know for most here in the US ( COLORADO ), they have never played the game of hockey, most of them have just started watching hockey (arrival of AVS )they didn't grow up watching HNIC since they were young.
I played hockey for 20 plus years,so to say there is no place for fighting is unfair, you can't tell people there is no place in hockey for fighting until you've played the sport and totally understand the game from experience.

Hey Don, great comments last night regarding fighting and loved the video from the past. I have a suggestion......to go along with mandatory visors in the NHL, maybe all players should wear an earring in their left ear to indicate whether or not they are AVAILABLE to fight. As well, lets keep the pink sticks in the games on a permanent basis for the more kinder, gentler players. Come on folks, what are they doing to our game. The sooner Wayne Gretzky becomes NHL Commissioner the better.

Grapes is the man!..i love how he tells it like "some people" don't want to hear it!...fighting in hockey is not what the non-hockey fan thinks it is. Fighting in hockey is protecting your star player, standing up for your teammates, and settling a score. Not once in all of the almost forty yrs i have watched hockey, did someone sucker punched a guy. (ok, i'll give you todd b)...have you watched baseball?..a pitcher hits a player, and what happens?..huh?..and football?...ever see what happens to the QB when he is intercepted?...he a HUGE target to hit. It happens in all sports, jus that some peeps want the NHL to be this all "wholesome squeaky clean image of canadian life" to the world..want that?..get rid of the euro players and their stick work!...NHL brass, do us all a favor, lisen to grapes, or better yet, the TRUE fan of hockey...nuff said!

Don,

Remove fighting from hockey, are they crazy? Has Betman completely lost his mind? You know just as well as I do that every team must have an enforcer. That enforcer makes sure that "the code" is properly followed. Without fighting there would no doubt be more injuries. Time to get rid of Betman, its long overdue.

GO Leafs Go
Go Lake Erie Monsters

i think it fighting is part of our game. when they drop the gloves they the take full responsibility of there actions if they get
knock out maybe the next time he will think twice before droping them again. Im a die hard hockey fan. If the fighting stops than il go to my local rink to watch the gentlemen league play hockey. The pro get paid millions and getting knock out for the team is part of there job and part of the game.

serge

Don.. we are great fans of yours.. we love Coach's Corner. Very very rarely do we disagree with you in fact hardly ever. But, on the points you made of Raycroft at the end of last nights game with Buffalo.. whew what are you thinking. Raycroft needs to be a stand up goalie. If you really watch him.. he doesn't really seem to be following the game most of the time.

Perhaps, he needs a rest.. he is not spectacular and he lets way too many soft goals in.. his ego is bigger than his equipment!! I say put Aubin in... let's see what he can do... heck what would it hurt. There was NO excuse for Raycroft in Friday's game against Buffalo..albeit the rest of the team did some pretty loopy things too.

I say sit Raycroft and see what happens.

All the best Don, and on a personal note... you always look so "spiffy" love your attire!!

I just want to say that I agree with Don. hockey without the odd fight or two is like football without tackles, baseball without home runs, etc. Fighting has always been a part of hockey. Don't fix it, it's not broken.

Everytime there's an "incident" in the NHL someone suggests a rule change to prevent it. What kind of sissy game would result if the NHL always acted on them. Why not just accept the fact that this is the level of violence the game offers. If you don't like it then you can watch something else.

First, thank god you guys at CBC online are finally playing the clips (grapes) from the game and not breaking to some still shot of the logo...........my comment is, regarding the fighting. You need it. If you have ever played hockey before, you know that....however....maybe make the penalties stiffer for repeat offenders. It won't be worth it most of the time, and when it is worth it!...let er rip.
Now, penalties. They are driving me crazy....momentum sucking, subjective and inconsistant. We need a new system. My idea....The refs call what they see....two guys in Toronnah review very quickly....we have the technology....so, just like Julius Caeser, we get the thumbs up or down, via a green or red light hot wired to Toronnah.........no loss of face for the ref as he is only human right?
We can then as fans stop frothing at the mouth for stupid calls.....I even get miffed for the calls on the other team that are unfair....Playoffs are coming...
Anyway, that's all for my 2 cents worth...
FTLOG please do something!
dave

Mr. Commissioner,
I am now a fan of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League. Remember, no hits, no fights, no fans! I saw more hitting and action in one MLL game than I have all season in the "new and improved" "No Hits League (NHL)".

Don Cherry does not speak for this Canadian! I am in total agreement with Davis Hull. I'm astonished by people who condemn Bertuzzi and yet defend general hockey thuggery - for me, it's all part of the same process. I know it's said over and over but it's worth repeating - the last couple of Olmpics have produced some of the best hockey in the last twenty years. No fighting, no goons. The idea that dirty hits and stickwork would increase without fighting defies logic. These offences are already rampant. If the league wants to wipe out bad behaviour they can - like other leagues do - hit from behind into boards: half a season suspension, stickwork, three months suspension. Any calls missed by the ref sent to NHL HQ for a video review. If the NHL wanted to end this they would. They don't because I suspect they are going after the UFC market in the US.

Grapes you hit it on the head once again!!
Again a couple bad moments makes or breaks the
reflection on the Nhl ice.(Tootoo,Orr etc.)

I for one totally agree with your comments.
I am getting so fed up with people trying to rule the game on and off the ice.
If they want to continue to mold the game their way.Re:No hitting...No swearing...No celebrations..No fighting.I am sure the loss of the the "Real Fan" will eventually hurt the league.Let the boys play hockey the way it was meant to be played.The way that my father and I listened to on the radio every Saturday night,and later on television.That is the way it should stay!

Has any sport ever discussed the need for MORE fighting? Yes we need more fighting in curling. Snooker is far too tame, let's introduce a bit of good healthy violence.

I find it absolutely despicable that our tax dollars are being spent on airing such misogynistic, homophobic, and downright hateful speech every Saturday night. I am a proud hockey fan, yet I have no desire to see Don Cherry prance around pretending to be homosexual as some form of an insult. The fact that he is using this type of portrayal as an insult should bring him hate-crime charges rather than a publicly-funded salary.

As I sit here and listen to Don Cherry and those so called experts on HNIC defend today's NHL goonery, my first inclination is to sever all my ties with the NHL and become a cricket enthusiasts. But instead I have decided to fight back. Hockey and the NHL has been an integral part of my 60 years on this planet.

Not once tonight did one of those so called experts on Coach’s Corner or After 40 Minutes address the real problem. The problem started in the early 70's when Cherry and Fred Shero, started replacing hockey players on their teams with hacks. Those two guys promoted the battlefield theory that it is easier to win the war if you break the rules of the game.

In the old days if Alex Faulkner and Donnie Marshall dropped their gloves as a result of the heat of the action, that was human nature. Bringing in fighters to replace hockey players, however, is promoting goonery. In the old days if a player threw a dirty check on one of the stars on the team the tough guy on the team made sure he paid for it. It was not done with a series of blows to the head but with a wrenching body check. Tough players like Bob Baun. Leo Boivin and John Ferguson was the policeman on their respective teams and the object of their retaliation was, not to destroy careers but to deflate egos.

Let’s use a little Logic 101 here. Fighting is not part of hockey, tripping is not, slashing is not, nor is cross checking. The reason why those actions are penalized is because they take away from the integrity of the game. Players who insist on destroying the integrity of the game have no place in the game. In the real world if you have to break the rules to win, you lose your credibility. Because of the flamboyant abuse of the rules, today's NHL has no credibility. Please Mr. Bettman, get your house in order.

Way back watching a hockey game with friends, old 99 got hit a couple times. A woman says what a whimp. I said hockey is not about fighting but the play with the stick, pass and play. The sports channels have hits of the night,I change the channel.

However when Kelly Hudy comes on line and speaks abusively about TOOTOO's check on Modano, which Gretsky took many of. The player who hit the ice should have thought a little more clearly as Rudy says TOOTOO is a tough guy, why go looking for a fight.

He did instictively what anybody would do, defend himself. What about the stick on Tootoo's back from Madono. Who cares well if the player never hit the ice Modano would be the star in the issue.

Perhaps if blurps like hits of the night were gone so would the hits.

When is the CBC going to listen to Grapes, he is the voice of real Canadians. Hockey without fighting is garbage. No one will watch it. Give Grapes more time on the air, we love you in Kirkland Lake. Keep your stick on the ice.

Not a comment, info. you may wish to share.
To Whom It May Concern:
I thought that perhaps somebody at CBC would like to know that a small town in the geographical center of British Columbia, called Vanderhoof, has just won all 3 Provincial Championships in the Single A division of hockey. We started with the Bantams in Sooke on Tuesday, March 21 defeating Whistler by 4 to 2. Then on Wednesday, March 23 the Midget Integris Bears had a shutout win over Creston 4 to 0 in Burns Lake, BC. To complete the sweep of the banners, the Vanderhoof PeeWee Bears played Revelstoke and won a very close game 2 to 1 in front of a home town crowd which filled the arena.

Vanderhoof has a total population of just over 4000 people. I believe we are the first town to sweep all three championships although a private club in Vancouver called Hollyburn did the same in the 80’s I believe. This is no easy feat! The town is thrilled!

This information can be verified at bchockey.net, follow the links to championships.

Yours truly,
Leanne O’Brien
Co-manager Integris Midget Bears
2505679246

Don, way to go your comments are gospel to the true hockey fan. No fighting in hockey. When the NHL decides to try that they will increase the stick work by at least double! High sticks to the face, slashing and jousting with two handers. This is the only sport you play with what could be used as a weapon against another opponent. Fighting belongs in hockey. I have heard from other media commentators that other hockey leauges dont have or need fighting. US Colligate and the olympics. Well just watch a college hockey game. The sticks are usually always up in the corners during a check and the players are fearless because of the cages they wear. Why dont we put cages on the NHL players then when they go to fight they will hit the cage instead of the face? Is that what the fairweather fans want?? Again we need to keep changing the game to please the fair weather fans. I am forced to watch the fairweather commentators on NBC and Versus. Wow its great to live in the USA during hockey season! We need to please the newer fans in the US by changing what used to be a great sport. Lets take out fighting and checking both then we can have a game that may be watched in all the US. I live in Cincinnati Ohio the only time when there is coverage of hockey is when a voilent act is committed so they can bad mouth the sport. I remember talking to an ex NHL player and him telling me that hockey is the only team sport where there is no out of bounds. Dont touch the sport fighting belongs in hockey. Hockey players must show respect for one another like the older players did. Don keep up the great work even if some of the media does not agree with your comments. The true hockey fan knows you are the best! Thanks again Don

Maybe I'm jaded in my opinions, but I've been watching hockey since the mid-70's, and I cannot imagine what the NHL would be like without fighting. Far too much time is spent trying to punish fighting, yet virtually nothing is done to rid the game of the cheap stick play and cheap hitting from behind.

Am I missing something here? Ryan Hollweg runs guys from behind almost at least once a game (see his hit where he almost killed R.J. Umberger at the Garden a few years ago), and while I in no uncertain terms condone the blatant stupidity of what Chris Simon did, IF THERE WAS NO INSTIGATOR RULE, CHRIS SIMON COULD TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTIONS WITHOUT HURTING HIS TEAM.

Simon feels he got run from behind, but because instigators can't retaliate, he makes a bonehead snap decision and instead of dropping the gloves, he clubs the guy.

Simon knows what Ryan Hollweg is all about. Guys like Hollweg, Denis Gauthier, Jordin Tootoo, and so on know they can play on the fringe because they can just turtle if the other guy grabs them and tries to exact punishment, and give their own team a major advantage.

If there is no instigator, he will henceforth have to pay a physical penalty for his "chippyness" without giving his team any added benefit.

Fighting in the NHL isn't just about some archaic code; it serves an actual form of unwritten checks and balances. Don't look for excuses to regulate it (size of players, making the game more palatable, blahblahblah...); the fans love it, the players understand its' relevance, and it has a significant place in the game.

Don Cherry is right (one day maybe you people will figure that out); turning the NHL into ballet will NOT make the NHL better. Quite the contrary, it'll turn incidents like the one involving Cam Janssen or Chris Simon into the norm.

Don: thank you. I am getting the impression that the NHL is somehow thinking that the manipulation of the penalties is stagged to keep the league close so that they can try to make up for the TV viewer loss with manufactured excitement rather than letting the game`s original excitment. They wouldn`t be doing this for marketing ,would they? Betman said,a couple years ago, "the game is 15% sport 85% show." he and Campble have to go before the game is distroyed. IT LOOKS RIGGED. thanks Jeff McLeod

A few saturday nights ago, The wife and I went into a neighborhood pub .A small tv had on the hockey game and all the big screens had on U.F.C. ultimate fighting challenge. Hockey is a tough sport. Those that don't like the fights,watch curling. I'm 54 and miss the 70's game

Dear Don, my comment is about trying to remove fighting from the game. Personaly I think fighting is part of the game, it protects the stars like Sakic, Sundin, and Crosby from being cheap shotted and besides that atleast fifty percent of the crowd goes for the chance to see some good checks and a good fight, it motivates the team and puts people in the seats. If they take fighting out of the game I would still support my team but I you won't see me watching any other team. The new NHl rules do make the game more interesting but they better watch that they don't cross the line between the hockey we know and the sissy hockey they want.

P.S. Love Hockey Night In Canada

From : Ben Scanlan

Hey Don,
If people do not want to see the fighting in hockey tell them to change the channel and watch figure skating