Ice hockey is an iconic international sport that is loved by many, specifically across North America. The biggest league in ice hockey is the National Hockey League (NHL). One of the most notable differences in the league’s rulebook of this sport (in comparison to other sports) is the ability for players to fight other players in a game. Anyone who’s watched a typical NHL game (in which a fight occurs) would know that the fans roar and cheer with excitement during a fight on the ice. The entire point of most sports is fun, passion, and entertainment, and an iconic part of ice hockey is the fights. The sport is a contact sport in which all players are at risk of injury, whether that injury be caused deliberately or accidentally. There is a severe punishment for fighting/major penalties (five minute penalty), which would already persuade players not to fight. This punishment should be enough padding to allow fighting to remain acceptable. I do highly value player safety, but the sport is inherently dangerous, as is any other sport. The sport is dangerous regardless of if the fighting is acceptable or not. The reason associations like the NHL exist is to provide entertainment via sport for fans around the world. I value fan enjoyment of sports, so if fans are entertained by fights in hockey, regulations (penalties) should be enough to make the fights allowed; not exactly promoted or encouraged, but otherwise acceptable.
