Fighting

[jds 20]

After watching the 24/7 series on HBO and getting some insight into how the game is played at that level I am curious about how fighting fits in to the game at a high level. Crosby is talking about getting into a fight and talks about the conversation between him and his opponent about whether they should go or not and whether he wants to take his helmet off first etc etc. I would really be interested in hearing from anyone who has played at a high level of adult hockey about what really goes on when a fight begins and ends. How much discussion goes on? What is said? When is it decided to stop etc? From watching it as a fan it looks like two guys get pissed off at each other and then pound on each other but I realize it is much more subtle than that ( unless it is high school hockey) and find it fascinating how this "dance" takes place. Any insight from someone who has been there woud be interesting.

[automorph 0]

so many different `fights``

planned, unplanned, douchebag, out of respect, cheap, etc etc lol

planned usually lots of chat and agreement

unplanned when you jump another player `hopefully`for something he did

out of respect is when `2 fighters`` do there job

another respect one is when one side knows he could kill the other and just rags and holds him

cheap is close to unplanned but one side really doesnt know its coming

so many different situations

[Gr8erade 1]

I'm reading this:

http://www.amazon.com/Code-Unwritten-Rules-Fighting-Retaliation/dp/1572437561/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1294017552&sr=8-6

Its pretty interesting, and pretty much talks about what you're asking.

[jds 20]

so many different `fights``

planned, unplanned, douchebag, out of respect, cheap, etc etc lol

planned usually lots of chat and agreement

unplanned when you jump another player `hopefully`for something he did

out of respect is when `2 fighters`` do there job

another respect one is when one side knows he could kill the other and just rags and holds him

cheap is close to unplanned but one side really doesnt know its coming

so many different situations

So what sort of chat and agreement?

[lampliter87 8]

Earlier this season I had what you would call a planned fight. Second period, guy hits me with a somewhat high follow through as I tried to clear the puck. Puck deflects and goes out of play, I give the guy a shove. He plain and simple says "Let's go". I say "Later." Early in the third he comes onto the ice for a faceoff, and as we are lining up (we were both defenseman) we make eye contact and he gives me a glove shake. I nod and when the puck drops we each drop our gear and square up.

Mostly non-verbal in this case as we weren't really close enough to talk. As was said before there's a lot a different situations.

[ibeck 38]

I'm reading this:

http://www.amazon.com/Code-Unwritten-Rules-Fighting-Retaliation/dp/1572437561/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1294017552&sr=8-6

Its pretty interesting, and pretty much talks about what you're asking.

Amazing book, amazing insight. This book solves all the questions about how and why fighting works.

[WSjo22 1]

In most of my cases they've been heat of the moment ones but I've been involved in all types, I can probably count on one hand the amount of times I've done it out of being pissed off instead of it happening through the course of a game

[Travimo 0]

^^^ Great book, something I think every hockey fan should read, whether or not they approve of fighting....

[MatthewRoach7 130]

I liked hearing the audio from the ice. I wish that HBO or NHL network would offer some alt audio for some players mic'ed up!

[DarkStar50 679]

Here you go. Wait until they start the replay and Georges gives him the "Good luck."

[Machinehead2k5 32]

Then you have the not so nice fight.

[jds 20]

Here you go. Wait until they start the replay and Georges gives him the "Good luck."

That is amazing. I'm really finding this topic fascinating having never participated in a hockey fight at any level.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Mentioned in the WC thread, but worth posting here...the gentlemanly side of the hocky fight. At the end of the fight, Rupp goes "my eye...my eye" and they stop. He lost a contact.

and of course...the Ovy/Duby fight. During the 24/7 Show you hear them both say "Good job" at the end of it.

[jds 20]

Mentioned in the WC thread, but worth posting here...the gentlemanly side of the hocky fight. At the end of the fight, Rupp goes "my eye...my eye" and they stop. He lost a contact.

and of course...the Ovy/Duby fight. During the 24/7 Show you hear them both say "Good job" at the end of it.

Why isn't this aspect of fighting more widely discussed? It might shut up the detractors who don't understand "the CODE". I was never a fan of fighting (still not) but now that I am understanding that it is often not just unbridled aggression like a street fight I am starting to get it. Still can't get my head around the sportsman approach-probably conditioned from thinking it was two pissed off guys who lost their tempers.

[BarDownGinos 3]

I've had various reasons for the fights I've been in. It's all circumstances though. I've been in half a dozen or so and I can say only once was I truly trying to hurt the other guy. I was racing a guy for the puck on a waived off icing and probably 6 feet out from the wall he jams his stick in between my legs and tries to can opener me into the wall, I caught myself by my hands instead of my neck by about two inches. He was fighting me whether he wanted to or not after a play like that and I would have tried to break every bone in his face if the refs hadn't jumped in after 3-4 punches.

Another fight was out of pure frustration. I was in a scrimmage at a summer conditioning camp and it was the worst game of hockey any 30 guys could possibly play, everyone just wanted to quit after 20 minutes. Towards the end I was fed up with how everything was going and wanted to get in a fight so I wouldn't have to play anymore. Next guy that slashed me I asked him "wanna go?" he dropped his gloves right away and we went at it. He busted my nose, I got him in the cheek, tossed him to the ice and that was it. We sat next to each on the bus ride back to the camp and laughed about it, he apparently had had the same idea I did.

The other 4 fights have all been line brawls, and thats jsut go time when everyone's going at it or you're linemate is outnumbered. Those are usually the ones that get ugly since there's not enough refs on the ice to handle everyone but a lot of times they become wrestling matches and guys just hanging out to each other to keep things even.

[NextBobbyOrr 0]

I've been in 4 fights legitimately. 2-1-1 And funnily enough, 3 were planned. One was just the other guy really pissed off and me "defending" myself. The 3 planned, 1 was actually against my own teammate. It was the last game of spring league and we were thinking, it's the last game, let's have some fun. Then we thought "Hey, we should fight each other so the other team is totally intimidated! They can't give us penalties!". And since were talking about this, is there anything in that book that says it's cheating to put the guy in a headlock?

[shotty 7]

my goalie blocker punched me in the face once, thinking i was an opponent. the refs actually gave him a penalty.

[BarDownGinos 3]

And since were talking about this, is there anything in that book that says it's cheating to put the guy in a headlock?

You should not be fighting people if you're asking this question.

[fcb51 0]

And since were talking about this, is there anything in that book that says it's cheating to put the guy in a headlock?

Not so much of a cheating thing as a maturity level thing.

On a side note, one thing I have always never been able to stomach was hitting an opponent when they are down and out on the ice.

[NextBobbyOrr 0]

You should not be fighting people if you're asking this question.

Haha might I know why? My bud thought it was fine, or if not he still did it anyways. Maybe just cause he thought it'd be a joke, that's why he did it. Just read your post by the way. Realized I haven't been in a line brawl yet. I guess that'll come sooner or later.

Edit: Did you think this was because I typically do it? No, I think I know the main do's/don'ts. But if it is "cheating", I'm changing my record.

[WSjo22 1]

Not so much of a cheating thing as a maturity level thing.

On a side note, one thing I have always never been able to stomach was hitting an opponent when they are down and out on the ice.

Agreed, in some situations it's okay but 9 times out of 10 I find it to be a total puss move

[Chadd 916]

It was the last game of spring league and we were thinking, it's the last game, let's have some fun. Then we thought "Hey, we should fight each other so the other team is totally intimidated! They can't give us penalties!".

Actually, there is a penalty for that.

[JoeyJ0506 192]

^^^ Great book, something I think every hockey fan should read, whether or not they approve of fighting....

I picked this up today at Borders after seeing it recommended here. Between work and some other obligations I've gotten through the Forwards, Introduction, and Chapter One... I do not want to put it down.

[NextBobbyOrr 0]

Actually, there is a penalty for that.

..well I guess I'm never doing that again. What do they assess the penalty as anyway. Fighting own player?

[Hermans 9]

Posted Today, 05:46 PM

NextBobbyOrr, on 05 January 2011 - 10:24 PM, said:

It was the last game of spring league and we were thinking, it's the last game, let's have some fun. Then we thought "Hey, we should fight each other so the other team is totally intimidated! They can't give us penalties!".

Actually, there is a penalty for that.

There's probably an app' for that too.