Fighting in Men's League Hockey

[hockeymass 11]

If two guys are both willing to fight in beer league who gives a fuck, bang your stick when its done and go back to playing puck. Its when retards jump other players that bothers me

If two people are both willing to stick knives in an outlet, it doesn't make it less stupid because it's consensual.

[Chadd 916]

and let's be honest, the guys that want to start fights in beer leagues usually don't want anything to do with someone capable of standing toe to toe with them.

[Vulcan7905 88]

and let's be honest, the guys that want to start fights in beer leagues usually don't want anything to do with someone capable of standing toe to toe with them.

Exactly Chadd. Beer League is for fun and as others have stated, nobody in the stands needs to see it. If you want to fight, go box or go to a mma camp. Beer League hockey is not the place. Plus, 8 out 10 times, somebody has a cage.

[IPv6Freely 2094]

and let's be honest, the guys that want to start fights in beer leagues usually don't want anything to do with someone capable of standing toe to toe with them.

Where's my "Like" button? lol. Can't agree more!

[wrangler 157]

The fights steal everyone's ice time, too.

[niXon 4]

All you guys have great points, you shouldn't be fighting in a non contact low level beer league.Thats not what anyone is there for if you want to fight join a boxing gym and get off the ice A competitive checking league with Ex Jr players and college guys is one thing. The worst part is the officials when their is a fight they have no idea what to do and sometimes that makes it worse.

Beer League refs do not get paid enough nor are they trained to break up fights. It isn't their job, nor should it be.

[IPv6Freely 2094]

Beer League refs do not get paid enough nor are they trained to break up fights. It isn't their job, nor should it be.

Even more reason to call the original hacks and slashes so that it doesn't escalate.

[Chadd 916]

Beer League refs do not get paid enough nor are they trained to break up fights. It isn't their job, nor should it be.

If both guys are willingly fighting, it isn't their job to stop them. It is their job to step in if only one of the guys is throwing punches or someone jumps another player. Unfortunately, too many are lazy and don't want to do that either.

[technophile 0]

The fights steal everyone's ice time, too.

This. We have a running clock, so if there's a fight that's a good 5 minutes of ice time down the drain by the time they get it all settled, penalties levied, etc. That'd piss me right off.

[dwreckm 0]

Why would you want to fight? Yeah, some guys think they might be called up the NHL tomorrow to be some teams enforcer, but I have to go to work usually the next day and make money to support my family. I'm not going to risk my health/safety or someone elses. If you really feel like you have to fight in a beer league game, it seems you need to compensate for something.

[IPv6Freely 2094]

Why would you want to fight? Yeah, some guys think they might be called up the NHL tomorrow to be some teams enforcer, but I have to go to work usually the next day and make money to support my family. I'm not going to risk my health/safety or someone elses. If you really feel like you have to fight in a beer league game, it seems you need to compensate for something.

Honestly, this makes me more angry than anything else. You acting like an ass hacking and slashing in a beer league game... come on man, I'm here to have some fun and get a good workout. Especially in division 5 beer league. I don't have time to be injured because you did something stupid because you thought you were some big tough guy...

[IniNew 53]

Honestly, this makes me more angry than anything else. You acting like an ass hacking and slashing in a beer league game... come on man, I'm here to have some fun and get a good workout. Especially in division 5 beer league. I don't have time to be injured because you did something stupid because you thought you were some big tough guy...

You realize that it is all a part of an escalation ladder? You "chirping some old guy all night" escalates into taps on the shins, which escalates to whacks, then to slashes, then to people getting cross checked, and then to "fighting". If you don't want it to get there, don't start it. Mind your own, joke with your team and people you know personally, but keep it fun. And don't expect refs to step in for you, even if they should. Control yourself.

[chippa13 1844]

Exactly Chadd. Beer League is for fun and as others have stated, nobody in the stands needs to see it. If you want to fight, go box or go to a mma camp. Beer League hockey is not the place. Plus, 8 out 10 times, somebody has a cage.

Nobody in the stands needs to see it? More like there is nobody in the stands, period.

[Vulcan7905 88]

Nobody in the stands needs to see it? More like there is nobody in the stands, period.

You'd be surprised how many people show up Saturday night with there families and friends to watch them at my rink.

[IPv6Freely 2094]

You realize that it is all a part of an escalation ladder? You "chirping some old guy all night" escalates into taps on the shins, which escalates to whacks, then to slashes, then to people getting cross checked, and then to "fighting". If you don't want it to get there, don't start it. Mind your own, joke with your team and people you know personally, but keep it fun. And don't expect refs to step in for you, even if they should. Control yourself.

Exactly my point. If you don't act like a tough guy you won't have an issue. I keep to myself unless somebody acts like an idiot and starts hacking and slashing, thats when things escalate. I certainly don't start anything. I don't know what the old mans problems was but he sure thought he was king shit out there.

I disagree about the refs though, they need to stop that behavior before it escalates. Call the slashes and rough nonsense, and you'll see things quickly cool down.

[MyBoxersSayJoe 133]

and let's be honest, the guys that want to start fights in beer leagues usually don't want anything to do with someone capable of standing toe to toe with them.

Pure gold in this statement. I'd say 95% of beer league fights are one guy getting jumped by another with the other trying to skate away and ultimately having to defend themself.

[Zombies #77 10]

Exactly my point. If you don't act like a tough guy you won't have an issue. I keep to myself unless somebody acts like an idiot and starts hacking and slashing, thats when things escalate. I certainly don't start anything. I don't know what the old mans problems was but he sure thought he was king shit out there.

This is exactly how I feel. I'm there to have fun, but if someone wants to be an ass and try to hurt someone on my team or myself, and the refs won't call it, I won't stand by and take it. I have never dropped my gloves or thrown a punch, but have had a couple of guys in headlocks to stop them from doing any more damage to myself or others.

[IniNew 53]

Exactly my point. If you don't act like a tough guy you won't have an issue. I keep to myself unless somebody acts like an idiot and starts hacking and slashing, thats when things escalate. I certainly don't start anything. I don't know what the old mans problems was but he sure thought he was king shit out there.

I disagree about the refs though, they need to stop that behavior before it escalates. Call the slashes and rough nonsense, and you'll see things quickly cool down.

Maybe his problem was you chirping him for no reason than being older? Maybe....

The refs aren't there to babysit you and your friends because you feel the need to retaliate.

[IPv6Freely 2094]

Maybe his problem was you chirping him for no reason than being older? Maybe....

The refs aren't there to babysit you and your friends because you feel the need to retaliate.

Who said I was chirping him for no reason than being older? I was chirping him because he was acting like a douche and elbowing/hacking/crosschecking guys.

The refs are there to officiate the game on the ice. When they stop doing that, things escalate. Nobody is asking for "babysitting". I'm simply saying that if they'd call the hacks and slashes, things wouldn't escalate, and you wouldn't see dirty hits... and certainly not fights either.

Who starts it is irrelevant. Let's play out a common scenario in beer league:

I'm in front of the net, battling with the defenceman. I get pushed, some cross checking, sometimes even knocked down. Cool, that's part of the battle. Then I get a punch to the back of the head. This is the initial infraction.

Should the refs have called the punch to the back of the head? Yes.

Would that have prevented retaliation? Yes, it's over, we got a PP.

If there is no call, will I hack a guys ankles after I get punched in the back of the head? Likely, yes.

Should I get a penalty? Yes.

Will I do it again? No, my teammates are pissed off enough at having to kill a penalty.

Does it escalate into shoving and crosschecking if not called? Likely, yes.

Should THAT be called? Yes.

Does it likely escalate into more rough play, and possibly a dirty hit and perhaps ultimately a fight (initiated by either side, as both teams have become chippy by this point) if not called? Yes.

You'll see that all of this could have been avoided very early on.

[goblue9280 33]

The refs are there to officiate the game on the ice. When they stop doing that, things escalate. Nobody is asking for "babysitting". I'm simply saying that if they'd call the hacks and slashes, things wouldn't escalate, and you wouldn't see dirty hits... and certainly not fights either.

I've seen plenty of dirty hits/fights in beer legue games that were well officiated. While the referee(s) can certainly be a part of the problem if a game gets out of hand, it is ultimately the responsibility of the players to not let things escalate to fights and dirty hits.

You'll see that all of this could have been avoided very early on.

It certainly could have if either of the players involved had decided not to instigate or retaliate.

[IPv6Freely 2094]

It certainly could have if either of the players involved had decided not to instigate or retaliate.

^ I agree with this. That would be an ideal world... but occasionally, you need the refs to assess the infractions that occur. I mean, I don't think asking them to call a penalty is too much to ask of a referee.

Either way, I think I'm gonna step away from this discussion, I get the impression I'm all alone on this one ;) I'm probably just too inexperienced to see it differently, or something.

[Thinkingjack 51]

There's a guy at polar ice peoria i played against a few times before moving to tempe, big tall guy, a complete jerk and absolutely racist. He always would hack anyone including women, crosschecked our goalie on the side of the neck so we had to forfeit the game. The guy was a mess, despicable. He was also like 6'4 or 5, but everytime he saw me on the ice he went straight for me tried picking fights, would say some really dumb crap, and this was while i was tentative due to my concussion rehab and being back on the ice after taking time off from it, which he knew because i remember him saying "i'll make your new concussion worse buddy"

i left the rink and off the ice he just kept trying to talk me into letting him back on the ice late at night when i worked, i had enough and challenged him to a fight in the parking lot and he didnt leave the locker room for a while so i left.

found out a few weeks back, his team played my old team which my friend replaced me on the roster, this friend is 5'8, a big size difference even with me being 6'2, so this guy grabs him and starts teeing off on him.

Is that even fair? or is it just me? My friend and i play quietly we may shove back but only if you shove us but i never talk on the ice, and never chirp, dont care to since i'm having so much fun.

But the guy is sorrounded by total crap players, who do this all the time, fact is their team is notorious for this, and the refs refuse to control it. Its retarded, the fact that these guys can do it get a game misconduct miss one game and return and keep doing it. Pathetic that they have something to make up for off the ice by doing this. Get your life together man.

[maniacaniac 2]

I've seen plenty of dirty hits/fights in beer legue games that were well officiated. While the referee(s) can certainly be a part of the problem if a game gets out of hand, it is ultimately the responsibility of the players to not let things escalate to fights and dirty hits.

I have as well. One of my games a couple weeks ago was this way. The refs did everything they could to keep things from spiralling out of control. Tossed three guys from the other team, and they still wound up trying to drop the gloves. Sad thing was this was in the final 2 minutes of a 2-1 game so it was stop time until the refs called it with 45 seconds to go.

You'll see that all of this could have been avoided very early on.

It certainly could have if either of the players involved had decided not to instigate or retaliate.

Problem is when you have two meatheads who just don't want to look like a wuss and back down. Sometimes the best way to curb this is for the ref to put em both in the box for 2, doesn't matter if you saw the start or just the retaliation. If it doesn't work and the same two go right back into a verbal sparing or some slashing, I'll hit them with a 10 min misconduct.

Only teams that don't seem to really care about any repercussions though seem those made up of law enforcement or firefighters. Anytime one of my teams play against them they seem to play more physical, try and intimidate with some hitting, and get worse when the game is out of reach.

[Chadd 916]

Only teams that don't seem to really care about any repercussions though seem those made up of law enforcement or firefighters. Anytime one of my teams play against them they seem to play more physical, try and intimidate with some hitting, and get worse when the game is out of reach.

By far, those are the worst I've ever played against.

[Thinkingjack 51]

By far, those are the worst I've ever played against.

I can agree to that, i played in a game vs a full team of cops, and got punched by one when i turned around to punch back he said "hold up, you dont wanna assault a police officer do you now? I'll have your ass deported"

i still can't believe he said that, so i hacked him hard on the ankle, its not assault if its below the knee :-)