The last time we talked about this, George Laraque just made it clear that banning fighting from Hockey sounds as good as tattooing your first hobby's name on your forehead. You might like it, but it is just ... just ... not good.
Still, Mrs. Courchesne is holding on to her ban-fighting-campaign.
Today, during a meeting concerning Hockey, held in Quebec, she held her let's-destroy-Hockey speech.
"I am among those who believe it won't reduce the interest for Hockey."
Will all due respect, Madam, are you also among those who believe all players should wear a flowery skirt on the ice? Let's say pink for the goalies?
I am a bit surprised though. She is not just the Quebec Minister of Sport and Leisure, she is also a Hockey mom.
Her son, Jeff-Drouin Deslauriers, used to play for the Quebec Remparts and is now the goaltender of McGill University. In February 2004, he had a very much Jonathan Roy look alike scenario during a game, as he went pulling the other goalie out of his net to fight him.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Where have you been at that time Mrs. Courchesne? Filling a petition to ask for candy-made pucks?
I said it before, I have nothing against the Minister. She is trying to do something to fix troubles, she wants to make a difference, and she wants to be productive in her work.
The thing is, I just can't think of Hockey as a fight-free sport.
From the Flyers-Canadiens warm-up brawls back in the 1970s, to the Friday night Nordiques-Canadiens animated meetings, I just can't imagine how Hockey would look like as an actual let's-all-look-polite-and-smile-to-each-other type of sport.
Can you imagine? Let's take an example.
During a Penguins-Canadiens game, Alex Kovalev hit Evgeni Malkin from behind, who took it hard along the board. Right away, Captain Sidney Crosby went to ask for some respect. What if he had just said, "Hey Kovy! You almost injured one of my best team-mate, but let's all be gentlemen here and fix this the Courchesne way. What about some pizza after the game?"
Moreover, all teams have someone in their roster who goes on the ice for special missions. Whenever the time comes that the game gets tougher, and that tensions are rising, they come out there and ask for some respect.
You don't ask them to score twenty goals a year, you don't ask them to have the most amazing stick handling, but they are as important as the other players.
I mean, who hasn't ever stood up from his chair when there is a great old Hockey brawl on TV, screaming "come on, kick his #$$"?
The Quebec Junior League Commissioner, Gilles Courteau, had a much different speech last week. He said the measures were oriented to the banning of "unjustified violence" or violence gratuite. Now, that is something we can all sit down and talk about.
But just banning fighting in general, come on.
Please Mrs. Courchesne, give it up.
comments (10) write a comment »
write a new comment
5 months ago
I said it before and I'll say it again. Politics have no place in Hockey. There's other problems that are more important that the government needs to take care of.
Great article :)
Daniel
5 months ago
What most people don't realize, besides the true hockey fans and players, is that fighting is an actual part of the game. Fights in hockey can be used to rally a team and get them more fired up if they are losing for example, which is a common argument as to why fighting exists in hockey. The fights aren't all out brawls either, it's an organized fight in which the two players are dueling it out not to necessarily inflict harm and injuries, but just to prove a point and back up their team if they are getting roughed up. I agree if fighting were banned it would probably not cause a loss of interest in the sport, at least for true hockey fans, since most people don't just watch hockey for the fights.
5 months ago
Hockey is the only thing that Quebec has, especially with the departure of the non-very-successful Expos. They are screwed...
5 months ago
First of all, great article! Second of all, give me this lady's home address...
5 months ago
this article was funny, informational, and opinionated... i think im in love. haha nice job on the continued coverage of this situation. here's hoping that it turns out the right way
5 months ago
great article. miah, it was very informative and interesting
5 months ago
I think it's ironic that the incident that fueled this debate wasn't really even a fight!
A fight is when two players go at it. What Jonathan Roy did was go after the other goalie who tortured into his shell. It wasn't much a fight.
Like it or not, fighting is a part of the game. If we take out fighting from hockey, it would like be taking out crashes from NASCAR. Some people go to races to see that crash.
5 months ago
if hockey were to take this path i think the fans will be the ones fighting lol
5 months ago
Amazing read Miah!
I couldn't help but laugh at your "Let's get pizza after the game" quote. It's true, the game is more for whimps and sissies these days because everyone thinks that the game is too violent. One of my friends does not like the hitting in hockey saying it's unnecessary violence. But when you put skates on players who are normally around the 200 pound range and place them on ice in a boarded oval, what do you expect?
2 months ago
Great article Miah. Your humor in writing is refreshing.
I am worried this politician might also has plans to convert the CFL into a two hand touch league.
write a new comment