Teenage hockey star Connor McDavid (97) fighting with another player on Tuesday night. While throwing punches he injured hs hand jeapardizing his chances to play for Canada at the upcoming World Junion Championships
Photo Credit: Youtube

Rising hockey star and debate about fighting

The issue of fighting in hockey has been raised once again due to an injury to a rising star.

Hockey in North America is almost the only organized team sport where fighting in the game is not seriously condemned by the leagues or by many fans.

Connor McDavid was considered to be a number 1 draft pick for the National Hockey league.  The seventeen year old was also expected to be the top star representing Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships to be played at the end of the year in Montreal and Toronto.

However, in a fight during a game on Tuesday night, McDavid hurt is hand, possibly breaking a bone, putting his status at the World Junior’s in doubt.

McDavid was given a 5 minute penalty for fighting, and a game misconduct for removing his helmet during the fight.

Because of the fight and injury has jeopardized his important appearance at the World’s, and putting a temporary hold on his career, many are questioning once again why fighting is allowed in North American hockey.

While many tweets to sports reporters from fans are supportive of fighting, many other comments posted to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation sports story called for an end to the practice.

One person commented, ” Full contact tennis, anyone? Rowdygolf? Brawling Ballet? Violent Volleyball?These concepts are equally as ridiculous as fighting in hockey.”

Another wrote “Players disagree, so they hit each other on the head until one or the other falls down. Beam me up Scotty there is no intelligent life down here. Hockey can survive quite well without fighting. Anywhere else on this planet, fighting is called assault and you can go to jail for it.”

However, in support of fighting one poster wrote,” Nothing better than a good fight in hockey ! Ya don’t like it don’t watch . As for player safety , it’s up to them if they want to play hockey or golf .”

In the National Hockey League, players are penalized 5 minutes for fighting. In international or Olympic games, players are given a match penalty and ejected from the game.

Meanwhile, the debate about fighting continues in North America, even as more and more evidence is found about the long term dangers of concussions.

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