Tom Benjamin often argues that the NHL has no real interest in policing head shots because, in short, violence sells. He posits that if crowds would stop standing up for fights or if big hits stopped getting on all the highlight reels, maybe the league would get serious about deterring dangerous checks.
And that's probably true. But I suggest those issues are also just symptoms of a deeper issue. Namely; the encultured attitude towards violence in the game itself. Behold:
Cormier's pro career won't be affected by the Tam incident. Many teams would rather "tame a tiger than paint stripes on a kitty cat".
That's a tweet by the CBC's Jeff Marek this evening. For those who haven't seen the Patrice Cormier hit, here it is.
It's not a hockey play. It's a disgusting and dangerous cheap shot, the only intent and purpose to which was to hurt the other player.
Of course, being overtly aggressive is often lauded in the game, from the first time boys are allowed to hit each other and from every level there on. In part, for good reason: hockey is a tough sport, filled with both physical battles and psychological intimidation. There are therefore a number of risks associated with playing the game, risks hundreds of thousands of players happily face daily so they can strap on the pads.
That risk should end where malicious attacks begin, however. The tacit appreciation apparent in Marek's reported statement (and this no attack on him. I'm sure he's stating a fact) reinforces the notion that taking your opponents health and safety for granted - check that, grossly and purposely putting it in peril - is okay. Hell, it's better than being a pussy, right?
I played hockey myself for a decade. My brothers played hockey. I've watched the sport for as long as I could walk. I love the game and understand that at it's very core it is a man's sport. These guys are modern day gladiators and, yes, a definite measure of the thrill and interest in the sport is the inherent violence. But let's know where to draw line. Let's stop implicitly reinforcing dangerous assaults that have nothing to do with winning or losing the game. I like a good hit or scrap as much as anyone, but I have no interest seeing a players life irrevocably altered for the worse because of a hockey game.
