Regulation of Hockey

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Recommended: Types of violence in sport and effects on sport setting

Regulation of Hockey

Last year during a professional hockey game an ugly incident occurred. Marty McSorley of the Boston Bruins flagrantly smashed his stick over the head of an opposing player, Donald Brasheer. Fortunately, Brasheer escaped with just a concussion. McSorley however, now faces more than the customary five-minute penalty, or even a game misconduct. Canadian officials are taking matters into their hands and pressing charges. Some hockey fans strongly disagree with the course of action, thinking it will taint the tough reputation that has earned the sport so many fans. They fear the future of pro hockey is in jeopardy. I agree that the future of hockey may be in jeopardy, but disagree that a guilty verdict would have a negative effect. I believe a decision of guilty would be quite beneficial to the sport.

In pro hockey, where body checks, fights and slashes are commonplace, legal repurcussions to violence are unheard of. The National Hockey League (NHL) has always dealt with similar incidents privately, giving disciplinary action as it saw fit. Now a new precedent could be set, which may affect the way professional hockey is played. With the league looking to expand its audience, this is the change the NHL has been striving for.

In order to appeal to wider viewing audiences, thus increasing profit, NHL referees have recently been encouraged to call penalties on rough plays that were once routine. Penalties lead to power plays, and power plays lead to goals. Goals are what hockey fans pay to see, so it makes sense for the league to try to increase scoring

This brings us back to the McSorley incident. Marty Mcsorley's role as a hockey player has always been the "enforcer". The role of an enforcer is to intimidate through brute force, even if it means taking out the opposing teams primary offensive player. NHL officials want enforcing to stop, because it disrupts the flow of a game, and decreases scoring. If McSorley is found guilty, enforcers around the league will be served notice that "thuggery" is no longer an option. If he should be found innocent, enforcers will continue their senseless beatings, knowing they will do little more than sit in a penalty box for five minutes.

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