Roughing - the new black?

[broomwagon]

Since the start of the new season, there have been several instances of roughing at various matches in the league. As team sports go, Ice Hockey
has always tolerated a certain degree of roughing (but which has never been officially condoned), but with the advent of social media, some of the fighting reported appears to have gone to a level beyond ''handbags'' and, in some instances, into the realms of truly violent. Is this what real fans of hockey want ? Is this what clubs want - particularly those purporting to be
family orientated ? Do the events seen this season herald a change in policy at clubs, who no longer see skills, pace and tactics, as enough on their own to win championships and silverware ?

[Daz]

Right or wrong, this was an everyday thing back in the 80's/90's. There's been a few bench clearances at Gillingham over the years; the Biha tried to outlaw it, but got nowhere. Any sport where there's heavy body contact will always have fighting. It's natural.
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[Don C]

I would not like to see fighting removed from UK hockey, provided that the authorities in the sport act decisively and appropriately when a guy goes beyond what is acceptable.

Seemingly the number of totally unacceptable incidents are on the rise so it`s down to the EIHA to ensure that goon behaviour gets punished.

It doesn`t help when on-ice officiating is reduced to two officials. This seems to happen a fair bit, particularly in NIHL; it must dilute immediate discipline and also impact on the level of evidence provided to subsequent discipline committees.

[broomwagon]

I agree with both of your comments – full body contact sport is inevitably going to result in the occasional swing of the fist and I would not want to see roughing banned entirely – but it is the occasions when roughing crosses the line into goonish violence which needs to be eradicated. I am thinking of the recent London Raiders v IoW Raiders match lowlights– once Pytchley hit the ice (note Pytchley on the receiving end again……) had his perpetrator been a true professional the onslaught should have stopped immediately and voluntarily– it didn’t. Neither did the officials immediately step in, but just appeared to just look on. Until Last Sunday, the Mos had largely managed to avoid some pretty major provocations on the ice – a testimony to the discipline by which the team generally seems to abide – and almost without exception our lads go straight to the penalty box without a murmur irrespective of the rights or wrongs of the occasion until the details have been settled. Oh, that the players of some of our visiting opponents would afford us the same courtesy…..

[Daz]

Historically, when the association has tried to deal with the roughing/fighting penalties, including instigation penalties, etc, there have been more issues with players performing more dangerous acts to relieve their frustration and anger. Sticks come up, checks from behind, boarding, kicking, checks to the head, we've seen it all. The associations need to deal with the persons/clubs involved in the correct manner, and punishments need to be set very quickly. Players can receive lengthy bans, fines; and clubs can also be fined and have points deducted. As Don says, you need officials on the ice to see what's going on; to report what they see, and the association to then react. Any "attempt to injure" should be treated very seriously. By suspending and fining players, and deducting points from teams, people have to show more responsibility. To use the Phillips lads as an example; no-one would sign them. A few guys going toe-to-toe, or having a wrestle, no problem. When it comes to people continuously smashing someone's head into the floor (allegedly), thats a no no. Pretty sure Roger Hunt got a huge suspension years ago for doing similar to Lee Odelein? The club should also be docked points.
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I'm not THAT old! CALL HIS NAME!!!