- Dec 13, 2009
- 2,107
- 677
As some of the other posters who've read my posts know, I am new to hockey, and will be just taking lessons in a few months - but have always wondered why does fighting exist in the first place in hockey, and why is it considered such an integral part of the game?
I played competitive league basketball, and I never saw a single fight. An NBA fight is rather rare, and while the NFL is probably the most violent sport I can think of, scrums occur - but not the one-on-one stuff you see in hockey where everyone stands around including the referees while the 2 fighters smack each other.
It is obviously so ingrained in hockey there are even players called "goons" who are there just for that purpose...
I'm not saying hockey is not a violent, intense sport, but so are other sports, and they do not consider it a fundamental part of the game.
I guess when I start playing this spring it might become more clear, but having watched the NHL for decades, it just never translated over to me, perhaps I'm too dense...
I played competitive league basketball, and I never saw a single fight. An NBA fight is rather rare, and while the NFL is probably the most violent sport I can think of, scrums occur - but not the one-on-one stuff you see in hockey where everyone stands around including the referees while the 2 fighters smack each other.
It is obviously so ingrained in hockey there are even players called "goons" who are there just for that purpose...

I guess when I start playing this spring it might become more clear, but having watched the NHL for decades, it just never translated over to me, perhaps I'm too dense...
