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Fighting has been a part of ice hockey since the sport's rise in popularity in 19th century Canada. [1] There are a number of theories behind the integration of fighting into the game; the most common is that the relative lack of rules in the early history of hockey encouraged physical intimidation and control. [1]
Fighting, or fisticuffs, is also penalized but is considered by many hockey enthusiasts, particularly in North America, to be quite distinct from stick-swinging or other violent acts. They regard fighting as an entrenched, acceptable and integral part of the game. On the ice, referees may impose penalties for prohibited activities.
The Blues–Flyers brawl was a fight involving players, fans, and police officers that took place during a National Hockey League (NHL) game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the St. Louis Blues on January 6, 1972, at the Spectrum in Philadelphia.
The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils were quick to choose violence during Wednesday's matchup, engaging in an all-out fight that saw all but two players ejected as soon as the game opened.
In a desperate attempt at ending the brawl, tournament officials had the arena lights turned off, leaving the players to fight in the dark as the fans whistled loudly in disapproval of the entire situation. The whole stadium shouted "My chceme hokej, my chceme hokej", which translates to "We want hockey, we want hockey".
Nashville Predators defenseman Luke Schenn checks his teeth after a fight against the Minnesota Wild's Marcus Foligno on Jan. 18, 2025, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Fighting skills can allow insufficiently talented or smaller players to play in leagues where their hockey skills alone would not have otherwise granted them admission. [2] Enforcers sometimes take boxing lessons to improve their fighting. [2] Some players combine aspects of the enforcer role with strong play in other areas of the game.
Fighting in ice hockey is an established tradition of the sport in North America, with a long history involving many levels of amateur and professional play and including some notable individual fights. Although a definite target of criticism, it is a considerable draw for the sport, and some fans attend games primarily to see fights.