Rules for fighting

[Fily]

I think we, the players should have an unwritten rule about fighting, in respect between us (the tough guys) I think that a good way to fight would be at the face off, we all know who we are, we all know each other pretty much, at the face off, gloves and helmets should come off and the two gladiator should be able to go at it until one falls or both decides that that's enough...
That would take the cheap shots and the "sucker punches" away.
I know for myself I would rather have to face that, then not knowing what could happen to me on every shift on the floor.
The game would be cleaner, good players could concentrate on playing roller and the big guys just making sure that nothing ugly happens.
For example, ask players from Bullets and the Sting, they were able to see a real good fight and nobody got hurt, cheap shot nor "sucker punched".

P.S. What do you think about the league sanction from Marple/Bullets' game?

[SpeedDemon]

There *are* unwritten rules about fighting. Players who have been around the game their whole lives know this.

It is mostly the newer players who never grew up playing the game but instead watching it on TV that are the cheap-shot artists.

I've only been in two fights over the last 5 years, and both were a result of a player cheap-shotting me from behind after I issued a clean check. A third time I was cross-checked in the face as I was skating by an opponent who I was holding a 'discussion' with regarding his cheap shot against my teammate; he had a full cage on and I didn't, I might add.

Bottom line. You aren't getting paid to take a beating, so what is the point?

[Fily]

My point exactly, little "pr*cks" who hides behind cages should be man enough to face the guys they cheap shot at the next face off. Where I played ice hockey in the past two years, when two players meet at the drop of the puck they usually talk and the referee knows that they'll go, sometime the puck don't even touch the ice, the referee whistle, players go the their bench and the two skate to the middle of the ice, drop everything and fight, even if a guy have a cage he takes it off (which it less and less common in that league now).

Personally, I think that fighting is part of hockey (ice or roller), fans pay good bucks to see a good show, fast skating, goals, hits and yes fights, I want the fans to go home and say: "Can't wait for next Saturday".

Sorry about your past experiences, it is true about new players with no experience, but they need to be teach by players on their own team.

[cannibalkid]

The whole 'unwritten' rule just kinda makes it way through all levels of hockey. Just some people dont pick it up. I was playing in St Louis 2 weekends ago, and I took a nice cheat shot in the back. When I turned to look at who gave it, the first thing that came out of his mouth was "You wanna go?" Me being a bigger guy, this did nothing but make me all kinds of happy inside. I said "Ok, lets go" and before I had time to take my cage off (playing 19-under had to wear it) the ref had my arms and I had some little punk swatting at me with his gloves still on. Sometimes I just dont understand how people can consider that "fighting" Sometimes just makes me laugh.

[-venom-]

Wish I had a tape of that fight in Jersey when we played you guys... textbook clean fight right there.

[-venom-]

Guys with face protection have NO right to take cheaps shots, or talk smack, UNLESS they are willing to back it up. I busted hand up pretty good on #27 from the bullets cage in front of the next.... not cool.

[-venom-]

everybody wants to be a tough guy these days.....

[SpiderRat]

Can't we all just get along, love each other? Next game, everybody give a great big team hug before the game. Both teams together. Now wouldn't that be nice. What, am I going crazy! This long without a penalty and I'm starting to loose it. HELP D!!!!!!!

[MDE3]

In three out of the four fights I have witnessed this year, the opponent turtled, and covered his head almost immediately. On one occasion the turtled combatant (who shall remain unamed), was one of the designated "tough guys" for his team, and while he threw his stick down and shrugged his arms as if to throw off his gloves, he never let go of the gloves, took two shots, and went down to the "turtle" position.

He drew only a 2 minute minor, for an infraction that occurred before the fight....actually for a cheap shot to the jaw of one of the Firebirds right after the whistle blew, against a player was in no position to defend himself. As a result of this the Firebird's "enforcer" threw down to protect his team mate, and the other "enforcer" simply faked it. Firebirds recieved a 5 minute major, opponents 2 minutes. If this had been a close game at the time, in a "see saw" battle, I might have forgiven the move as a "strategy", however the "Birds were down something like 10 - 3 at the time, so there was no need for that kind of "strategic" play. Basically the opponents "tough guy" decided he didn't want to get his butt whipped after he saw who he was fighting and then seemed like he pretended to play this to gain a manpower advantage. Sorry but that was a BS move, and again a poor reflection on a team who has no need to pull those antics.

I believe in fact that because the player threw his stick down and made the motion like he was tossing his gloves, he should have recieved an "unsportsmanlike conduct" penalty, if it happened after he was challenged, or an "instigator" penalty if it happened before he was challenged as well as a 5 minute major.

[MDE3]

and someone says "take yer hand off my butt you "***", and all hell breaks loose........

[SpiderRat]

LOL!!!!

[MDE3]

Reference your "PS" I guees the ref misses one or two games and the coach one game. Seems a bit mild. But at least it's a recognition of the travesty.

[-venom-]

dunno, I heard Rog was into that sort of thing?!?1

lol!

[yokes]

Bob I think that the next time you guys play the Storm Rog might break that non-penalty streak after that comment. Beware of a goalie who has three sticks;)

Its just not fun unless you stand in front of it!

[WMBG_GM]

First off, refs get paid. So, by not being allowed to work games, this ref _is_ loosing money. While it is not a fine per se, it is darn close.

Secondly, I am very pleased with the way the league and refs assoc worked this out. I'm not saying that I'm happy to see anybody lose out on $$ in anyway. What I'm happy about is that the two heads of each group (league and refs) got together, reviewed the issue and passed out judgement. That is the way it is supposed to work.

I think I'm safe in saying this, but in the five year history of the MLRH AAA, this is the first time that has happened. I think it is a very healthy thing.

Finally, I'm very happy that it was posted on the league website. Again, not to cheer anybody's misfortune, but it shows some good openess about the league office and the refs association. Everybody is working to make this a better product. Along the way some mistakes will be made. In the past it would have been ignored or "out of sight, out of mind." Not now. By making this public it shows that we, the MLRH AAA, can acknowledge mistakes, correct them, and get on with it.

Face it, growth is ugly at times, but grow (as a league) we must.



Ben Loyall
GM/Owner
Williamsburg Warriors, MLRH AAA

[HitUHard]

AMEN!!!

[Db55UD02]

Good post to all boys, to you too fily. I absolutely agree with everyone's sentiments. My first game with the sting against the wolfpac last year, I encountered someone who just dropped their gloves and went with me (and I didnt have anything off by the time he was firing). I later found out this was his technique ( and his name shall remain nameless unless you too have been jumped by this midget). Naz, couldn't be any more right. We are not getting paid out here to duel gladiator style. The refs have never gone out of their way to recognize instigation like this, but ah, they barely call it in the NHL. If there are calls that bad at a pro level, how can I complain at a Piha or MLRH level. For those out there who do cheapshot and other stupid things, what comes around goes around. Good luck to all this weekend....
DB

[NLane]

Har har har!!!

[NLane]

Good post. Almost every ref I know "allows" things to be even by the end of the game. Cheap shots although maybe not against any rules will sometimes get a ref to warn a player to not do it again. And isn't anyone with a face cage supposed to get an instigating penalty in a fight?(or was that last year's rule...)

[SpiderRat]

You tell him J. I think I get a one game exemption this season from the non-penalty rule. With comments like that, I may need to exercise my rights. Kidding of course. Well, maybe not. :)

[NLane]

A goalie that was with the Destroyers and the Warriors used to bring 3 sticks all the time. The team could make him break 2 at a practice!! Yokes, what would you do if a player told you where it was going to go and he put the puck there (and scored!) every time? Don't you think that the stick should GO!! It couldn't have been the goalie's fault, ya think? Only one or two practices went like that but he was famous for breaking sticks. Oh yeah, first shot at the practice was always at the facemask...no wonder he wanted to hurt something by the end of practice!!!

[Fily]

My goal was to know how many of you think that fighting is part of hockey and that we should go at it when both players agree, not jumping guys or blind siding players. For myself I will never refuse an invitation, specially at the face off I think it makes it more exiting for the players and the fans, but like you guys explained, some of us fake the drops and make the other look foolish (lack of respect). Where I'm from, tough guys respect each other and when one of them fail to do that, players on his own team let him know and the next shift, if he's a team player or just a bit of a man, he'll repair is fault.

Keep it clean so no stupid sh*t happens and I'll see you in a corner, at the red line or even at the face off but most certainly at the bar...

Have a good w/end.

[-venom-]

yeah yokes, then I better get some of that $$ in the pot on his bet! haha

I've been in fights with goalies before, no fun at all...... that waffle board HURTS! haha

[MDE3]

Personally I am not a fan of fighting for entertainment although I respect the opinions of those who are(grudgingly), but I do not have a problem if someone decides to settle an issue over a cheap shot, or a blind side hit, and decides to stand up for themselves.

Obviously not everyone is equal when it comes to pugalistic skill, so I understand why their are designated fighters to settle grudges, however even that seems a bit of an out where the grievance that began the fight took place between two other players. I can see even where the player who takes the cheap shot get's challenged by a designated fighter, but where two guys uninvolved in the incident square off to settle the issue, that smacks simply of people who like to fight, and the entertainment side of the issue.

Where I grew up playing in Canada (a couple of years ago), when someone pulled something and you found a need to address the issue........you "the plaintiff" challenged the offender "mano a mano". It was not someone elses job to clean up your mess.

However with the selection of guys who are skilled fighters to various teams over the years, the redressing of personal grievances has taken a more "formal" turn, as otherwise you would have the skilled fighters cheap shotting the less skilled fighters on a regular basis, and the likely outcome would be the same player getting hammered twice - once with a cheap shot and again in the fight with against a trained boxer/fighter.

My only real objection, is when a team is up my multi goals and in obvious control of the game, that they then send their fighters out to whup on someone of the opposition as well.............giving the pretty lame excuse, that the objects of their affection "were talking smack". Personally I would like to see the team who is blowing the other team out, simply show a little class, and laugh at the meaningless chatter when the scoreboard has already sent the message. In the case where the losing team decides that they need to step up the physical part of the game with a few late game cheap shots, to save a little pride, well then they deserve what they get.