Long live Old Time Hockey

November 15, 2008   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

Who wants Old Time Hockey? We do! That’s who. No matter what age you are, a big part of the game will always be fighting. They don’t play AC/DC’s “For Those About To Rock” for cheapshot artists like Patrick Kaleta and Jarkko Ruutu.

Or how about the Beastie Boys’ “Fight For Your Right To Party” which is often blasted at Nassau Coliseum or The Rock when a scrap is about to begin. Because as they say, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. And I don’t mean a classic Billy Ocean 1980’s hit song or even the memorable scene from Animal House with the legendary John Belushi.

Hockey is unlike any other sport because we have enforcers who are put out there to seek retribution when our team’s stars are messed with. Mess with our best player and there’s gonna be payback. Throw a late unnecessary dirty hit and you’re sure to pay the price. Some players take things into their own hands like Ranger defenseman Paul Mara did pounding Kaleta into oblivion before getting a major and game misconduct for doing the right thing even if it cost his team two points.

Standing up for oneself is something puck fans respect. When a player wusses out to draw an instigator a la Sean Avery, there’s sure to be no respect for those antics. The fight instigator is something the hardcore fan despises because it lets cheap players off the hook and penalizes the real ones who will stick up for fallen teammates the way Brandon Dubinsky did the other night for Dan Girardi following Zach Parise’s cheap crosscheck for what was a clean takeout along the boards in which the Devils’ best scorer still made the play to setup Travis Zajac’s goal.

Sometimes in today’s game, a player will take a penalty just to send a message to opponents that cheap plays won’t be allowed. However, the best aspect is that the message not only will come in loud and clear to future opponents but to their teammates as well who will admire this team concept and bond closer together over the course of a season.

Ironically, Colin White who ducked Colton Orr the other night stood up for a teammate a couple of years ago when Avery who was then on the Kings ran someone. The tough physical defenseman did the proper thing and pounded the agitator for his actions making him accountable. This was commendable and even as a rival fan watching, I admired it.

Hockey can be a brutal sport. Just ask the same player who missed a chunk of last season due to blurred vision which might help explain why he wouldn’t drop’em with one of the better heavyweights in Newark. Injuries are part of the game as players sacrifice their bodies blocking shots, etc.

Heck. Even Avery who became a cult favorite in his brief stint spent in Broadway Blue played through a significant injury somehow continuing for two more periods against the Pens in last Spring’s second round with a lacerated spleen before being hospitalized and missing the final two games of the series. A severe injury which once forced Peter Forsberg out of the 2001 postseason with the Avalanche, who overcame his loss to win its second Stanley Cup. Nobody wishes harm on any player even if they’re not well liked. Especially when it’s life threatening requiring surgery.

Injuries can occur during scraps where sometimes one of the participants can have a nose busted or be given a shiner. Or worse can have their orbital bone broken meaning they’ll miss significant time. Fights can be vicious but they sure are a crowd pleaser. What arena doesn’t stand up in excitement when two tough guys square off? The encouraging news is that fighting has comeback and looks like it shall always have a home in hockey and that’s good considering what can take place.

Without it, players wouldn’t be able to police themselves. Still, most would agree that the instigator’s a waste and should be out completely so there aren’t as many cheapshots and sticks coming up as frequently which has become a disturbing trend in our sport.

For now though, at least we got some of the late legendary Paul Newman’s Reggie “Reg” Dunlop’s Slap Shot character preaching “Old Time Hockey.” Sorry if it’s in French. Ahh. It still rules!

And with that, let’s kick back and enjoy an old classic video of hockey fights over the past three decades with appropriately classic Guns N’ Roses “You Could Be Mine” playing in the background. Well put together!

Long live fighting! Screw you Bettman!!!!!