Check out this story, in which one NHL player hits another in the face with his stick, supposedly in reaction to a “clean” check. My gut reaction is that the guy should never be allowed to play pro hockey again. On the other hand, as long as the NHL continues to encourage fighting, I’m not sure this is that much different than punching the guy in the face. Sure, it’s going to be more dangerous, but when I consider the violent atmosphere they create, the stick seems like a natural extension of the fist, especially for someone who lives holding it.

I know it’s ridiculous to be reading about the NHL here, as I’m the last person who would know anything about hockey, despite being born and raised in Minnesota. So it’s with that caveat that I ask the question I’ve wondered many times, “Why is fighting allowed in the NHL?” Why is a punch on the ice any different than a punch on the basketball court? Whenever there’s a fight in the NBA, you hear about it everywhere. Someone surely earns a multiple game suspension and a hefty fine. But in pro hockey, it’s a few minutes in your own, private ring-side seat. Give fights in hockey meaningful penalties, eradicating the violent atmosphere, and incidents like this one (or the other on my mind from a few years ago, where one guy swung at the back of another’s head with his stick) might just go away.

While we’re at it, make the frickin’ goals bigger and the goalies’ pads smaller. I think I’ve seen a total of 3 goals in the five NHL games I’ve been to in my life.

Update: I decided to find the video to get a better sense of the story. It’s nauseating, but judge for yourself: