[LarryIII]

Originally posted by MacGyver
I work at a arena that hosts a minor league hockey team. (I work on the A/V staff, operating the camera and ads for the jumbo screens, etc.) Just started this season and had never really paid much attention to hockey before.

I was shocked at how brutal it is and what they are allowed to get away with. Guess it is part of the game, but wow. Just constant pounding, slamming, paybacks, and when the inevitable fights do come, the refs just stand back and watch, no matter what happens, until one of them hits the ground. Weird.

I realize this incident we are talking about goes way beyond all that, but still...

Troy,

It's only the NHL & its minor leagues that are so violent. Unfortunately this affects NCAA college hockey.
European hockey has practically no violence.
The NHL only suspended him for the remainder of this season & the playoffs. IMHO that is not nearly enough.
Last night the Flyers-Ottawa game was a knock-down, drag-out brawl for the last period. IMHO that's not hockey.

I can even remember when pro basketball was a non-contact sport.