A Hockey Tragedy

No, the late Don Sanderson should not be turned into a martyr for the anti-fighting crowd.

On the basis of what we know, he might well have been the first guy to say that fighting was part of the game, and that he knew what he was getting into that fateful Dec. 12 night while playing for the Whitby Dunlops. He died earlier today, and his family, one imagines, wouldn’t want to see his memory manipulated for the purposes of anyone’s political agenda.

At the same time, however, it would be equally wrong to pretend for the sake of the pro-fighting constituency out there that this was somehow just an accident that was unavoidable and could happen to anyone who laces up a pair of skates.

We cannot simply ignore the terrible truth that a young man has been killed in a hockey fight, that hockey violence has claimed a life.

Moreover, while Sanderson was not an NHL player or even a major junior player, this was also not an incident from a men’s beer league.

This was serious, organized hockey, and at 21 years of age, Sanderson was a young man who probably still harbored hopes of being able to continue to play the game he loved.

Here’s what we know.

Fighting in hockey causes all kinds of injuries, and the injuries are becoming more serious as the combatants become bigger and stronger.

It’s a dangerous part of the game. Some argue that danger is a necessary element to keep the game safe, a warped, tortured logic I’ve never bought into.

Given that Sanderson played in a league in which fighters receive game misconducts, however, it’s important to note that the fight in which he was involved took place even though both players knew they’d be tossed from the game.

People like me have argued that should be the rule in the NHL. But it was a rule that didn’t change Sanderson’s fate.

Accidents do happen, and this was certainly to a significant degree an accident. Neither Sanderson nor his opponent in the fight believed this would be the outcome.

But the more fighting you allow, the more chance there is for such a tragedy to occur. That’s just a fact.

Right now, the NHL seems to be going in the opposite direction from clamping down on bare-knuckle brawling, seemingly encouraging more of it, with fighting stats markedly increased in recent seasons.

The argument that fighting is an indispensable element of hockey has been proven wrong over and over and over, and it’s being proven wrong again this week at the world junior championships.

It’s not necessary. People just want it, and they are loud about their passion for it. Every Saturday night, Canada’s most famous hockey personality outside of Wayne Gretzky, Don Cherry, champions the art of fighting on skates. Just last week he was praising those players who take off their helmets during fights, which really increases the threat of serious injury since most fights end with the two combatants falling heavily to the ice.

The elephant in the room has always been that someone would suffer a life-changing injury from a hockey fight, or that someone would die.

The death of Don Sanderson, then, is a warning to all of us involved in hockey.

That warning can either be heeded, with steps taken to make sure the chances of someone getting in a hockey fight, losing his helmet and then being crashed down head first onto the ice are as small as possible.

Or the warning can be ignored, and we can all just sit around and hope against hope it never happens again.

Comments

[Rick]

Oh please DAmien. You know how many football players have been killed or paralyzed the past few years from big hits? Or young baseball players who have died from getting a fast ball in the head, or pitchers getting line drives to the head? Yet I NEVER read about changing the rules of those sports to make them safer? In fact the reasoning is that its just part of the game.
Yet for hockey, we have to change the rules for every event that occurs? This is a sad story, but there's been how many games played when nothing has happened? In a contact sport injuries happen. You can't make things 100% safe.

[jon]

i am a hockey fan who enjoys watching bare-knuckled scraps on the ice. that being said, i can see the benefits of removing it from the game; increased marketability as a legitimate "sport" and less as a WWE-esque carnival comes to mind. i do also think that hockey will be moving more toward not condoning fighting as the game evolves. but as damien's article pointed out, these discussions should be secondary to acknowledging the loss of this young man. my condolences to his family.

[CM]

Actually, you DO hear about rules and equipment being changed in an attempt to prevent injury. With the increasing incidence of arm surgeries for young pitchers came a greater emphasis on limiting pitch counts. In football there is incremental improvement in the helmets in an attempt to prevent as many injuries as possible and a push to make techniques such as horse-collar tackles and chop blocks illegal, as those are more likely to cause injuries than other maneuvers. Batting helmets are worn for a reason - and baseball is looking at the issue of maple bats because they splinter into sharp flying projectiles when they break, and could easily impale someone. They don't know whether the best option would be to prohibit maple bats or just put in rules regarding the weight and length to minimize breakage.

The fact is that an unprotected head falling on the ice, whether in a hockey game or slipping on a driveway, can result in a death. You can salt a sidewalk or parking lot, but there isn't anything to minimize the impact on a hockey rink in that way. The league could look at the helmets or other equipment, which would also minimize injuries from normal falls as well as falls after fights.

Personally, I think a lot of fights are stupid. How often, instead of an actual fight, are spectators treated to two opponents circling like crabs, a brief interval of flailing, and then they both fall down and are separated by officials? The cleaning up of sticks and gloves takes longer than the actual "fight." I'd rather see a few more hard, clean hits than some kind of stupid sideshow.

[Rob]

Damien, your point is that there is actually a choice. It is this point that the Pro-fighting Hockey will never admit, although it is an obvious truth. It does not matter how many leagues around the world have handled the fighting situation better (such as the in the juniors) if there is ever a fight at any time, this crowd uses that fact time and again to say, "it's part of the game!". Perhaps if CBC had a more insightful Coach in the Corner, then maybe attitudes would change.

[Sanj]

The difference Rick between your examples and fighting in hockey is that there is no reason why fighting should even be part of the game. PERIOD!
This is just getting ridiculous. Now the hockey experts are considering to give a player a game misconduct for removing their helmet. So now we keep the helmets on during a fight and risk someone getting a broken hand?? Enough is enough. The time has come to finally take fighting out of the game once and for all.

[matt]

anyone that thinks fighting is necesary in hockey is a goon themselves .. what sport actually allows their performers to drop their gloves in the middle of action and go blow to blow with each other .. it is maddening ridiculous that their are actually those that oppose banning fights .. i never fast forward a fight nor skip the channel when one occurs (guilty me) but it is absolutely senseless .. to those that think it helps sell hockey in the USA (a long thought of notion) ... that is cockamony ... look at this weekends CLASSIC for proof that sensible marketing, skilled teams and a great setting propel the NHL to the masses ..

PLEASE BAN FIGHTING ... its senseless, and takes away from the skill of the game ..

[Patrick]

Damien...you and I both know why fighting is still in hockey. It's not because of TV ratings or because the fans like it.
Fighting is in NHL hockey because THE PLAYERS want it in. Until the 700 or so players in the nhlpa put up a protest fighting will never leave the NHL game.

Why do they want it in? Because although you fail to be sold on the "it keeps the game safer" idea, that is the truth.
If you take fighting out how will the players exact revenge or settle scores? Answer...they will do it with sticks, elbows and dirty hits. I know this cause I played the game. The NHL players know this cause they play the game. Why is it that it's always people who have never played the sport that call for a ban on fighting. I am not questioning your knowledge of the game...just your understanding of the simple fact that fighting does keep the game cleaner.

You cannot compare hockey to any other sport when debating this issue. No other contact sport has it's participants moving at 30 mph with weapons in their hands. We have all heard the stories of how football players settle scores. Is the breaking of fingers and eye-gouging in scrums and trying to take out the knees of an opponent better than 2 guys squaring up and fighting??? I don't think so and neither do 700 NHLers.

Your comment about the world juniors is ill-faded at best. Come on, comparing a 2 week tourny to an 82 game schedule is a joke.
Throw the Canadian and US teams in an 82 game schedule and eventually tempers would boil over...heck they can barely play 20 minutes without getting into it.

I don't expect you to change your opinion on fighting largely due to the fact you don't truly understand what is at the base of the debate. What I do expect is that if you had a hand in running the NHL, the league would be out of business in no time. The combination of skill/toughness and intimidation is what makes hockey the best sport in the world...not skill alone.

[gingy]

This is outrageous. If this was to happen on a parking lot of some bar, there would be a manslaughter charge, regardless of both participant's willingness to fight. I would not be surprised if RCMP gets involved in this one, or if the family decides to pursue a lawsuit. How many more players need to die or end up crippled for life before somebody does something about it? Why is Don Cherry allowed to praise this kind of violence every Saturday, without any consequences? In my opinion, you've got blood on your hands, Mr. Cherry. Next time you're on the air, please explain to the kid's parents how what happened to their son was OK and just part of the game.

[Big Bear]

To "Rick": that's the dumbest argument I've ever heard. First of all, rule changes happen all the time to address safety issues in sports. Why do you think hockey has a helmet rule? Why do you think third-base coaches in baseball now wear helmets? Why do you think its illegal in football to grab an opponent's face mask? Yes, there's a risk of injury in any sport, but every sport has a duty to mitigate those risks wherever possible.

And Rick, I can't believe that you're actually making the argument about "how many games have there been where nothing has happened." It only took ONE death--that of a spectator in Columbus, OH--for the NHL to make netting mandatory at the ends of its rinks. Why?

First: because it was one death too many (you go talk to a grieving family and say "Oh, it was just one death". I dare you.).

Second: because it wasn't a freak accident. In the case of both the spectator's death and that of Don Sanderson, you are talking about events which had been predicted for years, and that were COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY PREVENTABLE.

With players getting bigger and stronger every year, and with many players being specifically coached on how to fight, you knew that a crippling or fatal injury was going to happen sooner or later. Well, wake up, hockey. That moment is now.

[FPD]

This discussion will go on forever....unless the NHL which positions itself as the league of all leagues on the global hockey stage joins the trend and penalizes/banishes fighting like other hockey leagues and other professional sports have done. The death of Mr Sanderson is not an isolated incident it is a trend even if it has happened for the first time.
The same arguement is pushed forward all the time concerning fighting. Necessary part of the game...needed for momentum swings in hockey. Where in society is it accepatble for two people to pound on each other to inflict injury...what other sport allows such negligence...momentum shift...why not an end-to-end rush, a clean solid within the rules hit...a highlight reel three way passing play. Tidal waves off noise and adulation take place with any such action during a game has anyone noticed!
Few steps in eliminating fighting would be 1) Media whether it be print or video STOP showing the fighting that occurs in an NHL game and 2) use the EVIDENCE from the feeder leagues like junior, international and university hockey to illustrate there is NO place for anyone dropping gloves in professional hockey. Let professinal hockey employ only those which can demonstarte how the game is taught from the outset - utilizing individual skills to contribute to the team game - skating speed and sgility, ability to receive and give a tape-to-tape pass, tactical intelligence, positioning and playing physical within the rules. The actions of the feeder leagues with time will only provide players that can deliver with skill and the other slugs that know different than impacting a hockey game will have to turn to other forms of employment to make their millions.
If one day there was positive change with the elimination of fighting then the unfortunate death of Mr Sanderson will still be a tragedy but remembered for how it served as a message to the hockey world to do the RIGHT thing.

[Heaton]

Also, just because one fan not paying attention died when getting hit by a puck at an NHL game. How every rink has netting around it which is still an eyesore after all these years.

[Heaton]

Sure let's ban fighting but keep the flying elbows by players wearing hard-capped "padding". Let's also continue to have players waive their sticks carelessly and claim "accident" when someone loses an eye.

[Hockey fan (and admitted hockey fight fan)]

CM, thank you for the common sense response to Rick's ludicrous comments. I've had more than enough of the arguement: "you can't solve all of the problem so why bother trying at all?"

I admit that I love a good hockey fight, and I get out of my seat like everyone else when one starts. But, I would support getting rid of fighting, if it meant more skill players and fewer goons, a better game, and FEWER unnecessary injuries (and now, fatalities). I would get over it, and probably enjoy the game even more.

[steve]

Just to back up my point:

"Don Sanderson is, it is believed, the first hockey fatality in North America as a result of on-ice play since Paul Fendley died in 1972 during a Centennial Cup game. Fendley was checked by an opponent and tried to catch his balance while still handling the puck and lost his helmet in the process, falling and striking the bare back of his head on the ice.

Bill Masterton of the Minnesota North Stars also died after he accidentally struck his bare head on the ice in an NHL regular season game in 1968.

Sanderson's death is the first recorded fatality as a direct result of injuries suffered in a hockey fight."

That's from Bob McKenzie, an associate of yours (you both do work for TSN).

Arguing that fights cause deaths in hockey is absurd. This is the FIRST time it has happened. To say that the two are linked when it has never happened in history prior to this is a bit beyond the pale.

[Bry]

Here we go. So-called fans and biased media figures crawling out of the woodworks with the "Told ya so's" and the "fighting isnt a neccessary part of hockey" comments. Funny but it's you people, the ones not playing, who are in the vast minority of that opinion. Dont believe that, poll every player, coach, and GM in any league that allows fighting. Despite what you read in the first paragraph of the above article this is a pulpit to summon the minions who whine about violence in the game. Even now when it is 100 times tamer then it was 20 years ago. Just another article written by one of the grand ringleaders of the crowd who calls for the game to be a non-contact, played with a Nerf puck slap in the face of tradition. More fuel for the agenda.

Fighting keeps cheapshot artists in check. Ever see the opposition when Laraque or Boogaard step over the boards? The complexion of the game changes, players who are apt stop running around. And yes, there are more cheapshots/headshots happening in the game today. Why? Because the role of enforcers has been shackled by the instigator and stigma created by new rules, with teams choosing to dress all finesse over grit because of the way the game is called. A good heavyweight fight can change the monentum of a game. Countless times even in todays tamer NHL, I have heard skill players give credit to a good heavyweight scrap that has turned the tide and flow of a game. You know, those "pointless sideshows". Again dont take my word for it, run the poll. The game has been castrated enough in recent years. It would be a shame to see more because of a freak incident.

There is womens hockey out there. There is also college hockey which although doesnt allow fighting, is chock full of the kind of ugly stickwork and cheapshots that are akin to the game in Europe.

Hopefully we dont witness another tragic and rare incident like this again, with it being the first documented on-ice fatality in hockey since 1972. And the first attributed to a fight.

RIP to Don Sanderson and prayers to his family.

[Matt]

There is no sane reason to keep it in the game. It is not boxing and not a true "part" of the game. It is considered an infraction, and should be dealt with at the NHL like its dealt with in the lower rungs of hockey: game misconduct. I also think that if a player takesoff his helmet to fight than the refs need to step in. Its a safety thing. I don't know how anyone can argue that (though, meat-head Cherry, a walking contradiction, seems to continue to spout an opposite POV).

As an aside, I think the issue will eventually be forced on the NHL by insurance companies that insure player contracts. It is very hard to run a business that promotes players to commit infractions in the workplace and then somehow turn to the insurers to ask for compensation when one of those players gets hurt. When it comes to workplace injuries, the lawyers will always win, and this will be one of those cases. Eventually. And the fans will win out so that we don't have to watch the Kordics and Belaks take the place of Moores and Mitchells of a team.

[Moe Green]

It seems to me that these days most fights have nothing to do with retribution or justice or anything else the pro-fight lobby uses as arguments to further their case. Most fights in the NHL today arise between two designated fighters as a sort of cabaret entirely separate from the game itself. In fact, I don't see how having the goon on the bench is going to intimidate anyone from anything. Does anyone seriously believe that the instigator rule prevented anyone from taking on Sean Avery. Grow up. Like a two minute penalty is going to deter any necessary justice. Unless you are a blithering idiot, you never actually have to fight anyway. Only sheep would be goaded into a thing like that and I don't wnat any sheep on my team.

[Moe Green]

Not even the issue. There are far more dangerous things in hockey than fighting. The real issue is: Does it belong in the game or not, and why. For me the decision is a simple one: Fighting is assault, assault is a crime, therefore fighting should be eliminated as an accepted part of the game. I always ask the same question of fighting proponents: How would you justify it with your 10 year old son or daughter? Think about it. I, like most men, love watching a good hockey fight. I also might like watching a hockey stick jousting match or a naked pole dancer at cetre ice between periods. That doesn't mean they belong in a hockey game. Maybe this illustrates my point even better: Would you support allowing fist fights in NFL games? If not, why not?

[ray brewer]

Yes it is sad..However, lets get the facts straight..This didn't happen in the NHL..It happened in a Senior AAA league..This league has its own set of rules and they have the ability to change them as they please..Each and every organized league has its own rules and they should have the right to allow fighting or not..

You can''t compare the abilities of a Senior league player to that of an NHL player..The tough guys in the NHL have been fighting for years and believe it or not, its a skill..These guys know how to defend themselves and rarely get punched silly..

Its possible that Don Sanderson had no idea how to fight and therefore shouldn't have dropped his gloves..

I like to watch the occasional tussle and that's my right just as its your right not to watch it..

The facts are the facts and nobody in NHL history has ever died in a hockey fight..Bill Masterson is the only player in the NHL to have died while playing the game..It was a head injury caused by a bodycheck..Should we ban bodychecking now?

361 fighters have died while boxing..More then 200 people have lost their lives racing automobiles..More people have died playing cricket then hockey..

[Steve]

Damien:

Great article, bang on. Don Cherry, who does get a lot right in his game colour, is way wrong about injury risk in fighting. I've heard him say several times that "nobody gets hurt in a hockey fight". That's absolute nonsense and I think he knows it. There have been many very serious injuries as a result of fights. One prominent example is Nick Kypreos who lost his career after hitting his head on the ice in a hockey fight. (Nick's got to take a stand now. He's got to say that at the very least, a hockey fight must be whistled over as soon as a helmut comes off).

Now, sadly, as I've been predicting and fearful of for a long time, a player, Don Sanderson, has died as a result of a hockey fight. Let's call a spade a spade here. Hockey permits and encourages fighting becuase they think it increases overall revenue. It's a financial decision, plain and simple. Pro Hockey will eliminate fighting completely as soon as a Court awards a multi million dollar settlement to a players family, against a Pro team and League, as a result of a hockey fight related death (and all minor pro, junior leagues etc will follow suit). I'm talking a big settlement - $25 Million or so, and it's bound to happen if fighting continues in its present form. Fighters are now training off season to fight, not play. They're bigger, faster and better trained than ever.

Its true that Sanderson was a willing combatant. He died becuase his helmutless head hit the ice. At least he was wearing a helmut and didn't willingly take it off - it fell off during the tussle. Yet in the CHL (major junior hockey) the league allows players to stand back and take off their own helmuts, and then fight. Unbelieveable. Yet if the players chin strap isn't properly sceured or if he is wearing an improper visor (one that allows the player to tilt it upwards) he'd be penalized. OR, if a goalies mask is knocked off, the play, as it should be is immediately whistled down. Yet, again, a players helmut can willfully or accidentally be taken off, in the midst of a fight and the "play" just carries on.

In terms of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), Hockey Canada and it's other affiliates, where players are not paid to risk their lives, I will write, and I urge all thinking hockey fans to write and demand the following rule changes:

1. That any player that removes his own helmut prior to or in a hockey fight be ejected for that game and the following.

2. That any player that forcefully or otherwise intentionally removes his opponents helmut be ejected for that game and the following.

3. If a player's helmut accidentally falls off during a fight the ref whistles the fight over. Both linesmen and one ref if necessary, step in to make sure the fight stops when whistled down. If a player does not stop fighting on the whistle immediately, the player is ejected for the remainder and the next game.

4. Penalties increase for subsequent infractions.

My heart goes out to the Sanderson family. Now, the hockey heirarchy, including the power brokers that have sat on the fighting fence for fear of being ostracicised by the old boys, must get the hell off the fence and demand changes.

[Trevor A. Richards]

Will someone please tell me, what is the purpose of a hockey fight? Is there something unique about the game that is not present in other sports?
I've heard that fighting creates interest in the game, but it also has a serious down side - the possibility of injury or death, it's barbaric, and it's not the way to settle differences. In life, we discourage people from settling disputes in this manner. So why is it okay in hockey? If fighting exists only for excitement - then we're scraping the bottom of the barrel for entertainment.

If you want to increase the "WOW" factor of the game, how about some rule changes or increasing the number of skilled players on each team?

When the game is played by men of skill, it elevates the sport to another level. In addition, who complains about the lack of fisticuffs when skilled players are doing there thing on the ice.

It's time to ban fighting and focus on more socially acceptable ways to generate interest in this great game.

[wall©rawler™,]

Well we all seen what happens when players are not held accountable during the Canada/Us game. Didomenico was on the ice because as he was skating by the americans bench, a stick accidently whacked him in the face. Next thing to happen a few seconds later, a star american was on the ice in pain. So lets take the fighting out of the game and have all players resort to cheap shots and the anti-fighting crowd, will all be happy.

[chris]

I agree with your post, Damien. Sadly, I believe there's a better chance of Keanu Reeves winning an Oscar for best actor than there is of fighting being removed from North American hockey.

[Roberto]

I think anyone condoning fighting in hockey is a moron. No further explanation needed. Don Cherry gets paid to say outrageous things. Unfortunately, stupid people suck it all up.

I further think that anyone who spends a single dime on the NHL (a League that approves of fighting for marketing's sake) is also a moron.

What more is there to say?

[Rick]

Like the one guy said. This happened in some senior league game.
It didn't happen in the NHL. Its never happened in the NHL. For people like Cox and others to use this tragic event as an excuse to force no touch, no contact hockey on us is a disgrace.

Funny, but these same peaceniks trying to force nice nice hockey on us are the same ones crying for the NFL. The most violent brutal game on the planet. Where players get maimed for life and die in their 40's and 50's with regularity because of the abuse their bodies take?

I mean an NFL player was paralyzed a few weeks back, yet all I read in the papers is how great the NFL is? But hockey and its fans who like the rough stuff are "neandrathals"?Can you say hypocrites????