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

[Big Bear]

Lets deconstruct some of the stupider things that have been said on this board so far:

"It happened in a senior game, not the NHL." Yes, and I'm sure the likes of Gary Bettman and David Branch are thanking their lucky stars for that. But are you seriously arguing that this could never possibly happen in the NHL, AHL, CHL or elsewhere? I'd love to hear your evidence to support that howler.

"They're trying to force no touch, no contact hockey on us." Okay, this one is so funny that I don't know where to begin, but I'll put this in a language you can understand. Contact during play = good. Clenching fists and pummeling one another like drunken frat boys = bad. The NFL has figured that one out, even if the NHL (and you geniuses on this board) can't.

"Fighting keeps the game safer." Riiiiight. Tell that to Todd Fedoruk, who had to have facial reconstruction surgery after getting his face crushed in a fight with David Boogard. Tell that to all the guys whose careers ended because of injuries sustained in fights. Nick Kypreos: concussion in a fight with Ryan Vandenbussche. Jeff Beukeboom: severe concussion after a sucker punch by Matt Johnson. Steve Moore: neck broken after a sucker punch by Todd Bertuzzi, after he had already fought once that same night. Get the point yet, guys?

"Its the first time its ever happened." See above. Plenty of serious injuries, some career-ending, have happened over the years. So now someone has actually DIED, and you still don't get it? How much more evidence do you need?

"Fighting will never be removed from hockey." This may be true, because the fans and players don't want it removed. Then again, plenty of fans and players did not want the helmet rule. "Oh, it'll ruin the game", the argument always goes. So...aside from people who think the players will look better on TV, does anyone seriously want to do away with the helmet rule? No? This isn't about what can or can't be done. Its about what hockey does or doesn't have the guts to do.

Any other lame arguments out there, folks?

[Paul]

First, fighting is a marketing tool for the league, plain and simple. Why does Sportsnet have a weekly feature called "Fight of the Week"? Why is Youtube full to the brim of "great" hockey fights? Second, arguments that fights shift momentum ring hollow. Consider the impact John Tavares rush had on the Canada-US game New Year's Day? Skill has an equal if not greater ability to swing momentum because a skill play can result in the ultimate objective -- a goal.
Third, perhaps it is time for a government body to become involved, and I don't mean law enforcement. Perhaps the ministry of labour or similar branch should investigate professional hockey for maintaining an unsafe workplace for those involved. In no other employment environment can one worker beat up another to setting a score or change the momentum of the workday. The biggest thing professional hockey fear is outside scrutiny. I do not advocate government involvement in much, but this is the ONLY way things will change.

[Frank Docherty]

On thestar.com ( http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/561191 ) there is an AD by Google, on the same page as the story of this Don Sanderson tragedy. The Ad reads as follows: NHL Hockey Fight on DVD - 2 collectors edition DVD's. $19.99 - Real NHL hockey fight & brawls. www.knockouthocey.com ... Who profits from the fighting in hockey? We know who pays the price...

[Back in Black]

Here we go. So-called fans crawling out of the woodwork with the "fighting keeps the game safe" and the "fighting is a necessary part of hockey" comments. Funny but it's you people, the ones not playing, who are in the vast minority with that opinion. Don't believe that, poll every player, coach, and GM in any league that allows fighting. Even now when the NHL goons are much bigger, stronger, and cause more injuries than they did 20 years ago. Just another comment written by one of the ringleaders of the crowd who calls for the game to be played by those willing to share the ice with knuckledraggers that think lashing out with bare fists is somehow a vital "tradition". More fuel for the agenda.

Fighting doesn't keep cheapshot artists in check. Ever see the suspension list for fighters like Simon or Domi? The same guys running around committing cheapshots are often the same guys who are supposed to be "policing" the game. And no, there are not more cheapshots/headshots happening in the game today, although when there are it's often the Janssens and Neils who wouldn't even be in the game if it weren't for fighting, and certainly aren't deterred by the prospect of another fight. Why? Because fighting is their job, so of course they're not scared by it.

A good heavyweight fight can change the momentum of a game. Unless it doesn't. Truth be told, momentum in hockey can change so frequently that it's hard to tell whether picking a fight, or winning a fight, or losing 'bravely', does anything other than interrupt the play and give the real players a rest. Countless times even in today's NHL, I have seen one-sided games interrupted by "pointless sideshows", only to have the game resume being one-sided a few minutes later. Again don't take my word for it, run the poll. The game has been gooned up enough in recent years. It would be a shame to see more because of a freak incident.

There is women's hockey out there, and it's physical and entertaining. There is also college hockey which, although it doesn't allow fighting, has much less of the kind of ugly cheapshots that are finally being phased out of junior hockey.

Hopefully we don't witness another tragic and rare incident like this again, with it being the first documented on-ice fatality in hockey since Cherepanov died in October. And, luckily, the first attributed to a pointless fight.

[Jo]

This is no freak accident, it can happen to anyone who skates. How do I know? Because it happened to me 3 years ago. Not one of you wants to know what it feels like to have your head slammed onto the ice without protection. It is a pain which unless you've been in my shoes you will never be able to comprehend and even now 3 years later I cannot bear to watch the fighting or even just plain old figure skating. Personally for me it has nothing to do with the fighting, nothing to do with hockey but more there should be rules for EVERYONE who laces up skates should be made to wear a helmet at all times. I dont care if you feel a jerk on the ice with your grandkids wearing a helmet, just get your head out of the sand!! Try being told that your wife has 20 minutes to live unless something is done immediately, see how you would feel just at that. Ask my husband, he knows how that feels. Ask my kids how it feels to not be able to sleep wondering if their mother is dead or alive, they know. Want to know what it feels like to be put through all kinds of tests to find out what is wrong while your brain is bleeding slowly yet forcefully constricting inside your head. When you are aware of but not able to control your temper with the people who are desperately trying to save your life. Every single one of you who think that the fighting is ok, stop and put yourself in that postition. Quit being jerks!!

[kushiro]

The main argument behind fighting is that it curbs cheat shop artists. So if players were free to fight the following should happen:

Fighting decreases the number of cheap shots taken.
Because there are fewer cheap shots, there are fewer fights.
Eventually the number of cheap shots is reduced to almost zero, and so is the number of fights.

Which is exactly what happened before the instigator rule.
Right?

[ray brewer]

Hundreds of hockey players have played the game without head protection, including goaltenders..Many more players have made a living fighting in the NHL..No deaths..The facts are the facts..Could it happen?..Maybe..Show me in my comment where I said its not possible..

Its possible that a player gets hit in the forehead with a slapshot and dies..Its possible someone gets checked in the boards and suffers a life-ending injury..Maybe we should place a speed limit on slapshots or perhaps eliminate body contact..

It is just as much my right to enjoy an occasional fight as its your right not to like it..Hockey is a tough game as is most other sports...If you don't like fighting change the channel..Maybe watch lawn bowling or something..

[Big Bear]

To "ray brewer": No deaths from playing without head protection? Um, how about Bill Masterton, Minnesota North Stars, 1968? Took a hit, fell face-first on the ice, and died from a massive brain hemorrhage. Wasn't wearing a helmet.

And how about Ace Bailey, who damn near got killed in 1933 after being flipped over backwards by Eddie Shore and landing on his head (Bailey even apparently had last rites given to him by a priest). Again, no helmet.

The helmet rule wasn't invented for cosmetic reasons, you know. It was resisted like crazy when it was brought in (with the same sort of "wimp" and "sissy" arguments that are now made against visors), but the rule exists for a reason.

And I reiterate what I said earlier about fighting: even if Sanderson is the first to die from injuries suffered during a fight...damn it, isn't one death unacceptable enough? And just in case it isn't, how about the players that I mentioned in my previous post (such as Kypreos and Moore) who had their careers ended because of fighting injuries? None of those guys count, apparently?

I beg you--do your research and do a little thinking before you make truly asinine statements like that.

[Muskokaphotog]

What 21stC sport should need to have all the body armour the way hockey does. What modern sport permits blatant aggressive behaviour the way hockey does? I think the skills and the physical challenges of playing the game well are amazing, but rest leaves me cold. Frankly, I don't like to watch hockey anymore. The concept of deliberately plowing into another player or elbowing, etc. are so Roman gladiator that I'd rather watch boxing. At least the objective is clear. Knock the other guy's head off.

[ray brewer]

Maybe Mr. Bear you should do your research..I SAID Bill Masterson was killed in an NHL game as a result of a bodycheck..Read my first post..He didn't die as a result of a hockey fight..Nobody in the NHL has..Kypreos is still alive isn't he?

Plenty of injuries have happened due to stupidity and cheap shots..Two guys squaring off for a fight is totally different then the Steve Moore incident..You would have to had play competitive hockey to understand why fighting is a part of the game..

The vast majority of NHL players have gone on record saying they don't want fighting taken out of the game..

Violence is part of hockey if you don't like it don't watch it..

[Barney Fife]

Donald S Cherry turtled on this one. He knew how absurd his stance on fighting would be in light of Sanderson's death. What's he going to say? "You kids out there, he woulda been ok if his chinstrap was on tight..."

When will CBC put someone with more enlightened, progressive views on hockey into the Coach's Corner spot?

[David Leeper]

If hockey is "part of the game"....then why does the clock stop when a fight starts? Exactly...

The usual parade of quips from the fighting crowd; "stickwork, cheapshots", and my personal favourite: "the code" with all due respects people....holds no water whatsoever. None. And one could make the argument that the game would be improved in terms of marketing, tv exposure if this archaic ritual was removed from the sport.

And listen, I have John Kordic's autograph on a Leaf pennant, I own Rock'Em Sock'Em 1, I used to LOVE the Miller-Nilan, Kordic -Donnelly bouts...but it's just time for the game to evolve. Fighting's embarassing now, "the code" being enforced everytime someone gets hit....it's a bad joke now.

The Bertuzzi incident should have been a huge wake up call to everyone who loves the game that a mentality in the game needs to evolve, and the NHL did nothing about it.

And the reality for the "like to fight" people is, the argument's already over...it's just a matter of time. Either hockey/NHL cleans up it's act...or the legal community will do it for them in an embarassing fashion. Your choice meatheads. It's time to grow up.

[Spungo]

Let's take fighting out of the game (too violent).

Let's take hitting out of the game (too brutish).

Let's have the playes play on a rink-sized pillow to ensure safety.

Let's remove the scoreboard and not keep score (don't want players to get their feelings hurt).

Let's make it mandatory that all players hug and kiss after the game as a demonstration of true sportsmanship.

Then... and only then... will hockey be a true sport.

[cristobal]

I've read too many comments on THN and Yahoo to read all of them here tonight, but I can't help but be surprised that the OHA ejects players for fighting like in in-house leagues I've played in. But one aspect of that should surprise many others -

1 The OHA has strict rules on fighting, but they occur anyway.
2 If you still have big guys out there to scrap when needed in a league where they'll be ejected, maybe you need to cut the game-roster down so that you don't have room for a "fighter."

I think we also need to realize that people are natural "mimes" who mimic what they see in the big leagues.
Finally, I think we should get some more funding for our education systems because some of the things I've read are so devoid of logic, sense, reality, and scientific method that we must be losing the education battle.

I think the Olympics and WJC's prove, as you said, that hockey doesn't need to be brawl-ridden to be exciting, violent, and compelling.

Let's start emulating a sport very much like our own that has little or no fighting. World Soccer.

[Tabber]

Looks like both sides of this issue have their neanderthals. Comments rife with mention of "helmuts", comments about "morons", comments about how it's only one death (how many deaths should it take?). Hockey has its penalties for fighting, just as other sports do, but in hockey they're not necessarily ejection from the game. And there are a couple of sports that I can think of off the top of my head that have the objective of hurting your opponent - ever heard of boxing or MMA? I'm not against fights between victim and perpetrator of cheap shots, but goons/enforcers fighting each other is just a waste of time. Just my 2 cents after reading the comments, who's going to be the first to flame, and what's your opinion?

[Dave So]

Sad to see people still defending the idea of fighting in hockey... Just suck it up and admit the only reason you hold onto the idea so strongly is because you like to see it because it's exciting. Someone mentioned football... Well... it has just as much (if not more) contact as hockey... Why is fighting not a part of that sport? Because the league has decided that it doesn't want it there. But hockey, which struggles with ratings in the US needs it there to sell commercial time and tickets. Some of the best hockey you'll ever see is International because it's fast and full of skilled players.. No enforcers, no goons. If you can't skate and handle the puck, you're not on the team. NHL teams started an arms race long ago that forced everyone into hiring enforcers and lesser skilled players.

RICK: An NFL player was likely parlyzed in the context of a play, and not something that happened outside of game time (yes, fights in hockey are off the clock, and therefore not really part of the game). It's got nothing to do with hypocrites. If you want to compare guys getting injured from body checks, then that's something to compare, but not a guy getting hurt in a play vs. a guy getting hurt in a fight that happens after a play. And, I don't believe anyone is trying to push no contact hockey on anyone. Fighting and body checking are two completely different things, and if you can't wrap your head around that, then I don't know what to tell you.

[Spungo]

Can we give it a rest with the "fighting is assault" nonsense already?

Newsflash... bodychecking is also assault. Don't believe me? Go wait outside a police station and flaten the first officer you see with a massive bodycheck into the pavement. See what happens to you.

List of other things that regularly happen is EVERY hockey game that are also "assault":

1. Crosschecking
2. Elbowing
3. Hooking
4. Tripping
5. Roughing
6. Uttering threats

[Dave So]

Spungo: *sigh* your argument is weak... Body checking is allowed by rules in the game of hockey... I think you also need to brush up on your definition of assault. It is understood that when you're playing hockey that contact (ie. bodychecks) are a part of the game (dependent upon the league you play in). By entering into the game of hockey, you assume a certain amout of liability for what may happen to you which removes the aspect of assault by bodycheck because it is in the rules, and by playing you accept those rules. Minor infractions such as tripping, hooking, roughing, etc are also assumed to be part of the game and therefore do not constitute assault. Fighting however is a whole different thing.

[Ingrid]

for me this doesn't just have to do with hockey but all sports. There shou;dn't be any fighting it should be about having fun playing a game that you love, not about "settling scores" or getting "revenge". I know I play soccer and there is no fighting at all, its all about having fun, if you don't have fun playing something then why are you playing it? I play and ref soccer and the refs check all the equipment before anyone plays. If you don't have the correct equipment or something is wrong with the equipment you are wearing you can't play. If they did it in that game, Don Sanderson would probably still be alive. They should make rules that if you fight in any sport you should get kicked out of that game or get suspended and mabey it would hopefully prevent from players of all sports from getting injured and certainly not ending up dead because of pointless fights

[ray brewer]

Yes international hockey can be exciting but they don't play 82 games a season against the best players in the world..I would ask some of these people to watch about 100 games of international hockey and then decide what league is better..Most of you would be begging for the NHL..The players just aren't as good...They all kind of float around the ice with no animosity at all..International hockey is inferior to the NHL unless its a tournament featuring NHL players..

When I read people say they think removing fighting will help sell the game I say no way..Winning sells tickets better then anything else..If you ice a team that wins the fans will come to the rink..Thats what sells hockey in areas that need more support..

Fighting won't leave the NHL until the players want it removed..Most fans love to watch a fight, it just doesn't get any more simple then that..

[Donna Herold]

1968, 1972, 2008. Three deaths with similar related causes in the same game over that time span realistically doesn't seem like a real problem to me. If the odds were only that good in all sports!!!! I knew Don well and personally, and although I'm sure he didn't think this fight would result in his death, he was a huge supporter of fighting in hockey and understood that there could be a chance that death was always chance. A chance he was always willing and eager to take.