Comments on: What the NHL and NHLPA should learn from a year filled with tragic death

By: icelovinbrotha215

icelovinbrotha215 — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:46:38 +0000

@1943mrmojorisin1971, well said. Real hockey fans want to see good hockey. Playoff hockey is the best hockey you’ll see all year round. And how many fights happen during that tenure? One or two if you’re lucky. Fights and big hits are part of the game. But real fans also appreciate 2-on-1′s and PP and PK. You like to battles in the corners and how the 4th line has a relentless forecheck. There is so much more to hockey than fighting and obliterating hits. If that is all you want to see, fights and hits that is, maybe one should consider UFC, MMA, boxing, etc.

By: 1943mrmojorisin1971

1943mrmojorisin1971 — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:31:38 +0000

“They scream to see blood & marginally dirty hits, they want the players to make bodily punishing plays that the human body just wasn’t meant to make”

What hockey games are you going to? Or perhaps the more pertinent question, what kind of hockey fan are you? I go to a game expecting to be entertained, see a bunch of goals, a few good saves, and to watch my team win. A fight or a big hit is an added bonus but I could care less if neither happens as long as it’s a good game

By: Kristenaux

Kristenaux — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:47:22 +0000

The blame can be shared by more than just the leagues. Coaches & GM’s alike have to look at these players, realize there’s something underlying & make sure they have adequate time to heal. As well, the fans aren’t blameless either. They scream to see blood & marginally dirty hits, they want the players to make bodily punishing plays that the human body just wasn’t meant to make – plays that lay another player out, sometimes for months or sometimes forever. We share responsibility for *expecting* these guys to play that way or they “just aren’t fit for the league”. That takes it’s toll on a players head too…jmo.

By: stanjonathon

stanjonathon — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:26:09 +0000

Joe, read “Everyone’s All-American” for a good novel on a star SEC football player experiencing the end of his athletic identity.

By: 1943mrmojorisin1971

1943mrmojorisin1971 — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:44:29 +0000

“One death is one too many, four is a sign of a much larger problem that must be addressed”

It’s hard to agree that there is a larger problem here since there have been many players like these guys before them that have not gone down the same road. However, I agree more needs to be done in terms of offering support to current and former NHLers