The brawl between the midget B North Central Bulls and midget Athabasca Winter Hawks last week, which drew blood and multiple penalties, merits more than a shrug and an “oh well, it’s part of the game” attitude. That line is tired, and what’s more, it leaves the door open for young players to think this is acceptable.
Fighting and the damage it does are hotly contested in the junior and NHL leagues, where players are arguably of an age and physicality best suited to handle the blows. If the jury is out in those leagues, should we not be doing our utmost to discourage fighting amongst younger, more vulnerable players?
The fact that the teams involved were both local makes this brawl a shame not just for those involved, but for this community as a whole.
