King on CHL: OHL’s fighting a decision
Posted March 7, 2012 11:07 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It would be naïve to think there isn’t a problem with fighting in junior hockey.
With the recent news the Ontario Hockey League is considering abandoning fighting as part of the game, it’s time to think of the ramifications such a decision would instil, and it’s not quite as crystal clear as it may be perceived.
Sure, there is a problem with fighting, but it isn’t so much that there is fighting as much as when. The OHL, in particular, is earning a reputation for staged fights that are either organized through social media or via text messages amongst the combatants prior to a game. This isn’t boxing, and in that respect, fighting shouldn’t have a place in the game.
Far too often a clean hit is followed by a teammate immediately looking for retribution. There’s nothing wrong with standing up for a fallen teammate, but the need to do so when the opposing player did nothing more than finish his check on an unsuspecting player with his head down is wrong.
Somewhere along the line it became intuitive to step in for a teammate under the wrong circumstances. The old notion used to be that revenge was best served by beating him on the scoreboard, not by beating him into a pulp.
In those instances, fighting doesn’t offer much to the game. But this discussion isn’t as black and white as those calling for the fisticuffs to be a thing of the past makes it seem. Simply by eliminating fighting, the league would be opening a much bigger can of worms.
By doing so the league would, in effect, be declaring open season on the smaller and the skilled, finesse players. Imagine a league where the only consequence for taking an intentional run (and try proving it’s intentional, if you’re going to suspend said player) at a skilled player results in but a mere minor penalty.
Players will soon adopt the mentality of a quote made famous in the second Mighty Ducks movie: “Two minutes well worth it.”
There will certainly be more gutless stick-work, since the unwritten code of conduct will be tossed out the window. This isn’t football, and it will be much harder for two refs to crack down on 10 players.
There will always be a need for players to police themselves and in that framework, there is balance. In many instances, a fight designed to end cheap shots results in a cleaner game post-fight. If a player doesn’t need to answer for taking liberties with his stick by dropping his gloves, the already low level of respect will reach new lows.
Until the National Hockey League believes fighting is no longer worth including in their game — and that notion is laughable — junior players will be stunting their development and be put at a disadvantage. Since the OHL and the Canadian Hockey League view themselves as the top feeder leagues to the pros, it would be best to let players learn to defend themselves and learn an aspect of the game they could soon face in the pros.
There is a time and place for fighting in hockey. Not everyone needs to drop the gloves and as long as there is respect amongst the combatants – ask any enforcer and the answer is unequivocally yes – then fighting should remain.
It’s just a matter of keeping the instances which precipitate fights in perspective.
Erie goaltending dilemma
Connor Crisp became a folk legend on Sunday when the forward, who missed the entire season to this point after shoulder surgery, was pressed into action as a goaltender.
Crisp should be commended for standing in the firing line against one of junior hockey’s scariest oppositions in the Niagara IceDogs. Although he won’t get the chance to don the pads and helmet again, the Erie Otters’ marketing department is turning a negative into a positive with commemorative t-shirts, with partial proceeds going to charity.
Crisp made the most of a bad situation and deserves a pat on the back for being a good sport – especially after telling the Canadian Press the goalie skates he wore were three times too small and not nearly wide enough.
But no matter how unique and heart-warming Crisp’s story is, it’s underlined by poor planning by the Otters. It diminishes the Ontario Hockey League’s reputation and becomes a black mark on a league which prides itself as the top feeder league to the pros.
Erie general manager Sherry Bassin now needs to resolve a question with no easy answers. If Ramis Sadikov and Devin Williams are unable to play due to alleged concussions, the Otters need a Plan C that doesn’t involve playing a forward out of position. The other goalies in their system are either still playing or reportedly contemplating taking their game to the NCAA.
If nothing else, at least this draws attention away from the Hamilton relocation rumours for a few days.
Carnevale quits Cataractes
Taylor Carnevale’s season is officially over.
The former Sarnia Sting forward left the OHL in a cloud of controversy after his previous team was led to believe he would miss the balance of the season and playoffs with shoulder surgery. Sarnia then traded his rights to Kingston to make room for another over-age spot before Carnevale ended up in Shawinigan, with the MasterCard Memorial Cup host Cataractes.
After scoring two goals and three assists in 10 games with limited minutes with the Cataractes, Carnevale walked out on the team this week. He told the team’s beat reporter, Steve Turcotte of Le Nouvelliste, his decision was forced due to his injured shoulder. Turcotte also reported in the same story on Tuesday that Carnevale was dissatisfied with his role on the team.
The shoulder may not be holding up, but there’s probably some truth to the report of Carnevale’s unhappiness in his role. Prior to jettisoning the OHL for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, sources within the OHL painted a picture of a player whose priority was geared more towards himself than the team.
“As long as he got his three points a game,” a source said, “he didn’t care if the team won or lost.”
Under a head coach like Éric Veilleux, where a team-first mentality and strong systematic plays are paramount, the situation didn’t likely lend itself to an amicable conclusion. Shawinigan general manager Martin Mondou could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
