Hockey reduced to basic blood sport

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Aug. 29, 2005. 06:35 AM

Hockey reduced to basic blood sport
Evening of fights first of its kind
Fans give battle mixed reviews

DANIEL GIRARD
WESTERN CANADA BUREAU

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C.—Even before the first pool of blood was scraped from the ice by a guy wielding a snow shovel, Richard Cunningham considered his money well spent.

Having shelled out $52 for his seat and another $24.99 for the pay-per-view telecast he taped to watch as often as he wants, the provincial forest ministry employee gave a big thumb's up to an evening of hockey fights unencumbered by the playing of a game.

"I'm losing my voice from screaming so loud," said Cunningham, 29, clad in a Team Canada jersey of superstar Mario Lemieux. "Guys are going toe to toe and I love it.

"I'm a big hockey fan but I'm here to see fights, not a game."

He was not alone. About 2,000 people paid from $35 to $200 to watch the Battle of the Hockey Enforcers here Saturday night. Untold others across Canada bought pay-per-view.

Over three hours they saw about two dozen fights — 19 amongst the equipment-clad players on the ice and at least four more between well-refreshed patrons in the stands.

The winner, Dean Mayrand, 27, Windsor, Ont. native who now plays semi-pro hockey in Quebec, skated around the ice holding aloft an oversized cheque for $62,250 as though it was the Stanley Cup. He won the title match in a split decision over Mike Sgroi, a Toronto native now living in Florida, who pocketed $25,000 as runnerup.

The scrapping fans received an escort out of the building by RCMP officers.

- tinyurl.com/dar8w

[jkr]

I don't know about this. To me it reduces hockey to the level of WWE.

The discerning fan can tell the difference between this and the real game of hockey but to the markets the NHL is really trying to reach - well they may not know the difference.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

jkr said:

I don't know about this. To me it reduces hockey to the level of WWE.

The discerning fan can tell the difference between this and the real game of hockey but to the markets the NHL is really trying to reach - well they may not know the difference.

I'm not too concerned that it reduces hockey to a lower level, because it's not really hockey. It's a brawl on skates with referees and no interruptions for skating, shooting and stickhandling. If people want to watch it, why not? It beats seeing somebody pimping someone elses ride or making over a bedroom in a house.

[jkr]

habsfaninla said:

jkr said:

I don't know about this. To me it reduces hockey to the level of WWE.

The discerning fan can tell the difference between this and the real game of hockey but to the markets the NHL is really trying to reach - well they may not know the difference.

I'm not too concerned that it reduces hockey to a lower level, because it's not really hockey. It's a brawl on skates with referees and no interruptions for skating, shooting and stickhandling. If people want to watch it, why not? It beats seeing somebody pimping someone elses ride or making over a bedroom in a house.

I guess you're right. I don't have a real problem with a fight once in a while but it doesn't seem like entertainment to me. No accounting for taste I guess.

Maybe after a season of this we will see some of these guys on Extreme Makeover.