Wikipedia:Today's featured article/July 19, 2007

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

A fight during junior ice hockey game

enforcers on a given hockey team and is governed by a complex system of unwritten rules that players, coaches, officials, and the media refer to as "the code." Some fights are spontaneous and others are premeditated by the participants. While officials tolerate fighting during hockey games, they impose a variety of penalties on players who engage in fights. Broadly speaking, fighting exists in organized ice hockey to protect star players, who are generally discouraged by their coaches from fighting because of fear of injury, to deter opposing players from overly rough play, and to create a sense of solidarity among teammates. Despite its potentially negative consequences, such as heavier enforcers knocking each other out, administrators like Gary Bettman of the NHL are not considering eliminating fighting from the game since most players consider it essential. Additionally, the majority of fans oppose eliminating fights from professional hockey games. However, considerable opposition to fighting and efforts to eliminate it continue. (more...
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