Fighting's Impact on Hockey

Friday, Ontario Hockey Association player Don Sanderson died while in a coma which he suffered after he hit his head on the ice from being knocked out during a fight on December 12th.  During the fight, Anderson had lost his helmet.  His death has sparked a lot of conversation for new rules regarding fighting and player safety, mostly revolving around having players keep their helmets on and fastened tightly.

But the bigger question is: what purpose does fighting have for hockey?  A lot of my friends who don't really watch the sport always think I watch hockey because fighting is the most exciting part of the sport (which is odd because I'm not a very big, tough guy, and I've only fought once in my life).  Personally, I think goals and good goaltending are the highlight reel stuff.  Sure, watching two big Canadians wail on each other with no thoughts about self defense is always a good way to kill time, but frankly what gets me jumping out of my chair is a goal or a robbery.  Even when I play NHL 09 on my PS3(which is the best hockey game... ever...), I never instigate a fight (spamming triangle when you don't have the puck).  Not even with Jody Shelley.  But a game tying goal always gets my fists pumping in the air.

I'm not going to argue whether or not the NHL should ban hockey or regulate them more, but for those that don't understand, it is part of the game for a reason.  Players do talk to each other and agree to throw the gloves when they have a fight (unless they're fighting Sidney Crosby, who doesn't take "no" for an answer).  And as much as the crowd is entertained, winning a fight or even having a fairly good match is a huge motivational swing for the team.  It's that sense of camaraderie that energizes a team (the extra rest players get when others fight doesn't hurt either).  But with the NHL hammering down on player safety with the new icing rules and refs calling penalties left and right on baby hooks, it's no surprise that a tragedy like this will turn heads and make people question the necessity of throwing fists at other players' heads (or in Alexander Semin's case, their chest) in the middle of a game.  

I for one would say keep it and if a helmet flies off during a fight, have the refs jump in.  But that's more of a "don't fix what isn't broken" way of thinking, not "hockey NEEDS fights".