Comments on: Why is fighting in high school hockey acceptable?

By: Todd Reekie

Todd Reekie — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:37:13 +0000

It seems to me that your ignorance of the sport of hockey is only surpassed by your ability to back peddle. Hockey is a sport of finesse, power, speed, and skill. You very clearly stated that every high school hockey game has a fight in it. And now that you have been called out on your inaccurate attack on a game that many people love and respect your excuse is that there may be a difference between throwing punches with gloves on or off? I know a little about hockey and not for one second do I believe that you have seen fighting in any high school hockey game that wasn’t met in a penalty more severe than two minutes. There is no three minute penalties in high school hockey. Thanks for attending high school hockey, and supporting it financially with your two dollar gate fee…

Good luck Homer Mariners as you approach the semi finals of your Region Tournament. Fight if you must, but play your best.

By: Steve Wolfe

Steve Wolfe — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 08:36:41 +0000

Because of all of the comments that pointed out that I was in error in my observations, I apologize. It seems to me whether you deliberately hit someone with gloves on or off it still is a fight, but I applaud the rule that suspends the fighters for the game and the next. That seems equal to the other sports and that is fair. I have nothing against a good agressive game like hockey, I just want all high school athletes to be treated equally. Apparently from your comments they are.

By: Rob Ahiers

Rob Ahiers — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 03:12:29 +0000

I can’t understand someone could make such a rediculous statement. The man is dillusional !

By: Chris Miller

Chris Miller — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 07:19:42 +0000

…and every high school wrestling match I’ve been there’s a herpes outbreak. Oh wait…I’ve never been to a high school wrestling match. Guess I don’t deserve to express my point of view.

Homer has a great thing going. Keep up the good work HHA, you’re cranking out some talented hockey players.

By: Tim Miller

Tim Miller — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 01:44:20 +0000

After reading Mr Wolfe’s arcticle I can only conclude:
That he has never been to a high school hockey game,
He has a new book coming out and is looking for publicity.
Or cant stand the fact that hockey is getting more community support than the the sports he coaches…probably all of the above
Fighting in high school hockey is not only against the rules it almost never happens…a ref will step in long before it gets to be a fight

By: Tom Bowe

Tom Bowe — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:09:35 +0000

Thank you.

By: Tom Bowe

Tom Bowe — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:04:07 +0000

As a player on a high school hockey team i have never witnessed a fight in the 3 years i have played, which is almost 80 games. As for the suspention rules they are the exact same for every asaa sport or activity you are ejected from the game imediately and must serve a 1 game, match ect. suspention if it happenes again you are removed from the game but since you are a reapeat offender you miss 3 games due to suspention.

By: Emily Hutchison

Emily Hutchison — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 18:45:59 +0000

Mr. Wolfe,

I have attended numerous high school hockey games in the eight years I have lived in Homer. How many times have I witnessed a fight? NEVER. Makes me wonder which high school hockey games you are actually watching since you say a fight happens “almost every game”. If you would have done just a small amount of research Mr. Wolfe, you would know that according to USA Hockey rules, fighting is a major penalty plus a game misconduct. This is not a 2 or 3 minute penalty in the box as you state. It is an ejection from the game, a suspension from the next game, and a 5 minute penalty served by another player of the team. You may be the author of “three best-selling Alaska books”, but clearly you did not back up this writing with facts and research.

Hockey is a wonderful sport. I know because I play. I also know that because of the Homer Hockey Association and the Kevin Bell Arena that many children, teens, and adults have learned fair play, respect, integrity, leadership, teamwork, and a spirit for the game. Please don’t degrade hockey Mr. Wolfe with your own personal agenda. You are more than welcome to come out to the rink to see for yourself the positive impact Homer Hockey has on this community. The schedule is at homerhockey.org.

By: Terry Greenwald

Terry Greenwald — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:04:48 +0000

Mr Wolfe needs to do one of two things, learn more about hockey or stop commenting on the game. He shows his lack of knowledge when he suggests the offending player is sent to the penalty box for a two or three minute penalty, there are no three minute penalties. There are “minor” penalties which are all 2 minutes and the players team plays short a man until the two minutes are up OR the opposing team scores a goal. There are also five minute “major” penalties, where the offending player is sent to the penalty box and is there until the full five minutes is up, no matter HOW MANY goals the opposing team scores during the five minutes. Fighting is NOT allowed in high school hockey and is usually assesed a 2 minute MINOR penalty if the player throwing punches does not remove his gloves, if he does “drop em” then he is nusually assesed a more severe penalty of the major variety or a game misconduct which means he is ejected from the game and I believe is ineligible for the following game. Hockey is played with heavily padded gloves for protection from the puck which often travels fast enough to break bones. Pushing and shoving is a part of the game and at times the shoving goes beyond shoving to something more resembling of punches.

This said however, comparing football or wrestling to hockey is just crazy. PLayers in the other sports do NOT werra padded gloves, and there are penalties which are assesed FAR differently than in hockey. IT’s like comparing apples and tangerines, it doesn’t make sense, but at the VERY LEAST, if you are going to give an opinion on a sport, learn the rules first!

By: John Butcher

John Butcher — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 07:00:32 +0000

I actually feel dumber for reading this point of view… this is obviously the opinion of a man who has absolutely no idea what he is talking about. Fighting is absolutely against the rules in High School Hockey, always has been and always will be. Hockey is a very fast and physical sport, emotions run high and things occasionally get heated. I have seen fights in high school games and I have seen those players punished accordingly, including suspensions from school. To say fighting is accepted and overlooked is ridiculous. Congratulations on you’re wrestling Hall of Fame induction Mr. Wolfe, feel free to put on a unitard and do some grappling but please stay away from the hockey rink..