Is this Fight Night?

First off, I'd like to make apologies.  I know, apologies that probably go into the big void that is the Internet, but I feel that I've let myself down.  I made a commitment to post on this blog every other day, and I didn't.  In my defense I was sick, and preparing for surgery- which hasn't happened yet, but come the 24th it will take place.

My topic today is fighting in hockey. 

Violence has always, and will always be a part of hockey.  In fact when the first game of hockey was played in Montreal, it was the Kingston Whig-Standard that immediately raised concerns about the violence which was already ingrained into the game.  But where do we draw the line at what is too much?

Fighting has caused injury to many a player, and while it is an exciting part of the game loved by many fans, is it too much? 

I know that in junior hockey rules have been put in place about when the helmet comes off the linesmen have to step in.  I have seen it, and I'm sure it won't be the last time I have seen a player get a concussion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t7mqAezL2U&p=5CBDA9B6AC093641&playnext=1&index=41

Some will argue that Francella was out before he hit the ice, regardless of what gave him the concussion it shows the dangers of fighting.  If I remember correctly he was out for the remainder of the season, admittedly not that long considering this is Kingston we are talking about.  He did play the following season but he was never the same.

I believe that there are some reasons for fighting, for instance protecting your goaltender (although not that they all need it) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nAVNvoUp2Y.  Sometimes fights are used to fire the team up.

Reasons aside, do we want our star players fighting?  Are there ever reasons for the stars to fight?

Of course fighting is not the only injury risk in the game, you could easily get a concussion from being on the receiving end of a check, or you could tear a ligament driving hard to the net.  As much as I am a fan of fighting, it is an unnecessary risk run by the players, and it makes me wonder- is it time to crack down on fighting and outlaw it?