I had a really great conversation with NHL Digest over the weekend about fighting in hockey.  I wanted to share some of my thoughts on this issue with you and also my position on the importance of head protection both while playing and if a player engages in a fight:

Fighting in hockey has been debated for many years by team officials, players, experts, and fans.  The one constant in all the discussions is that there are no easy answers or solutions.  As a former player, fighting was an accepted aspect of the game.  Of course when I first started, very few games were televised around the country, and every move the league or teams made was not scrutinized by millions of viewers.

Over the last few decades, fighting in hockey has changed tremendously.  In the 70’s fighting really hit its peak, being lead by the Broad Street Bullies in Philadelphia.  The Flyers were the Stanley Cup Champions and played a very aggressive in-your-face game, which often lead to fisticuffs on the ice.  Bench clearing brawls were the norm, and of course, all this trickled down to the minor leagues and even into the grass roots level.

The 80’s followed with an invasion of highly skilled European players that started to make their way over to play in the NHL.  And soon after came the games Greatest player ever in Wayne Gretzky, who possessed a game of skill and awareness that had never been seen before.  Led by Wayne, the Edmonton Oilers became the benchmark for success, adopting a highly skilled, fast skating game, which forced the rest of the league to change their philosophy from a grinding up and down your wing, to a skating, interweaving game that resembled a more European style.

The league took tremendous steps to reduce fighting and eliminate bench clearing brawls.  Requiring players to return to their benches as soon as a fight broke out and the institution of many other new rules greatly reduced the number of fights that took place in any particular game.

While the focus now is on a more skilled, high tempo game, fighting is still a topic of conversation, particularly when a player is hurt as a result of the fight.  Players are bigger and stronger than ever, and have taken the skill of fighting to a new level.  Hockey is a great game of passion, skill, discipline, courage and heart.  However, in addition to these great attributes, intimidation has always played and will continue to play a part in the game.

One of the latest problems associated with fighting is players taking their helmets off before engaging in a fight.  One of the reasons for this was the mandatory visor rule that was implemented much like the hockey helmet was back in 1979.  Because of the shields and full cages, taking the helmets off became a way of showing respect and bravado.

Hockey, like life, is ever changing and evolving.  We as a league must always have the best interests in our minds and hearts for the players, teams and fans.  The changes that have taken place over the last 30 years have made our game better than ever.  We will continue to make the necessary changes to ensure we not only protect our players, but provide the fans with the best product and entertainment possible.

Fighting has always been a part of hockey, and I personally believe that it will continue to be one aspect of our game.  Part of what makes hockey so entertaining is that it requires physical and mental toughness.  But as the game continues to evolve, I believe that player safety and better protection need to be our top priority.  If that means instituting a rule – like Hockey Canada – that makes it mandatory to keep your helmet on in a fight, I would support it.

The Messier Project, my new collaboration with Cascade Sports, is committed to elevating head protection in hockey and we are working to change priorities in the sport.  A helmet and its protective technology are just as important – if not more important – than the skates you wear or the stick you use.

In developing the M11, I worked very closely with the innovators at Cascade Sports to bring a player’s perspective to the design.  One of the features I am most proud of is the ProFit system, which I think ties into this conversation.  During game play and especially if a player engages in a fight, it is extremely important that the helmet stays on to prevent potential head injury due to a blow to the head or the more serious threat of a player’s head hitting the ice.

"The Pro Fit system creates a 360 degree fit- tapering the entire helmet in around the head for a snug, 'toque' feel."

The Pro Fit system creates a 360 degree fit- tapering the entire helmet in around the head for a snug, “toque” feel.  When your helmet fits right, it is safer on impact and when adjusted properly, a good fit increases the level of protection the helmet offers.  From a performance perspective, the M11 ProFit allows a player to fine-tune the fit and adjust it on the fly based on the situation and environment.

Thank you for your question.  It is conversations and questions like these that are so important to the evolution and continued success of our game.

With respect,

Mark Messier