Quote:
Originally Posted by Vedder
It's junior hockey, these are kids that aren't getting paid to make that sort of sacrifice. The vast majority of them will not make a living playing hockey and will need their health to do something else. No reason it should be part of the game at that level.
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Yep. It's bad enough teenagers play what is essentially professional hockey, for the amusement of beer-swilling fans, without being paid. The fact kids punching each other in the head is part of the entertainment package is grotesque. May as well goad kids at junior high schools to beat each other up and post the videos on youtube. I'm sure it would get millions of hits.
I'm not against fighting in the NHL. They're adults, they're professionals, and they have a union and insurance to back them up. But the fact a lot of fans consider 16-year-olds playing after school and on weekends to be the same as professional hockey shows just out of whack major junior hockey is in Canada.