I'm not a proponent of eliminating body checking, or even fighting from hockey. But I also don't think if you did it would ruin the game.
Women's hockey has neither fighting or body checking (legally, that is), and I've seen some great games played.
In fact, in the NHL today I often see several shifts in succession or even several minutes where a "body check" isn't thrown, let alone a fight...
(And with regards to Soccer... I don't know why people don't think that isn't a physical game. I pick up more injuries playing soccer than hockey!! And FIFA/soccer is waaaaaaay behind regarding head injuries! Just today I was watching the Gent vs Eupen game and one of the goalies got knocked in the head and was basically knocked out. They gave him a few mins and he continued the game....)
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