Exploratory essay 
Jesse Bernesby Bernesby-1
Dr. Soud
English 110
12 April 2014
Old Time Hockey vs. Modern Day Hockey
March 5th, 2004, the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers had what people regard as one of the best fights in NHL history. The fight resulted in a bench-clearing brawl resulting in 20 players getting ejected as well as 419 penalty minutes given out. The fighting aspect of hockey has been around since the early 1800’s and it has played a monumental role in shaping the game of hockey into what it has become today. Top sports news broadcasts such as ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated often compose many polls and surveys asking the public how fighting in hockey is beneficial as well as detrimental to one of America’s oldest sports. Last year the New York Times posted an article about the banning of fighting in hockey after a player received a concussion in the first game of the NHL season due to a fight. Researches at a Mayo Clinic conference on concussions in hockey called for a ban on fighting at all levels of hockey. This ban of fighting was brought up after a player on the Montreal Canadian’s was knocked unconscious in a fight. Although it is not directly proven that fighting is the cause of long-term brain damage, scientists do believe that prolonged fighting has a very negative effect on one’s brain. “Science has responded to the game on ice, now its time for the game to respond to the science” (NYTIMES). Dr.
Bernesby-2
Michael Stewart, the chief medical officer for USA hockey goes as far to say that as a result of fighting, instead of a five-minute penalty, there should be immediate ejections or possibly even suspensions. Receiving a concussion is a very serious matter that requires medical assistance and constant attention to make sure a player heals without any problems. Sports Illustrated published an article based off of Chris Pronger, an 18-year-old NHL veteran, after he took a nasty hit into the boards against Toronto
Dr. Soud
English 110
12 April 2014
Old Time Hockey vs. Modern Day Hockey
March 5th, 2004, the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers had what people regard as one of the best fights in NHL history. The fight resulted in a bench-clearing brawl resulting in 20 players getting ejected as well as 419 penalty minutes given out. The fighting aspect of hockey has been around since the early 1800’s and it has played a monumental role in shaping the game of hockey into what it has become today. Top sports news broadcasts such as ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated often compose many polls and surveys asking the public how fighting in hockey is beneficial as well as detrimental to one of America’s oldest sports. Last year the New York Times posted an article about the banning of fighting in hockey after a player received a concussion in the first game of the NHL season due to a fight. Researches at a Mayo Clinic conference on concussions in hockey called for a ban on fighting at all levels of hockey. This ban of fighting was brought up after a player on the Montreal Canadian’s was knocked unconscious in a fight. Although it is not directly proven that fighting is the cause of long-term brain damage, scientists do believe that prolonged fighting has a very negative effect on one’s brain. “Science has responded to the game on ice, now its time for the game to respond to the science” (NYTIMES). Dr.
Bernesby-2
Michael Stewart, the chief medical officer for USA hockey goes as far to say that as a result of fighting, instead of a five-minute penalty, there should be immediate ejections or possibly even suspensions. Receiving a concussion is a very serious matter that requires medical assistance and constant attention to make sure a player heals without any problems. Sports Illustrated published an article based off of Chris Pronger, an 18-year-old NHL veteran, after he took a nasty hit into the boards against Toronto