Brawling is a part of ice hockey
SPORTS PERSPECTIVE
By Pekka Aaltonen
Punching and violence are a part of ice hockey. Brawls on the ice keep the sport vibrant and alive.
Among other things, fights between players are a nice source of nourishment for the ever-hungry media. Tuesday's last-minute slugfest in the play-off encounter between Helsinki HIFK and Lukko from Rauma satisfied the needs of many a hockey fan.
Of course the name of the game is that the Finnish Hockey League had to officially step in to ensure that the sport's image was not unduly tarnished, and had to deal out some form of punishment to the offenders. This enabled them to assure sponsors and other corporate partners and the like that the values of the hockey world are being nurtured with all due firmness.
Nevertheless, the League's supervision is a balancing act over a "suitable" amount of violence. Without skirmishes and without big crunching tackles, ice hockey would lose an integral part of its attraction - and any claims to the contrary are mere hypocrisy.
The HIFK Chairman Harri Tuohimaa, generally regarded as a bright chap, commented after Tuesday night's incident that primitive reactions belong in ice hockey (Ilta-Sanomat, 24.3.). "Hockey is a game for rough, tough guys. Things are different in volleyball and badminton, when there is a net between the players."
The economist in Tuohimaa has interpreted accurately the feelings of the crowds in the Ice Hall on Nordenskiöldenkatu. They want the thud of battle and some decent fisticuffs to wash down the beer in their plastic mugs. HIFK's wild reputation in this department has ensured that there are plenty of bums on seats.
Thursday's fifth play-off match (at which the visitors Lukko took their fourth win and consigned the HIFK players to their summer vacation) was already sold out - with an attendance of 8,120 - by Wednesday.
That was the same day that Tappara and Oulu Kärpät played out an appreciably more sporting and "classy" match in front of just 3,643 paying spectators in a half-empty hall in Tampere.
And what are the rough, tough guys like:
"It was me who decided to start the rumble. It didn't matter who I came up against, I just smacked him straight away", said HIFK's Toni Häppölä on the origins of the mass brawl in the final minute of the third period, by which time Lukko had the game won.
Häppölä received a one-match suspension for his doings. It was considered mitigating circumstances that he still had his gloves on as he punched Lukko's centre Esa Pirnes.
The problem ice hockey faces, at least in Finland, is that it has an educational function. The sport is one of the most popular among youngsters.
Players in the junior teams should be given proper rules and models of fair play to look up to.
In the pro hockey leagues of North America there are no such moral burdens.
It would be easy to weed out the fighting on the ice, if that is really what was wanted.
If, for instance, a player were to be given a 12-month suspension for throwing a bare-knuckle punch, the problem would go away in a flash.
But that is not going to happen.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 26.3.2005
Note: The League Play-offs have now reached the semi-final stages. Helsinki Jokerit will play HPK from Hämeenlinna, and Oulu Kärpät meet HIFK's nemesis, Lukko from Rauma. Kärpät and Jokerit enjoy home advantage for three matches in the best-of-five play-offs to find the two finalists, with the opening games being played in Oulu and Helsinki on April 1st.
PEKKA AALTONEN / Helsingin Sanomat
pekka.aaltonen@hs.fi
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| 30.3.2005 - THIS WEEK |
 Brawling is a part of ice hockey |
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