Hockey fight goes wrong...again.

[The Nation]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/01/23/..._fight_seizure/

SPORTSNET.CA

Forward Garrett Klotz of the AHL's Philadelphia Phantoms was taken off the ice on a stretcher Friday night following a fight with forward Kevin Westgarth of the Manchester Monarchs.

The fight occurred after the opening faceoff, and according to Sports Network Kotz appeared to land awkwardly on the boards and suffered a seizure.

Kotz reportedly did not hit his head on the ice, but his knees shook uncontrollably and his eyes rolled to the back of his head.

The helmets of both players were off during the fight.

The Phantoms said that Klotz was stable and alert in hospital and able to watch the rest of the game on televison. He's being kept overnight for observation.

Both fighters are listed at 6-foot-5 with Westgarth weighing in at 247 pounds and Klotz at 235.

Klotz was drafted in the third round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers.

I'm all for fighting, but only if its meaningful fights like Lecavlier/Iginla. None of these fights in the opening faceoff between two goons who combine to play 6 minutes.

[Korbyn]

Those were some serious heavy weights going at it.

[JQK]

I watched that game and it was scary. I'm all for fighting, but seeing that kids eyes roll in the back of his head and seeing him seizure like that...

...it was sobering.

[slapshot]

From the Phantoms website:

Update On Phantoms Left Wing Garrett Klotz:

Klotz was taken to the University of Pennsylvania Hospital after suffering a facial laceration and a seizure in a first-period fight. Klotz was alert and responsive en route to the hospital, and was able to watch the rest of the game on television upon arrival. He is being kept overnight for observation and is expected to be released tomorrow after further testing.

[NEW.ERA]

Do what the OHL does with fighting keep your helmets one, if they fall off stop the fight immediately and if the guy takes his helmet off suspended him for one game.

But glad to see he'll be alright

[The_Admiral]

Fight on the opening faceoff, get thrown out of the game. There's a time and place for fights and that isn't it.

Glad to hear Klotz will be okay, though.

[Shumway]

Like King, I was also watching the game. At first, my reaction was, "man, that dude just got up!" Then he didn't get up, and the zoomed in on him. He was shaking with his eyes rolled back into his head. It was scary as all hell to watch.

[FiddySicks]

I know it's not a shared opinion, but I still think fighting in hockey adds absolutely nothing positive to the game. I wish that the NHL (and the majority of the minor leagues) would do what they do in international hockey and suspend fighters.

[Brass]

I know it's not a shared opinion, but I still think fighting in hockey adds absolutely nothing positive to the game. I wish that the NHL (and the majority of the minor leagues) would do what they do in international hockey and suspend fighters.

Bucfan56, I can certainly see your point, however from a business standpoint, you can't ban fighting. I'd venture to say that 50% of the attendance of an average hockey game, are there JUST to see a fight. No matter the outcome of the game, whether it was a good game or not, they're not satisfied unless they saw a fight. It's sad, but that's the way it goes. If you ban fighting, attendance would just plummet, and most teams in the NHL can't afford that right now anyway. Also, and I'm dead set on this happening, more and more cheap shots would occur. Why? Because it would be the only way to get back at a player for something they did. You fight, mainly for two reasons:

1.) Too add emotion/motivation to your team.

2.) Someone took a run at one of your teammates (mostly a goalie, or star player).

If you ban fighting, just expect to see more McSorley, Bertuzzi and Flyers '07-'08 cheap shot moments. Banning fighting would just lead to worse and worse things happening. I see it how USA Hockey banned hitting until Pee-Wees. When they taught hitting from the first day a kid straps on the pads, nobody had ever heard of "hitting from behind". When they delayed it until Pee-Wees, hitting from behind became common place and more injuries occurred.

At least, that's just my take on it.

[BBTV]

I'd venture to say that 50% of the attendance of an average hockey game, are there JUST to see a fight.

I would have to disagree 100% with that statement. I'm not saying that there aren't people who enjoy a good fight, but I refuse to believe that in 2009 there are a significant amount of people paying $60 - $120 to maybe see a fight.

[Jigga]

I'd venture to say that 50% of the attendance of an average hockey game, are there JUST to see a fight.

I would have to disagree 100% with that statement. I'm not saying that there aren't people who enjoy a good fight, but I refuse to believe that in 2009 there are a significant amount of people paying $60 - $120 to maybe see a fight.

Especially when you can see fights for free in the parking lot.

[DEAD!]

I'd venture to say that 50% of the attendance of an average hockey game, are there JUST to see a fight.

I would have to disagree 100% with that statement. I'm not saying that there aren't people who enjoy a good fight, but I refuse to believe that in 2009 there are a significant amount of people paying $60 - $120 to maybe see a fight.

Especially when you can see fights for free in the parking lot.

Or if you want to see the pros fight, go watch boxing, or MMA

I know it's not a shared opinion, but I still think fighting in hockey adds absolutely nothing positive to the game. I wish that the NHL (and the majority of the minor leagues) would do what they do in international hockey and suspend fighters.

I'll share that opinion with you. It adds nothing positive to game. It's an unnecessary break from the flow of the game. The main issue is not so much the act of fighting, because these things will happen, but rather the punishment as a result of fighting. Any other sport, a fight would result in a suspension.

I don't like the "fighting makes the game safer" argument because I don't think it does. What will make the game safer are better rules, equipment and punishing the offenders more severely.

[The_Admiral]

1.) Too add emotion/motivation to your team.

This is crap. If you're not motivated to play NHL hockey, I'm not convinced that watching a fight will appreciably change that.

2.) Someone took a run at one of your teammates (mostly a goalie, or star player).

This is valid. The 1980s saw the most scoring as well as the most fighting. Small speedy scorers need enforcers to enable their game by keeping dirty hits at bay. Stars have more to work with when players know they'll be punished for dirty hits, or even hits construed as dirty. The two go hand in hand. if you take away fighting, you'll just end up with muck.

[maz]

2.) Someone took a run at one of your teammates (mostly a goalie, or star player).

This is valid. The 1980s saw the most scoring as well as the most fighting. Small speedy scorers need enforcers to enable their game by keeping dirty hits at bay. Stars have more to work with when players know they'll be punished for dirty hits, or even hits construed as dirty. The two go hand in hand. if you take away fighting, you'll just end up with muck.

Exactly, and that is why fighting should not leave the NHL, besides the fact that it would be impossible to get rid of anyway.

[FiddySicks]

I'd venture to say that 50% of the attendance of an average hockey game, are there JUST to see a fight.

I would have to disagree 100% with that statement. I'm not saying that there aren't people who enjoy a good fight, but I refuse to believe that in 2009 there are a significant amount of people paying $60 - $120 to maybe see a fight.

Especially when you can see fights for free in the parking lot.

Or if you want to see the pros fight, go watch boxing, or MMA

I know it's not a shared opinion, but I still think fighting in hockey adds absolutely nothing positive to the game. I wish that the NHL (and the majority of the minor leagues) would do what they do in international hockey and suspend fighters.

I'll share that opinion with you. It adds nothing positive to game. It's an unnecessary break from the flow of the game. The main issue is not so much the act of fighting, because these things will happen, but rather the punishment as a result of fighting. Any other sport, a fight would result in a suspension.

I don't like the "fighting makes the game safer" argument because I don't think it does. What will make the game safer are better rules, equipment and punishing the offenders more severely.

To me that's almost the worst part, other than the violence aspect of course. It completely breaks up the flow. That and all the time that's wasted on faceoffs just kills me.

[DEAD!]

2.) Someone took a run at one of your teammates (mostly a goalie, or star player).

This is valid. The 1980s saw the most scoring as well as the most fighting. Small speedy scorers need enforcers to enable their game by keeping dirty hits at bay. Stars have more to work with when players know they'll be punished for dirty hits, or even hits construed as dirty. The two go hand in hand. if you take away fighting, you'll just end up with muck.

Exactly, and that is why fighting should not leave the NHL, besides the fact that it would be impossible to get rid of anyway.

Maybe the officials should do their job and kick the dirty hit offenders out by giving more game misconducts/ejections and harsher suspensions.

[Brass]

2.) Someone took a run at one of your teammates (mostly a goalie, or star player).

This is valid. The 1980s saw the most scoring as well as the most fighting. Small speedy scorers need enforcers to enable their game by keeping dirty hits at bay. Stars have more to work with when players know they'll be punished for dirty hits, or even hits construed as dirty. The two go hand in hand. if you take away fighting, you'll just end up with muck.

Exactly, and that is why fighting should not leave the NHL, besides the fact that it would be impossible to get rid of anyway.

Maybe the officials should do their job and kick the dirty hit offenders out by giving more game misconducts/ejections and harsher suspensions.

They should of done that! The NHL officials should of called all the clutching and grabbing prior to the lockout. That was what was slowing down the game. But nope, the NHL figured it just had to be having a red line and allowing the goalies to play the puck wherever they want. It was the clutching and grabbing that was slowing down the game.

As for the fighting, it's hard to believe, but if it's banned, I could basically promise you that cheap hits would go up. How else are players going to retaliate? Cheap hits. That's how.

[DEAD!]

They should of done that! The NHL officials should of called all the clutching and grabbing prior to the lockout. That was what was slowing down the game. But nope, the NHL figured it just had to be having a red line and allowing the goalies to play the puck wherever they want. It was the clutching and grabbing that was slowing down the game.

As for the fighting, it's hard to believe, but if it's banned, I could basically promise you that cheap hits would go up. How else are players going to retaliate? Cheap hits. That's how.

... and you SHOULD HAVE checked your post...

[Brass]

They should of done that! The NHL officials should of called all the clutching and grabbing prior to the lockout. That was what was slowing down the game. But nope, the NHL figured it just had to be having a red line and allowing the goalies to play the puck wherever they want. It was the clutching and grabbing that was slowing down the game.

As for the fighting, it's hard to believe, but if it's banned, I could basically promise you that cheap hits would go up. How else are players going to retaliate? Cheap hits. That's how.

... and you SHOULD HAVE checked your post...

Meh, back and forth between glancing at the TV and the laptop. You get the gist of it.

[The_Admiral]

2.) Someone took a run at one of your teammates (mostly a goalie, or star player).

This is valid. The 1980s saw the most scoring as well as the most fighting. Small speedy scorers need enforcers to enable their game by keeping dirty hits at bay. Stars have more to work with when players know they'll be punished for dirty hits, or even hits construed as dirty. The two go hand in hand. if you take away fighting, you'll just end up with muck.

Exactly, and that is why fighting should not leave the NHL, besides the fact that it would be impossible to get rid of anyway.

Maybe the officials should do their job and kick the dirty hit offenders out by giving more game misconducts/ejections and harsher suspensions.

You make it sound so easy. Turns out this whole time the refs just weren't doin' their job!