In a message dated 2/8/99 10:31:52 AM, [log in to unmask] writes:
 
<< Nor have I seen empirical evidence that lessening the penalties for
fighting
 
would decrease stickwork, though I think it's safe to say that lessening the
 
penalties for fighting would result in more fighting.  My opinion is all we
 
would get is the same amount of stickwork and more fighting.>>
 
At the college level you would definitely see less "after the whistle"
stickwork and more fighting. In the pro's you would see the same and wouldn't
see "stick fighting" as it would eventually evaolve into.
 
 
 
<<While I admit that anecdotal evidence is not much more valuable than
 
personal opinion, I will point out that the NHL's ugliest stick swinging
 
incident occurred in pre-helmet, pre-European days.  One of the combatants,
 
Ted Green, was a "code" warrior if there ever was one.  The "code" didn't
 
prevent him from requiring a metal plate to be screwed into his skull.>>
 
That was an isolated incident that proves there was less stick misuse pre-
helmet days. Incidents in the last few years that certainly would have been as
bad if not worse than the Ted Green incident just in the last few years
involved Tony Granato, Neil Wilkinson, Luc Robitaille, and others that the
names slip my mind. Because we only remember the Ted Green incident and maybe
one or two others in over 60+ years of NHL hockey is proof in the pudding.
Headgear brings the sticks up.
 
Randy
 
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