Hockey At It's Worse

Hockey is one of the most grueling sports in the world. I consider it to be one of the most violent sports, but an entertaining one as well. This unique sport has fights, brawls, big hits, career ending hits, cheap shots, and the long list of suspensions and injuries.

Here are some of the most recent dirty hits and fights that have caused national attention.
Recently Downie, from the Philadelphia Flyes, gave a big hit on Ottawa Senators player Dean McAmmand, giving him a major concussion. Downie left his feet at full speed, only to give a big hit on unsuspecting McAmmand head. The hit knocked him unconscious and he had to get carried out in a stretcher. Downie received a 20 game suspension.

Downie's hit is noting new to hockey. Earlier this year, NY Islanders, Chris Simon, decide to take his frustration out by slashing NY Ranger, Hollwegs in the head with his hockey stick. Luckily he was not seriously injured. Simon received a 25 game suspension.

Like Simon's slash, McSorley did a similar thing except the outcome was different. McSorley used his hockey stick like a weapon, and took a baseball like swing with his stick, to hit Brashear in the head. Brashear fell back first hitting his head on the ice. He was knock out unconscious and had to get carried out from the stretcher. McSorley was suspended for 23 games, and was found guilty of assault with a deadly weapon. He served 18 months in probation.

Finally, there is the Bertuzzi incident. Bertuzzi threw a sucker punch at Moore from behind and drove his head into the ice. He lied motionless on the ice until he left by stretcher. It also sparked a brawl on the ice. Bertuzzi was suspended for 20 games. Moore's hockey career was over after that incident.

Hockey is a unique sport. Players are allowed to fight. There are brawls that look like a war between rival gangs on ice. There are career ending hits and the cheap shots. There is the checking, hitting your opponent into the boards or into the bench, goalie fights, and my personal favorite players missing some of their teeth.

I believe that hockey players should be more severely punish for their actions. If we did something like these players did we would probably be in jail and banned from the league. The NHL should make harsher punishments and make a good example out of them.