Player answers the bell after huge hit during Western Hockey League game
I will choose the hill I die on, it's my choice and nobody can choose for me. Saying that I will argue until I'm blue in the face that any of the three leagues in the Canadian Hockey League is the best in Major Junior hockey in the world.
Case in point from a week ago in the Western Hockey League as Everett Silvertips visited the Kelowna Rockets.
During the waning minutes second period Turner MacMillan of the Rockets stepped out of the penalty box and caught Silvertips Defenceman Kaden Hammell with his head down.
While the video is a bit grainy, Hammell appears to be coming across his blue line with his head down. If his head was up, MacMillan almost certainly puts a solid shoulder into his chest.
The hit results in Hammell crumpling to the ice and MacMillan answering the bell with Silvertips Ty Gibson.
While there has been debate on whether or not fighting belongs in hockey it's this writer's belief that fighting belongs in hockey strictly for instances like this.
Fighting allows for the participants of the game to police themselves, if you take it from the game you'll have instances such as this in far worse scenarios.
Obviously, there is an inherent risk within the game and when you skate with your heads down, occasionally you suffer the consequences of your own actions.
Let this play have two lessons. Never skate with your head down and always be prepared to answer the bell.
| POLL | ||
Does fighting belong in hockey? | ||
| Yes | 120 | 92.3 % |
| No | 10 | 7.7 % |
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