Guess who had an article published over at Puck Prospectus? Our very own Geof Morris, PFB Member #001, that’s who.

Geof wrote a great article on the NCC Frozen Four, which you can read here.

Bravo, Geof!

Here at PFB we love to let our members spout off their opinions on anything and everything.

This week we were curious about what our members thought of fighting in hockey.

Here’s what they said…

	I used to be anti-fighting in hockey. I no longer am, based on my discussions with players. [And note: these guys are NCAA players who really can't fight with impunity, because the NCAA frowns on that.] Simply put, the referees can’t see everything that happens on the ice, and sometimes, you have to take matters into your own hands. I think that the instigator penalty has really harmed the NHL, because dirty stick play has increased—even with the two-referee system—and guys can’t immediately react to it.
	Go to a boxing match and a hockey game breaks out.
	Let’s start out with this agreement: hockey is a really lousy sport if you eliminate hard checking and physical play. (Exhibit 1: The NHL All-Star game.) If you can find a way to eliminate the after-the-whistle fighting w/o affecting the physicality of the game, I’m all for it. My fear is that if they clamp down on fighting, the physicality of the whole game declines. And that would be lame.
	The entertaining part of hockey that happens between the skating parts.
	Ridiculous, but it seems like it’s expected now. Just be a professional, play the game and stop acting like a bunch of little boys on the playground. (My gut reaction: it’s hockey… who cares?)
	Fighting in hockey…your thoughts? I like fights. I don’t really care for hockey. If the fights were to ever go away, I would watch even less than I do now. Which would be a big deal seeing as I don’t watch (on purpose) now.
	I’d like to be mature and say that fighting in hockey is barbaric and sets a bad example for the kiddies, but honestly, that would be lie. I think fighting in hockey is pretty awesome. It’d be one thing if they came at each other their sticks or the blades of their skates, but I really don’t think they’re out to hurt each other. As long as they still shake hands after the buzzer, I think it adds a little excitement to game.
	should be allowed. It’s part of the game. It’s exciting for fans. Those who don’t like it – don’t watch. Hockey is built on that foundation, they need to embrace their roots.
	I think it’s dumb. Why in the world does a major league sport allow it? I guess the funny thing is, they pseudo-try to stop it. A fight breaks out and the refs stand there, waiting for a lull in the action to break it up. Silly. For teams to have “enforcers” whose sole responsibility is to take other guys out is downright dumb. Ask Donald Brashear (sp?).
	I love fighting in hockey. Now, to be fair, my knowledge of hockey doesn’t really go much beyond what i learned when i was a kid with my repeated viewings of the Emilio Estevez masterpiece of cinema /The Mighty Ducks/. However…that did spawn a bit of a period where my parents got me a hockey stick and a puck and a street hockey ball (I even think we had a net at one point). However…it’s kind of hard to play hockey in a driveway that is at a 30 degree angle. So that passion died quickly. But now days the things that remain from my short-term love affair are Barry Melrose’s mullet, and fighting in hockey. Ahh…memories.
	Not a hockey fan but you gotta allow fighting. And i realize how absurd it is to imagine sanctioned fist fights in other sports but still, it’s hockey. They say it’s actually a legit way to police themselves. and you rarely see it get out of hand. If it were like baseball and it caused a 20 man pile of windmills and hay makers I’d say let’s get a handle on it, but it’s usually a tidy little way to let two grown men do something that’s completely illegal to do. It makes what i think of a boring sport, a little bit interesting.
	I am sure everyone has heard the old saying, “I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out.” Sometimes that seems to be the case, and frankly, I think that is one of the most annoying things about hockey. It slows down the flow of the game. Now that said, it doesn’t mean I don’t like watching to guys drop gloves and get after it. There is a time and place for it in the game, not every 5 minutes. Two of the best moments for a fight that I like are these: 1) Standing up for a teammate and going after the guy that got a cheap shot, and 2) when a guy send the sprays the snow in your goalies face after covering a puck. Those are the two times in a game I like to see the gloves come off.
	I don’t follow hockey at all, but I do enjoy going to Hershey Bears games when my wife and I are visiting family in Pa. When players start fighting I usually head for the exit or silently protest by closing my eyes or turning my head. If I wanted to see fights, I’d go to a boxing match or an MMA fight. I think it should be treated in hockey the same way it is on the playground and in every level of professional sports where fighting isn’t the object of the sport. Either way, I wouldn’t follow the NHL much less go to a game unless someone gave me free tickets.

Want to be a member and have your voice heard? Email a headshot and your favorite team to prayersforblowouts(at)gmail.com and you’re in!

If you’ve got 5 minutes there’s an inspiring little piece over at Guideposts.com on Matt Gilroy, the 2-time All-America defenseman at BU.

Ever since his younger brother died in a bicycle accident at age 8, Matt has been determined to honor his brother’s legacy through determination and hard work.

From walking on to the team despite the coach’s reticence to senior captain and Hobey Baker candidate, Gilroy has done just that.

(and as an aside, the story is a chilling reminder of the importance of helmets for children when they ride bikes. please be militant about this with your kids…it probably would have saved Timmy Gilroy’s life.)

(Guideposts.com)