Hockeyhead

Fighting in hockey has been much-ado in the media over the last couple of weeks.  The Don Sanderson tragedy has been at the center of many of these conversations, and that incident warrants some specific attention with regards to fighting below the professional level.  Really, is there any point to having fighting allowed in a league whose participants stand a puncher’s chance (pun intended) at making an NHL roster?  I stand with those that call for a ban on fighting in hockey, but only below the professional and minor-pro (AHL only, none of that ECHL shit) level.

A total ban on hockey fights would cause guys like Zack Stortini to lose their job.  And job-loss is something we’re all trying to avoid these days.  Stortini unfortunately suffers from big-man syndrome.  His 6′4″ 215-pound frame forces him to play the role of punching-bag on a nightly basis.

Stortini is tied for second in the NHL in Fighting Majors on the season with 13 (so is Riley Cote).  According to nhlnumbers.com, Zack will make a cool $600,000 this season.  If you take hockeyfights.com as gospel, and you certainly should considering all their hard work, then Stortini holds a Barry Horowitz -like 1-5-7 record when chucking fists this year.

Stortini has 3 points in 28 games this season and 111 PIM, and his teammates are going to miss him.  Stortini was placed on the IR by the Oilers following Friday night’s loss to San Jose.

Until Zack is healthy enough to take to the ice for a few knocks on the noggin, I’ll leave you with this (one of his finer performances on the season):

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D.H.T.