NHL Cracks Down on Fighting

(AP) - Turns out the NHL has a bigger bite than Ottawa's Jarkko Ruutu. The league suspended Ruutu two games without pay for biting the gloved hand of Buffalo's Andrew Peters in a game Tuesday. "It's weird to even think that that goes on in hockey," said Peters, known more for his fists than his skill. "Even in my role, I would never think of doing something like that." More»

NHL rough stuff has risen every year since the lockout despite rule changes

(NEWSER) - Fighting has been as much a part of hockey as skating for generations, but the rough stuff has been on the rise in the NHL since the 2004-05 lockout. By one account, fights are up by 15% from last season. With the enforcer's role becoming more vital, the New York Times looks at the reasons behind the pugnacious trend. More»

NHL pugilists follow strict etiquette before the gloves come off

(NEWSER) - Fisticuffs may be frowned upon in most pro sports, the Boston Globe reports, but the NHL has a definite, if brutal, code to fighting on the ice that goes back to hockey’s rural Canadian origins. Most fights are mutually agreed upon between players, and brawlers know who not to go after. “It’s the show of respect for each other,” one coach said. More»

Rogue rat-chuckers were Devils fans, team says

(NEWSER) - The Florida Panthers are taking steps to cool down one of the NHL's stranger traditions as their playoff run continues. Plastic rats—which fans have been chucking on the ice by the hundred—will no longer be sold at the team's souvenir shops, reports the Miami Herald . The home team can be penalized if objects land on the ice during play and rat sales were stopped after a few dozen rodents landed on the ice during Saturday's 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils. The Panthers lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 heading into tonight's game. More»

One dad points out there's a difference between tough play and savage play

(NEWSER) - Dave Banks is thrilled that his 10-year-old son started playing hockey this year, absorbing all the great lessons that team sports can bring to a kid. Too bad the adults playing the game are such lousy role models, he writes for the GeekDad blog at Wired . In an open letter to NHL owners, Banks complains about the sheer brutality that has marked the first round of this year's playoffs: head-to-head hits, plus fights and cheap shots galore. More»