The Declining Role of Hockey’s Enforcer
Throughout hockey’s history there has been an infamous and notable trend: certain players would always get onto the ice and start a fight with an opposing player.
These certain players are the enforcers, considered as both hockey’s greatest heroes and villains.
An enforcer is a player whose main purpose is to fight.
The role of the enforcer developed out of necessity. Hockey is a high-speed contact sport, and it distinctly allows for in-game fighting. This means that teams need big, strong, and rough guys on their roster in order to keep up in the game physically.
Enforcers are usually less skilled then other players on the team. Their play is more physical based.
But the NHL is rapidly shifting towards a skill based league.
Hockey writer Sean McIndoe has said, “The NHL’s enforcer era is coming to an end, and I’m happy about that. I don’t want those guys in the game anymore”.
This shows that in the modern NHL climate the role of the enforcer is diminishing.
Why Fighting Exists In Hockey
Fighting has always been a part of hockey. The game is emotional. Dirty plays and disagreements between players would tend to lead to a fight. Fighting can help a team during the course of a…
