Isn't hockey ready to stop goon culture? (Denver Post)

[rinkrat]

In hockey, you know there will be blood.

So, when Avalanche forward Ryan Smyth got slammed into a turnbuckle next to the Colorado bench by Los Angeles defenseman Jack Johnson, a worried gasp sucked all air from the arena the instant his head hit the ice, where he did not move until a stretcher hauled him away.

But, in the next breath, this scary but clean hit turned the capacity crowd at the Pepsi Center into an angry mob demanding fists to fly in bloody retribution.

Fans wanted to see Johnson get beat up.

Isn't hockey ready to stop goon culture? - The Denver Post

[taz42]

Thanks RR.
Whoever wrote that article showed a lot of smarts right there. I like a physical game as well as anyone and I mean that by good clean checking, not fighting that doesn't accomplish one damned thing except make the fans happy.

[SuxBeingU]

yeah hockey now is so more exciting than it was 15 years ago

[mudfisher]

Down with the Instigator rule!

[JJ289]

I'm sure Johson would have been able to handle himself against Lappy. They weigh about the same. I don't have anything againt Ryan Smyth, but all of those Avs fans seem to have a short memory. He speared our goalie a while back, remember that? Smyth hitting the turnbuckle was unfortunate, but most arenas have thick padding there. Complain to the Pepsi center crew for that oversight. The other regret to this chain of events was the fact that when LaBarbera was speared a few months back there was no retribution then. Sad all the way around.

[Pretty Vivid]

I think the question really should be, Isn't marginal reporting ready to stop targeting this same ****ing subject?

[Bubbadel2]

sounds like someone isnt a hockey fan