Today we have heard of the death of a 3rd nhl player in the last year to die at a relatively young age. All three share something in common – that they were enforcers and regular fighters at both NHL and AHL levels. They were Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien and Wade Belak aged 28, 27 and 35 respectively. It is one feature of the NHL and Ice hockey in general that is known by those who are not even casual fans of hockey – that they regularly fight and there are people on every team whose job it is to fight every game. Reading this article earlier in the year made me realise of the damage that must be done to these players in the form of substance abuse and mental issues - http://www.silversevensens.com/2011/8/15/2354094/the-human-toll-of-fighting-in-the-nhl

Is it right that in the modern day we should ask young men to risk shortening their lives in order to provide fans for a thrill ever so often? My question is this... all of these three and many others in the past and also in the future have had and will have shortened lives because of the fighting that they do in order to satisfy fight hungry hockey fans. Should there be limits put upon fighting in hockey or should it be banned completely? Is the thrill worth the damage that will be caused to these young players?

Because when it comes down to it there is life outside of hockey and I for one would prefer it if they were able to live happily with their families and see their children growing up without suffering problems due to fighting even after their ice hockey careers are over...