Remember the good old days of hockey? Not long ago players were responsible for what they did on the ice. There used to be an unwritten code of on-ice ethics that would keep in check the players emotions and force them to toe the line.

In today’s brand of NHL hockey the code has been long forgotten. The blame rests on the League’s instigator rule. The risk of an additional two minute minor penalty for starting a fight deters guys from dropping the gloves. The league got their wish to decrease the amount of fighting, but with it came the increase in high sticking and hitting from behind. There is a tremendous lack of respect for one another in the corners, and it can only get worse.

The post-lockout crackdown the NHL instituted on stick work and the clutch and grab hockey holds players accountable for their actions at all times. But there seems to be more and more cheap shots that would never take place if the six foot four, two hundred and forty pound enforcer from Saskatoon would soon be looking for them on their next shift. Sitting in the box for two or four minutes isn’t much of a deterrent for taking a few teeth with a stick, or running a defenseman into the endboards. Penalties and suspensions only do so much to curb unwanted actions on the ice. The threat of physical force from opposing players during the game will make a guy think twice before he acts.

How many incidents will take place this season that will warrant a review from the league? So far Jesse Boulerice and Steve Downie have had their names in the news for cheap shots, not goals, and its only October.

Office banter that used to relate to an incredible save, or some ridiculously scored goal, is now replaced with “Did you see that sucker punch last night?” Or the usual “What was up with that shot from behind on so and so?”

Injuries from fighting are drastically lower than those inflicted from high sticks or cheap shots. A good fight will keep guys honest. It may make the highlight films on the local news, however it’s a better alternative than watching a player get carried out on a stretcher.

In these politically correct times, the League wishes not to acknowledge the rough stuff. Fans won’t see fights on NHL websites. But ten or twenty game suspensions for an incident that could have been avoided if players were held accountable by each other instead of league officials.

Defenseman Willie Mitchell said it best a few years ago. “If society didn’t have policemen there would be chaos. Someone has to make sure that guys abide by the laws, and keep the other guys honest. Hockey is our livelihood. Fights happen in hockey for a reason. Hopefully the end result is that the games can be played in better, safer, fairer environment for everybody.”

Most things work best when they are used the way they were intended.