According to an Internet report, “Donald Sanderson, a 21 year old rookie defenseman for the Whitby Dunlops, an amateur hockey team in a Toronto suburb, died Jan. 2nd of injuries he sustained when he hit his head after falling to the ice during a fight Dec. 12. He was in a coma for three weeks. It was his fourth fight in 11 games with the Dunlops, a highly competitive amateur team of players 21 and older. Although in many ways, the accident appeared to be a fluke — Sanderson’s helmet became dislodged during the scuffle and the players fell to the ice together — his death has led to headlines across Canada and revived a longstanding debate over what role, if any, fighting should play in hockey.”

Not long ago, I did some work for the Missouri State University Ice Bears, which included both men and women (actually, young girls) in Springfield, Missouri, and saw my first hockey game up close. I was appalled that the game was allowed to be stopped and players encouraged by their teammates to engage in fisticuffs. I told my friends and coaches who were associated with the Ice Bears that I thought if they ever wanted to make ice hockey a family sport, where parents brought their children, the organized fighting in hockey games should be banned. I still feel that way today, but even more so. A player’s skills should be valued more than his or her fists.