The rich professionals, who call themselves sportsmen, are setting a bad example for young hockey playing enthusiasts whose dream it is to become a player in the mighty NHL.
The current playoffs are a disgrace for our national sport. The aim is to maim the most skilled players and stars of the game who are targeted by installed goons.
Poor Wayne Gretzky, if he was playing now, he could hardly achieve those records. With stars on the sidelines with serious injuries is it of course easier to beat the better teams and toss them out of the playoffs.
A few days of suspension are easily served, while a victim of an attack needs weeks and months to recover until being able to play again, or he might be permanently disabled.
Wake up Mr. Shanahan!
Short suspensions will not be the answer any longer. More drastic measurements are needed to curb intend of injury born out of hate.
The current playoffs are proof of this development in almost every game. Brutality has taking over. Fighting has always been controversial.
It has nothing to do with hockey. Although measured now with intentional blows to the head at great speed, a fistfight appears harmless in comparison. When will be a victim be carried off dead.
My answer to maiming attacks is to have the attacker sit out games without pay until his unfortunate victim is ready to play again. That surely would hit home.
Karl Fricke
Fruitvale
