SLAM! Sports
SLAM! Hockey
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
COLUMNS
NHL
The Teams
Full Schedule
Monthly Schedule
Standings
Statistics
Rosters
Injury list
Movement
Trades
Hits Gallery
INTERACTIVE
JUNIOR
MORE HOCKEY
ALSO ON SLAM!
Tuesday, October 19, 1999
Vigneault says old-time hockey was more violent
MONTREAL (CP) -- Alain Vigneault disputes the notion that hockey today is more violent than in the past.The Montreal Canadiens coach said Tuesday that on-ice violence has only shifted from unbridled brawling to fast-paced hits between much bigger players.
The topic arose after goaltender Jeff Hackett questioned the absence of respect between players after he was flattened by an open-ice check from the New York Islanders' Steve Webb on Monday night.
Two weeks ago, the same debate raged after Anaheim's Ruslan Salai pushed Dallas centre Mike Modano head-first into the boards, which resulted in Modano suffering a broken nose and concussion.
"I think that because today's players are so much bigger, stronger and in better shape than in the past and with speed and equipment also a factor, you're going to have incidents like that," said Vigneault. "On the Modano thing, it looks like Salai was nonchalant, but then, speed was involved.
"There were more fights 15 years ago. I think the game was more violent then."
Vigneault did more than his share of fighting while playing junior hockey in Trois-Rivieres, Que., and later had a brief stint as a defenceman with the St. Louis Blues in the early 1980s.
"I think it's a different form of violence today," he said. "I remember when we'd have five brawls in the warm-ups and more in the games.
"In those days you'd have 40 guys going at it with no one to break it up. I don't think there are more cheap shots now. We just catch it more. Before, there was only one camera at a game. Now there's 10."
 Bert's back on blades Blue Jays boot game Bombers drop Peterson Felicien rebuilds race | Visit our Polls Archive |