USA Hockey passed a rule this past summer about helmet removal during altercations. It is a match penalty if a player removes his or his opponents helmet before or during an altercation. The rule has caused the number of match penalties and hearing in MAHA to swell exponentially. While many of have questioned the rule, the following video clip shows just what the INTENT of the rule was:
Watch the fight between 18 in dark and 23 in white. It was clear that 23 had no intention of getting in a fight, and had no choice. Then, when he is body slammed to the ice without his helmet, it looks to me like he is knocked out cold. The coup d’etat is when 18 drills him one final time when he is completely defenseless. Absolutely gutless on 18′s part, who is reportedly suspended indefinitely.
While the rules for junior hockey are different than youth hockey, it is clearly apparent why USA Hockey felt that they needed to increase the penalty for intentional helmet removal. I would not be the least bit surprised if a fatality or life-altering injury were to occur in a youth game in the near future, especially at the midget level.
The other thing this fight illustrates is the difference between the NHL and other levels of hockey in regards to fighting. Like it or not, in the NHL there is a code, and that code says that once a guy is defenseless and beat, you don’t hit him again. It is not surprising that a teenager does not have that level of maturity and self control.
