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.

Very interesting story and if you read the Comments section, a very wide array of opinions. After spending the weekend at the Manon Rheaume Invitational Tournament, it was clear that girls enjoy the game just as much as boys, and they share the same passion and intensity for the sport. So how should the gender issue be handled, especially as players get older? Send me your thoughts at  jjones@suburbanice.com  and I’ll add them to the blog.

This is certainly a very sad story. Deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Kyle.

That being said, how should the hockey world react to this? In my opinion, there are certain inherent risks in anything we do. Hockey is no exception. The puck could have just as easily hit him when he was standing in front of the net, or been deflected up into him. Prayers go out to him, and in hopes that a tragedy like this never happens again.

Randy Paquette will be emailing it to all teams today along with other information.

The Midget schedule will be released later this week….

• First and foremost, remember that it is their experience, not yours. It is perfectly OK to enjoy going to games and watching your child play. Don’t let your enjoyment (or lack thereof) affect your player.
• Keep it positive! Remember, they are kids, and mistakes are going to be made. Don’t worry about it. More than likely, the players and coaches are very well aware when mistakes occur, and criticism and yelling from the stands is not going to help the situation.
• If a player is going to be good, he will be good because he wants to be, not because his parents want him to be. Allow your player to develop a love of the game on their own. It’s a game, and games are supposed to be fun. If your player is having fun, he will most likely want to continue to play and improve.
• Observe the “24-hour Rule”. Over the course of a season, something may happen in a game or practice which upsets or angers you. Resist the temptation to confront the other party immediately after when emotions are highest. Wait 24 hours, and then attempt to resolve the issue. It will be much more productive and could prevent a situation from becoming much more volatile.
• Remember that for the most part, results and individual performance mean nothing until players reach their late teens. Just because a player is great as a Squirt or Peewee does not mean they are destined for the NHL. Conversely, if an average player continues to love and play the game, there is no telling how far they can go. Don’t kill the love just because your player isn’t a superstar.

Finally, I’m reminded of a quote attributed to Sparky Anderson when asked by a parent what they could do to help their kid get to the Major Leagues. Sparky said, “If your son gets to the Majors, it will be in spite of you, not because of you”. Those words ring very true. It is their experience. Let’s let them enjoy it.