Fighting between players leads to more in-game violence during National Hockey League games, contrary to the league's stance that its policy towards fighting deters further violence in the game and suggests fighting may be linked to traumatic brain injuries.

2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final - Game Three

There were fights during the third game of the Stanley Cup.

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The analysis looked at all the penalties in the NHL.

The number of violent minor penalties committed in NHL games with a fight rose from.035 to.058.

Gary Bettman, the NHL Commissioner, has said that fighting causes less violence in other aspects of the sport, and the NHL is the only major North American sports league that does not automatically expel players for fighting during games.

Roughly a fifth of all NHL games feature a fight, and the NHL's embrace of fighting is often tied to concussions and other brain injuries.

The author of the study said fighting increases the risk of traumatic brain injuries.

In the 2010-11 season, the NHL had.52 fights per game, but that has dropped to.18 in the current season.

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There was no evidence that fighting or the threat of fighting deterred more violent play in the NHL.

Key Background

The NHL rule book states that fighting is technically illegal in the league. Fighting can help cool down violence during games, according to Bettman. During testimony in front of Canada's Parliament, Bettman again defended the NHL's stance towards fighting, saying that the level of conduct that is expected should be complied with. Hockey players are more likely to suffer concussions than other athletes. A study published in March of 74 former hockey players found that they were more likely to develop chronic traumatic encephalopathy if they played hockey for another year.

There are no plans to ban fighting in the National Hockey League.

The politician who fought with Bettman wants the NHL to stop fighting.