Fighting Banned at all levels of Hockey?

Hi there,
 
Welcome to my first blog here on the Killer Jerseys website! My name is Chris and I will be blogging about the Western Conference. From time to time though, I will be going into details about other news in hockey. For my first blog, I'd like to talk about a report that The Canadian Press put out today on the recent debate (again) on fighting in hockey.
 
In the report, the "experts" included four former players, three of whom were knocked out of the National Hockey League as the result of concussions - Eric Lindros, Jeff Beukeboom and Alyn McCauley - along with Canadian national women's team player Jennifer Botterill, who was sidelined for a protracted period with concussion. Here is my beef with this. It's not that they are wanting to eliminate hockey fights altogether, while I disagree with removing it out of the game, I'm always for making it safer because safer fights equals less injuries, less injuries equals more fighting on a regular basis.
 
My main problem with these so-called "experts" is this; if you are going to have a decision to be made either "for" or "against" something then I believe it should be a bipartisan panel. That panel should not include (in my opinion) people directly affected either way on the topic. The panel is then deciding and basing their opinion and "vote", if you will, on a lot of personal feelings and experiences. My personal belief is that we should have a panel that has not been prematurely removed from the game due to a similar injury, direct or indirect.
 
The panel suggested that fighting should be eliminated from hockey at all levels of the game. Are you kidding me? Yes, I know that Don Sanderson's death was tragic, but he's playing a high impact game played with a vulcanized puck, tough hockey sticks, solid boards and of course skate blades! Anyone old enough will remember what happened to Clint Malarchuk, Jiri Fischer, and any player that has been removed from hockey directly or indirectly from playing the sport.
 
Alexel Cherepanov collapsed during a KHL game following an accidental collision with teammate Jaromir Jagr while making a line change in the third period.  He made it to the bench before collapsing and was rushed to an intensive care unit. He died from Commotio Cordis, a sudden disturbance of heart rhythm.   It occurs as a result of a blunt, non-penetrating blow to the chest region. Should we change the game to ensure that no players will receive a "blunt, non-penetrating blow" to the chest?
 
Point is, it’s a game, the fastest game on earth. It will from time to time have its tragic moments, these things happen. I think this sport has been relatively lucky when it comes to serious cases such as the unfortunate death of Sanderson. Removing fighting from hockey is absurd, it would only feed the real goons to resort to more stick swinging, and that my friends, is a whole lot more dangerous than fighting in hockey.
 
I'm sure "Grapes" will have somthing to say on Coaches Corner this Saturday on HNIC.
 
Thanks for reading
 
Chris