I must disagree with the above. Hockey has become increasingly violent over the years, high sticks, slashing, brawling and fist fighting are common. It is not essential to the game. I was once a very dedicated hockey fan and I do understand the game and would love to see it played well and with less violence.To suggest that one sort of violence mitigates against another defies logic. It is this justificatiob for violence that has ruined the game...I no longer eatch.