First of Many

It took slightly longer than I expected, although fighting hasn't been that prevalent in European hockey, but we finally got the first fight of the regular season today.

However, I can say that if I were to predict a fight I would have been way wrong.  I would have said the first would be between either North American players playing in Europe or players with North American training.  Would have been wrong on both accounts.

Here is a little background.  The team that scored was down 6-2 at the time of the goal so apparently the little check in the back set them off.  An instigator was called, as was the cross check and an additional misconduct was handed out.  So if anybody had the first fight of the season coming after a goal, between two Russians, with a total 34 penalty minutes handed out, you win something.  One thing not handed out, game misconducts like in previous seasons.  And they tell me they are trying to get rid of fighting.  It's not even an automatic ejection anymore in most European leagues.  And another thing.  Props to the combatants.  If I didn't know any better it would look like a typical North American type of fight.  They drop the gloves, throw some punches, stay on their feet and both end it on their terms.  And one more fudging thing before I end this.  In some European leagues the penalty for fighting is not fighting major like you see in the NHL, AHL or ECHL.  It is simply fisticuffs.  I propose we use that in all leagues.  It has a nice ring to it.