Russia Turns Hockey Fighting Into Its Own Sport

PUBLICATION

Tyler Ball
February 23, 2024 (9:55 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

Today a new video has been circulating around the internet showing off a new sport in Russia. The sport takes hockey fights and turns them into full-on sport of its own.

Russia Creates A New Sport Around Hockey Fights

Russian hockey has always been known for its high entertainment value. Whether it is highlight reel goals or wild fights the Russian hockey scene is always noteworthy. This continues today with a new sport that isolates fighting in hockey as its own sport.

As can be seen in the video competitors wear boxing-style head protection and fight with UFC-style gloves. Players are on skates in the middle of a hockey arena with a crowd full of fans. This new sport in Russia shows just how differently they are handling fighting within the game of hockey compared to the United States and Canada.

North America Cracks Down On Hockey Fights While Russia Encourages Them

With this new sport, Russia has leaned into one of the parts of hockey that many fans enjoy with physicality and brutality. Here in North America hockey leagues have been taking a different approach.

In the NHL physicality and fighting is far less common. In the early 2000s, every team had a player that fought. Now players like Ryan Reaves are the last of a dying breed.

Heading on down to junior hockey fighting is being banned altogether in some leagues. This season is the first where the QMJHL in Quebec has entirely banned fighting. In North America, this seems to be the likely trend.

It would be interesting to see if the NHL or hockey culture in general adopts hockey fighting as a new sport of its own with it leaving the game of hockey in general.