Fights break out at opening day of NHL rookie camp games

The NHL season is just around the corner! With the beginning of the rookie camps and some of the tournaments, interest does build up toward that first official pre-season puck drop on September 21st.

The action got pretty hot and heavy at the rookie tournament in Buffalo when Ty Cheveldayoff of the Sabres, who signed an AHL contract with the Rochester Americans, scrapped with Nick DeAngelis of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The fight was won by Cheveldayoff.

The latter stages of the game saw Buffalo defenseman Jack Bodin drop the gloves with Blue Jackets' Mael Lavigne and Bodin was declared the winner as the Sabres held onto their 3 -1 advantage as time expired.

The rookie camps are when young players get to prove something to the teams that took a chance on them, and the fighting in games is just one aspect of that. Fighting in hockey these days is not nearly as common as it used to be, but still, it is a useful thing for an athlete to show what he can do. Some can impress by the goals scored, while other players impress in different ways, and that is how enforcers get their keep.

Source: Blades of Steel
Fights highlight opening rookie tournament game between the Buffalo Sabres & Columbus Blue Jackets