I don't wish to re-open the ageless and endless debate about fighting in hockey, but can we agree on this one point? When you are a 25-year-old forward for a team called the Wild Hogs, and you are playing a team that features a 35-year-old father of four who manages a billiards hall, you should probably keep things in perspective.
For instance, it would be really stupid to punch said 35-year-old in the mouth, knocking out two of his teeth. And, making things worse by refusing to take responsibility for your actions and forcing the courts to get involved would be really stupid.
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This guy, unfortunately, is fairly representative of your garden variety young (and occasionally, not so young) hammerhead who populate local beer leagues. In their hearts, they honestly believe that they are playing in, if not an NHL game, then at the very least a competitive minor pro league, and that the law of the jungle they see on TV or remember from junior hockey applies to Sunday night hockey at the Rexdale Arena.
I would be curious to follow this story, as I bet buddy's next move is to try to declare bankruptcy to avoid paying the judgement. After all, he was a landscaper living at home with his parents at the time of the assault, so he likely has few assets other than his car. (I will bet a nickel that ownership of his car has already been transferred over to his parents or a sibling.)
The good news here, though, is that a clear legal precedent has been set. Men's league hockey is not the pros, and participants have a right to expect not to be the victims of a violent assault. This judgement should also send a chill down the spines of the organizers of the various for-profit men's leagues that exist out there. In the future, if someone gets assaulted in a similar manner, they may well sue the league as well, arguing that the league allowed this kind of culture to exist and thrive.
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