In his first season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (LHJMQ), Dave Morissette said he had to fight 24 times. It was a necessary step in order to be able to hope for the leap into the National Hockey League (NHL).
• Also read: Fighting in the QMJHL permanently banned
“Do you know how many times I’ve wanted to fight on the 24? none! It was my coach who made the decision,” said the former CH player on Richard Martineau’s microphone on Radio QUB.
Pressure to “be in the gang”
Dave Morissette’s son currently plays ice hockey in a junior league in Ontario. He feels a lot of pressure to fight.
“As a father and a former player, I don’t want him to fight,” said Mr. Morissette. The other time he called me to say that five of his teammates had been fighting on the ice besides him.
Mr. Morissette would like to remind you of the dangers that await players who struggle, especially at such a young age.
“In 2023, if you’re unaware of the dangers of hits to the head or temple, you’ve got a problem,” he explained.
The culture of the show
Should the fight ban apply to the NHL? Dave Morissette believes there is a difference between the junior level and the national league level.
“In the United States and in the NHL, fights sell. I have French friends who came to the Bell Center last week and were excited to see goals and fights,” the TVA Sports presenter said.
Distinguishing between the big leagues and the minor leagues, Dave Morissette wonders if the NHL could be at the forefront of this debate.