
Scary WHL fight raises concerns about fighting in hockey
A Western Hockey League (WHL) game between the Tri-City Americans and Seattle Thunderbirds came to an abrupt end earlier this week following a fight between Thunderbirds defenceman Ashton Cumby and Americans blueliner, and former Prince Albert Raider, Terrell Goldsmith, which sent Goldsmith to the hospital with serious injuries.
During the fight on Tuesday, Goldsmith’s helmet came off and after a punch landed by Cumby, Goldsmith was knocked out unconscious and fell face first on to the ice unprotected, resulting in a seizure. The team’s medical staff attended to him immediately and then brought him to a hospital to be treated by further medical care. The seriousness of the on-ice altercation prompted the game to be suspended just one minute into the second period.
The fight led to several debates online from hockey fans and others who went back and forth about whether there is still a place for fighting within the sport.
On the X platform, one person wrote, “It’s all fun and games until this s*** happens. How can anyone think that this belongs in hockey?”