Where have all the Enforcers gone?

CARDIFF,U.K-The UK Elite League’s landscape has changed over the summer. The loss of Manchester Phoenix and Basingstoke Bison has reduced the number of clubs competing at the top level from ten to eight. As a result teams will now play each other four times home and away in league action. And, while the challenge cup and playoffs look set to remain, a new early season festival of hockey looks likely to replace the defunct British Knockout Cup. However, a less obvious, but equally important shift has occurred over the summer. The enforcers have all but disappeared. Has UK hockey gone ‘soft’?

Gone are Jeremy Cornish, former NHL heavyweight Chris Macallister, Brett Clouthier, Andre Payette, Jason Rushton, Adam Stefishen, Doug MacIver, Carlyle Lewis and Rumun Ndur. Cardiff Devils captain Brad Voth is the only genuine heavyweight to remain, while Sean Mcmorrow, who will join Belfast Giants, is the only new heavyweight to the league.
That makes a net loss of 8 enforcers in a league which has attracted a relatively strong pool of heavyweight fighting talent over the years. In the late 90’s and early 00’s, the UK Superleague attracted the likes of Paxton Schulte, Barry Nieckar and Mike MacWilliam. Since then, the Elite League enforcers (the Superleague’s replacement when it ceased to exist) have more or less retained that standard enjoying a bumper year during the NHL lockout, when fans were treated to the likes of Eric Cairns and Wade Belak going toe-to-toe.
Fans that enjoyed the heavyweight bouts will no doubt be starved of action this coming season and it could be argued that support for the game will suffer as a consequence. Aside from a goal, a fight is the one moment during a game where virtually every fan is on their feet. It’s clearly enjoyed by a large contingent of hockey fans, but perhaps most importantly is a big draw for those new to the game.
Fighting’s existence is accepted and enjoyed by most, but its importance within and to UK hockey is a widely debated issue amongst existing fans, with many believing a fast-paced exciting game will attract fans in equal numbers. This season that seems to also be the view of the eight Elite League coaches, who have largely done away with the enforcer role and opted for ‘team toughness’ instead. However, it may not be out of choice, but out of need.
Firstly, with just three forward lines and five defensemen, the small benches have relegated the role of the enforcer to a commodity rather than a necessity. Secondly, if a team suffers any injuries it more or less becomes short-benched immediately. With the bulk of key positions made up of import players and only a handful of home-grown players of the equivalent quality, most injured players cannot be replaced by ‘the next cab off the rank. This has meant all too often that teams enter a game short-benched and cannot afford their enforcer to take a fighting major.
Finally, the introduction of the instigator penalty has had a major impact on the value of the enforcer in the Elite League. This has been compounded by the failure to introduce the two-man refereeing system. Too often the cheap-shots have gone un-punished, while the reaction is met with an additional ‘instigator’ penalty. While there are arguments for an instigator penalty, the additional 12 minute penalty has crippled the enforcers’ ability to react by dropping the gloves. A two minute minor for instigating would have helped the coaches retain their enforcers.
However, it’s not all bad news. There remains a strong group of light-heavyweight and middleweight fighters that can also ‘play the game.’ Arguably the loss of the heavyweights has strengthened this division as teams look to compensate with ‘skilled’ players who will fight once or twice throughout the season. Without doubt, some of the best fights came from the middleweight division last season.
However, in a country where hockey is a minority sport and is constantly scrapping to boost (or even maintain) attendances, the importance of fighting must be recognised. It’s the sports USP (unique selling point) if you will.
It will be interesting to compare the forthcoming Elite League season with those gone by. What cannot be questioned is the shift in intended playing style, and the results (positive or negative) could shape the style of hockey played in the UK’s top flight for years to come. Contact the author at Aled.lloyd@prohockeynews.com