The morality of fighting in ice hockey: Should it be banned?

Ice hockey is a popular sport throughout North America and most of Europe; however, all too often, a midgame fistfight between two players will occur. Although this behavior is not allowed at any level of play in the game rules, the fights are typically allowed to proceed to completion-especially at the professional level. Knowing that the behavior is illegal in the sport, can fighting in hockey be a moral act? Does player safety outweigh the pleasures that fans and teammates experience when they witness a fight? Should fighting in hockey be abolished? This article aims to address these ethical questions and more, using virtue, utilitarian and deontological theoretical approaches supplemented with real-life on-ice examples that have occurred.