There has been a lot of talk leading up to the release of the movie “The Goon” staring Stifler from American Pie. (That is not a knock on Sean William Scott, I’ve enjoyed a lot of his other work but he will always be best known as Stifler). But as soon as I saw the preview two thoughts came to me in this order: 1) no hockey movie will ever match Slapshot so I have no intention on paying any money to watch this 2) this is going to get significant press with major media outlets that otherwise ignore hockey just because of this past tragic summer for hockey.

The hockey world was stunned to hear about the untimely deaths of three “enforcers”: Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien, and Wade Belak. I cringe at having to use that word, because real hockey fans know that the term “enforcer” does not do these men justice. That may have been their role on the team, but to anyone who thinks that these men were anything like the 1950’s goons who could not skate and could only fight is simply put, insane. The jobs that men like Boogaard, Rypien, and Belak performed night in and night out is not an easy one. To constantly know you are the one that is looked at to protect your entire team; to know any night some guy called up is going to challenge you just to make a name for themselves; to be exhausted, but still having to drop the gloves because your team needs a boost. Knowing any or all of these things could happen has to weigh on the mind of these kinds of players. And given the sheer numbers of hockey players there are in the world compared to how many make it to the NHL should make one thing clear: most of these guys did not spend their entire lives since the time they could skate fighting. These were the best players when they were 15 or 16, but were forced to evolve in order to continue to play the game that they loved. I give all the credit in the world to guys like that, because many of us could not deal with it (physically or mentally).

 
I am not saying that fighting should be made illegal, nor am I saying that brain injuries or brain disease that may potentially be caused from repeatedly fighting in hockey should be ignored. What I am saying is that it is unfortunate that a movie like “The Goon” or tragic incidents like the summer of 2011 are what get national media attention, but Lebron James telling us where he’s going to sign his next contract trumps all other news – sports, politics, or otherwise.

But the “we need all eyes on us” mentality has never been that of a hockey player. So get after it. But get after it for yourselves, for those that came before us, but most of all, get after it for a pure love of the game.

Video:  The Goon Trailer