Does fighting have a place in hockey? The Adam Friedland case.
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Long has the debate raged on; is there still room for fighting in hockey or should it be abolished? While in the SHL, fighting has been on the decline in the past two seasons, the opposite can be said for fighting in the SMJHL. S53 saw 20 fights occur in the SMJHL, which was, coincidentally, the same amount of fights that occurred in the SHL in S53. In season 54, however, the SHL only witnessed 9 fights. In the SMJHL, a shocking 44 fights occurred in S54. What was the reason for the drastic uptick in fights that led to 88 fighting majors being given out? And is there any correlation between fighting and success of teams in the SMJHL? Will the role of the goon be making a comeback, where in recent times many thought it to be a dying breed? I have looked into it and this is what I have found!


The biggest reason for the uptick in fights in the SMJHL may be the introduction of a number of players who make getting under other people’s skin a major part of their games. Shit disturbers we might call them. And the number one shit disturber in the league is none other than the hulking, 6’11, 300 pound defenceman from Newfoundland, Great Britain, Adam Friedland. Drafted to the Carolina Kraken in S53, Friedland has led the league in fights in each of his two seasons at the junior level, racking up 12 fights in S53 and 14 in S54, tripling and doubling the player behind him in each season respectively (Valentin Kalashnikov of the Maine Timber). Impressively, Friedland has won 16 of his 26 fights in his junior career so far. When you have players like Friedland around, disturbing everyone’s shit, you can see why there would be an uptick in fights. Friedland himself has been responsible for, or at the very least participated in, an outstanding 40% of the fights that have occurred in the SMJHL in the past 2 seasons. Unsurprisingly, he has finished top 2 in league penalty minutes in each of the last 2 seasons as well, leading the league in S54 while only finishing 1 minute behind 1st in his rookie season. So what’s the reason for the uptick in fights in the SMJHL? To put it lightly (or heavily, he is 300 pounds), Adam Friedland.


Now the big question, did Friedland’s flying fists help the Carolina Kraken find success this season? Well, they finished 2nd in the east and racked up 69 points (nice) this season while more importantly capturing the 4-star cup in 6 games over the Anaheim Outlaws. So you could say yes? However he most likely helped them out more with his impressive 42 points in 50 regular season games, leading all defencemen in points. He also added another 9 points in 20 playoff games. While standing up for your teammates is always a good thing, most coaches will prefer their players appearing on the scoresheets with goals and assists beside their names instead of fighting majors. Of the 6 teams that finished above .500 in S54, only 2 of them won over 30% of their fights (Carolina and Newfoundland). In fact, of those 6 teams, more finished the season without having won a single fight during the season (Kelowna, Colorado and Anaheim) while St. Louis won 25% of theirs.
Of the teams that finished below .500, 2 of them finished while winning 30% of their fights (Vancouver and Maine) while Anchorage won 25% of theirs. Detroit was the only team in the League that had no players participate in any fights this season. (As a side note, a team winning 25% of their fights does not mean they lost 75%. Draws do happen, but are not recorded at this time, only wins). So is there a correlation between winning fights and the success of teams? Not at all. If anything the data points slightly in the opposite direction. So the 130 minutes Friedland spent in the box the past 2 seasons for fighting probably would have been better spent out on the ice helping his teammates. But in the end, Friedland has a 4-star cup, and I have a plastic cup half filled with water, so what do I know?


After doing some research, I have come to the conclusion that the role of the goon no longer exists. “But Festy,” you may say, “you have spent the past 700 words or so slightly appalled at the on ice behaviour of one Adam Friedland! What do you mean you don’t think goons exist?” Well, if anything Friedland would be better categorized as an enforcer, someone who “enforces” the laws on ice and makes sure no liberties are taken with his teammates. Or perhaps sometimes in Friedlands case, enforces the fact that your shit needs to be disturbed forthwith. At the end of the day, there is seemingly no place for players that fight and only fight. But there is a place for a player like Adam Friedland.


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