It's not really certain when the game of ice hockey began. It's believed to have been a past time of Northern Europeans and when they came to North America, they continued playing. It's believed that the first hockey game was played in 1875 or so in Canada. Shortly after World War I four Canadian cities formed competing teams (2 from Montreal, and one each from Ottawa, Toronto, and Quebec) that has grown into what we now call the NHL. Penalizing a player for fighting with five minutes in the penalty box was initialized in 1922.http://community.comcast.net/comcastportal/board/print?board.id=NHL&message.id=10715&format=one

Obviously, fighting in hockey has been around for a very long time. There have been very many debates as to whether it should be banned. Many of the opponents to fighting say, "I don't want my children to see the fighting." Proponents counter with "If you don't want your kids to see a fight, don't take them to a hockey game." Or "But it's ok to get them front row seats at a wrestling match?" Opponents say, "The sport is brutal." Proponents say, "The fights actually are a means of policing the sport, and less injuries occur because of them." Opponents say ,"No one would watch hockey without the fights and the sport would sink into obscurity." Proponents often counter with, "This game has been around longer than baseball. We need to preserve its rich traditions." Whether you agree or disagree with fighting in hockey, the simple fact is there are fights in hockey games. If you're aspiring to become a hockey fighter, there are rules that apply.http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=buccigross_john&id=2724254

1. You must know how to ice skate well. You are not going to land an "enforcer" position just because you're big.
2. You must know the rules of the game and be able to execute the basics of the game with some accuracy, like passing and checking.
3. Hockey teams looking for "goons" pursue guys who will be able to be suitable competition against other "goons." The top players with the most penalty minutes in the NHL were not especially large men, but were as tough as nails. David "Tiger" Williams who spent a total (including playoff action) of 4,421 minutes in the box, was 5'11" 190 pounds. Dale Hunter, second with 3563 penalty minutes was 5'10" 200 pounds. And Tie Domi, third place finisher, spending 3515 minutes off the ice, was 5'10", 213 pounds.http://statshockey.homestead.com/alltimepenminutes.html
4. You must possess a strong sense of justice and loyalty. The other smaller or finesse players on the ice are counting on you to keep them safe and to be intimidating enough to prevent attacks.http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=buccigross_john&id=2724254

According to Hockey Broadcast Hall-of-Famer, Chuck Kaiton "... there's a lot of frustration that you don't have in other sports. One of the vehicles to vent those frustrations is to fight. There's so much padding on these guys, so they're not going to get hurt, but it gives them an outlet to vent."http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A409280

Actions That Will Provoke a Fight

1. Retaliation for an attack on a key player, particularly the Captain of the Team. (note: The fight does not have to happen during that particular game, the grudge match may happen months later.)
2. Goal Tenders are also considered "untouchables". Anyone attempting to cause harm to the goal tender usually is dealt with shortly after the infraction.
3. Deliberately trying to hurt or mame a player.
4. Checking from behind and slamming another player into the boards
5. Using the hockey stick as a weapon
6. Personal differences or team rivalry, or an attempt to regain honor after refusing to fight in a previous encounter.
7. The need to administer an adrenalin rush to the pugilists' losing or listless teammates.http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2007-04-04-fighting_N.htm

Rules for Fighting

1. Only two men are allowed in a fight. If someone else intervenes, they are ejected from the game (The Third-Man Out Rule).
2. The men must be facing each other. Sucker punching or attacking from behind is strictly forbidden.Both men have to consent to the fight. (One player will ask the other if he "Wants to go?" If the other "turtles" (refuses to fight), he is deemed a coward and will be expected to re-challenge that player in a future meeting.
3. Retaliation battles which were spurred from a previous encounter should be conducted at the beginning of a game, period, or shift.
4. Gloves must be removed and "thrown down" simultaneously to avoid either combatant from receiving an "instigator" penalty on top of the "fighting" penalty.
5. Punching must be stopped once the referee steps in to put an end to the battle.
6. It must be a fair fight in that the opponents have to be close in stature
7. It is considered unsportsmanlike for an enforcer just coming off the bench (fresh) to challenge one who has been on the ice for a while (tired).
8. Challenging someone recovering from broken bones, stitches, or other face injuries is frowned upon.http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A409280

• One technique often used is fighting is grabbing the opponents jersey close in a way that will impede the use of that arm for throwing punches. Holding on to the jersey also aids in keeping balance on the ice.

1. "Jersey" an opponent. This is accomplished by grabbing the back of the jersey and bringing it up over the head of the wearer, trying to get it over his eyes.http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/fighting%20in%20ice%20hockey%20-%20fighting%20techniques/id/5046796
2. Rapid Fire Technique - Each fighter throw as many punches as he can until one person falls. Once a player is down, the fight is over.
3. The Clean and Jerk Method - Grab the opponent's jersey below the chin, and while skating backward, jerk him towards you, punch with your free hand, and quickly push away. (repeat rapidly as many times as necessary).
4. The Bum Rush Method - Once gloves are removed, skate at the opponent as fast as possible, tackle him, and commence punching. These fights are often stopped quickly.