I think it’s also kind of an unwritten rule. Been watching hockey for 25 years now and it’s rare to see the goalie go to the box, but when they do it’s for a particularly egregious slashing penalty (usually to the ... swimsuit area). I agree with the general point of the article though, which I thought was well written. Hockey, especially over I’d say the last 5-6 years or so has gotten a lot more “run and gun” than before that imo.
I'm not sure how referees are handling this in Canada or the USA, but in Europe, if the goalie hits any other player with blocker to head area, it is the game penalty for him. If the goalie starts a fistfight (without gloves), it is also the game penalty.
Yeah it's an automatic game penalty in the NHL -- Rule 51.3
Match Penalty - If, in the judgement of the Referee
, a goalkeeper uses his blocking glove to punch an
opponent in the head or face in an attempt to or to
deliberately injure an opponent, a match penalty
must be assessed.
Where in Europe are you? I've been trying to find more hockey to watch that's not US based. In the NHL it's extraordinarily rare for a goalie to get into a fight (also fighting in hockey should definitely not be banned ... it's part of the art and culture of the sport).
I'm in Slovakia. I think problem with watching hockey in TV is not only about quality of players, but also production of the broadcasting. Here NHL shines and it is big difference. When I was on live match, it was quite watchable (even Slovak league ;), but in TV it lacks the action that is provided by good broadcast production - a lot of cameras, cuts, etc.
Also around here it is quite uncommon for goalies to fight, but especially goalies coming from Canada tended to "payback" in some brawls around crease with blocker and paid dearly for it, as they had to leave the crease during important play-off game afterwards.
I haven't been following hockey in a couple of decades but fighting used to be much less common in European leagues AFAIK than it is (or was) in the NHL. Goalies getting involved would have been even rarer. But if fights do occur, they are (or at least used to be) penalised more strictly, in line with fighting not being considered a part of the game the way it is in North America.
