Giving thanks to David Branch
It has been decades since David Branch first began his crusade to make the junior game safer by cracking down on fighting and checks to the head — and the Ontario Hockey League commissioner is slowly but surely winning the war on violence.
To be sure, the now 67-year old Branch has taken an-often unpopular stand with owners, coaches, players and fans for his iron-fisted ways that have led to so many lengthy suspensions and harsh dealings over the years.
But the relentless Branch — who became OHL commissioner in 1979 at age 31 and was then named president of the Canadian Hockey League in 1996 — has refused to back down in his ongoing quest to make fighting an incidental part of the game.
Showing the courage of his convictions and not allowing the restless hands of time to deter him from slowly-but-surely making player safety a top priority, Branch is to be commended for what he has stood for and subsequently enforced over the years.
And I say this as someone who has not been Branch’s biggest fan over the years.
In some instances, I have seen what I perceive to be Branch playing favourites with individuals and teams.
Personally, I have felt the wrath of Branch in a roundabout way because he apparently did not like some of what I wrote as it pertained to him and some of the decisions he made as OHL commissioner.
And while Branch and I have not spoken in years — it goes back to him not returning phone messages and not replying to e-mails which led me to give up trying to contact him — I do hold the man in high regard for what he has done to make major junior hockey safer and by putting more emphasis on skill.
Think about the place that fighting has had in hockey for so many years.
Think about the injuries that fighting has caused to teen-aged players.
Think about the missing teeth, the stitches to the face, the broken bones, the concussions and the mental trauma that have been caused by fighting and excessive physical force.
Frankly, it embarrasses me that I was part of the culture that for so many years condoned violence in hockey.
It makes me shake my head and wonder to myself how so many of us could actually cheer on the spectacle of one hockey player punching another one’s teeth in — or worse. It makes me shake my head and wonder to myself how adult leaders of the sport could allow fighting and physical violence to be accepted as “part of the game” for so many years.
Even now, with all the changes to the game designed to make it safer, critics scoff at a guy like Branch and accuse him of making hockey a “pansy sport.”
Oh well, there will always be the macho men and the neanderthal types who think it’s cool for youngsters to cause physical harm and fear to others — all because that’s the way hockey has been played for so many years.
As an example in how similar sports differ, look at youth basketball. It’s as fast and skilled a sport as youth hockey.
But how often over the years have two teen-aged basketball players stood at centre court and punched one another’s teeth out? Conversely, how often over the years have two teen-aged hockey players stood at centre ice and punched one another’s teeth out?
I wrote a while back that I thought that Branch should retire as commissioner of the OHL and president of the CHL because he had been at both jobs for too long.
But I take that back now.
Branch has done a lot of good work to make hockey safer and more respectable. But as long as fighting is still a part of hockey, albeit less and less every year, Branch’s good work is not yet done.
Like him or not, all of us who are involved in hockey at any level and in any way should give some sort of thanks to David Branch for what he has stood for and what he has done in the name of player safety.
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Following are moves that the Branch-led OHL adopted effective this season as further steps toward addressing player safety.
The new rule for fighting will see the minimum threshold for suspension lowered to three fights per player per season. Players who exceed that threshold will be subject to an automatic two-game suspension for each fight over the new limit.
Beginning in the 2012-2014 season, the OHL introduced the first iteration of the rule with a 10-fight threshold per player person. Fighting has decreased by almost 50 per cent since then, according to the league, and over the past two seasons not one player has exceeded the 10-fight threshold.
Additionally implemented was a new “blindside hit rule” which now see a penalty assessed for those who check an opponent from the blindside. Referees now have discretion to dole out a minor, major, game misconduct or match penalty for such plays, which will also be subject to review for supplementary discipline.
“As the number one development league in the world for the National Hockey League and Canadian Interuniversity Sport, the OHL continually challenges ourselves to improve the on-ice environment and evolve the game for the benefit of the most important people in our game, our players,” said Branch, in issuing a statement prior to the start of the 2016-2017 campaign.
PHOTO: OHL commissioner/CHL president David Branch.
Great article Randy. I agree wholeheartedly with you that in the past bad things have been said about Mr. Branch, but it seems to be working out much better now.
As a former photographer for both Sault This Week and freelance, I applaud this. There were numerous times that I was photographing the Greyhounds and I would put the camera down if there was fight, then fans would scream at me to take photos of the fight. I refused. There was no way I was going to be a part of glorifying that, and I am still baffled by the actions of those fans.
But maybe I shouldn’t be so baffled that those who see fighting as essential part of the game were quite ready to assault a photographer for not promoting the fighting.
Your bang on with this RR!
He does go over board some times tho.
I think the new rules are good the way they are / no need to elimanate fighting all together / a good scrap is good once in awhile.
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Well said 100% but saying that the OHL is over-officiated in my humble opinion.
Problem i see recently at thunderbird games . Goalies are open game now .lots of stick work on them . The old days that would probably be handled by a team mate. Not now they stand and watch up to the referee or the goalie to go after the agressor. . I guess if you want to stay in the game you watch your team mate get it.
I was at the OHL when Dave was hired. It was obvious from the beginning that he would be a leader, an innovator and bring stature to the league, the game and the country. I had and still have much respect for Dave. I appreciate what he contributes to our athletes with their careers and not forgetting their education. I respect the way he performs. I have the pleasure of sitting on the Hockey Canada Policy Committee with Dave. His common sense and logic bring much to the table. He is listened to when he speaks. Randy thanks for the article., I know Dave and the Soo fans will appreciate it.
hi Randy .. ..
There is no place in hockey for fighting .. .. .. just like in real life if you fight and hurt someone you get arrested by the Cops and you get charged. Thanks for this Article it is much over do.
Whats more harmfull in hockey a fight ending up probably with a black eyeor bloody nose . Or the player who is now considered just a real agressive player . Hitting from behind head checks using the stick for injuring purposes and the ones who s intentions are just too get the main guys out of the game. . They might get penaltys and fines. But they will return another day and start over. Maybe not if they get a little tune up . I will agree that too many fights in a game can ruin the game . I think a good ref can handle the flow or out come of the game.
I do not miss staged fights off the opening faceoff.