This is an interesting article that tries to answer the question of how fighting developed in hockey and why, alone of the violent-collision sports, it continues to tolerate fisticuffs.

The general theory, proposed by Adam Gopnik, is that hockey grew out of the late 19th c. rival ethnic groups in Montreal and was essentially a continuation of gang conflict between English, Scottish, French, and Irish groups.

However, there is little evidence of widespread fighting during the first 30 years of the sport (stick swinging was the biggest problem mentioned in newspaper reports of the era). Fighting wasn't even listed as a foul until 1915, forty years after the first hockey game. By 1960-61 the NHL averaged a fight every five games, with that number steadily climbing until it was 1.3 fights per game by the 1987-88 season. Today, it is about one fight every two games.


Hockey’s History, Woven With Violence
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/sport ... rss&src=ig

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th' only knower of th' cosmic mysteries alive at this time

BTW, other theories for why fighting has become part of the sport, not addressed in the article:

- Introduction of blue line, resulting in more physical play
- The introduction of Rule 56 in 1922 (today Rule 46) that replaced ejection for fighting with a five minute penalty
- Expansion of league in '67 (fighting wasn't that common before the '60s), lowering talent level and bringing more enforcers/thugs into the game

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th' only knower of th' cosmic mysteries alive at this time

I think the nature of hockey is a big reason behind why fighting is allowed. There's a lot of contact in football, but a play gets run and then both teams retreat to a huddle where they have a chance to cool down.

In hockey, a hit is made, and the play usually keeps going. It's a much more personal in-your-face kind of sport, which fosters an environment of hostile emotions. When it reaches the boiling point, guys drop the gloves, beat the shit out of each other, and then it's settled.

A lot of times, you'll see a fight settle down both teams so they can get back to playing hockey.

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Wheelhouse

This.

There's a fantastic video biography of Boogaard linked to that article. It's called an enforcer's life or something. Highly recommended.