from Amazon
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Teaching kids to fight
Despite the controversy, organizers say they want to run a similar camp next off-season. “We’ll keep doing this clinic as long as there’s a demand for it. As long as there’s fighting in the NHL,” Lakness said. One young hockey player, Brayden Gelsinger, says it’s all part of the game. “It’s important because if you’re in a situation where someone’s pushing you around and stuff, you got to defend yourself and your teammates,” Gelsinger said. While Rich Hesketh, the Calgary Flames’ fitness coach, said 12-year-olds are too young to learn how to fight, there is at least one dissenting opinion. “If they’re there teaching kids at the ages of 12, 13, 14 to defend themselves, that’s fine,” said Wayne Gretzky. “I took boxing classes when I was 10. It didn’t pay off for me.”