VIOLENCE IN THE NHL : STICKING IT TO THEM : Players Say It’s Always Been Part of the Game, but That’s Changing : By CHRIS BAKER, Times Staff Writer

The 1984-85 National Hockey League season has been marred by several stick incidents in which players have been seriously injured.

In the most serious, New York Islander goalie Billy Smith hit left wing Curt Fraser of the Chicago Black Hawks on the jaw with his stick during a scramble in the crease. Fraser suffered a broken cheekbone and has not played since.

Smith, who carries the reputation as one of the most flagrant “stick men,” in the league, was suspended for six games for his part in that incident Jan. 13.

The Black Hawks protested the duration of Smith’s suspension, saying that the league should have barred him for at least 10 games.

“There’s no place in the game for (hitting with sticks),” said defenseman Doug Wilson of the Black Hawks. “You could end a player’s career. The only way to get it out of the game is to make the penalties stiffer.

“But I think they are going to wait until a guy loses an eye to do something about it.”

The NHL, however, declined to take further action against Smith, who, opponents say, has long used jabs with the butt end of his stick to keep players from in front of the net.

But Smith hasn’t been the only culprit in the NHL this season.

Mark Messier of the Edmonton Oilers was suspended for 10 games for hitting Jamie Macoun of the Calgary Flames on the head.

So, do those incidents indicate that violence, especially stick-swinging, is increasing in the NHL?

Not at all, say players and coaches around the league. They contend that stick-swinging incidents have always been a part of hockey, that the league is more sensitive now to stick fights, that the recent incidents were not quite as serious as reported, and that the resulting suspensions also were overreported.

Said Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders: “I think that the incidents that are occurring are being talked about more. Stick swinging didn’t used to be talked about the way it is now. And now it’s being dealt with more severely.

“In previous years, I’ve noticed less fighting and more high-sticking and cross-checking instead. Players are less willing to fight, but they carry their sticks higher (to protect themselves).”

Said goalie Tom Barrasso of the Buffalo Sabres: “They are starting to crack down on it more. Up until three years ago, you didn’t see them hand out many suspensions. I think that they want to change the image of the league (making it less violent).”

Said Bryan Trottier of the Islanders: “The league is really bearing down a lot more on it. The fines are stiffer than they used to be. You used to get a two-minute penalty for high-sticking (with the intent to injure) and now it’s a match penalty.

“I try to control my stick to a greater extent. I know I don’t want my eye knocked out.”

The league even points to statistics that indicate a decrease in violent incidents this season.

“It’s not violence. Look at how many games are played each year,” Bobby Clarke, a former player and now the general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers, told the Hockey News. “These things are such isolated incidents that I don’t think they put a black mark on the sport. It’s a contact, collision sport and sometimes these things happen.”

NHL President John Ziegler said that he sees no need for a crackdown on violence.

“The facts don’t bear out all the dialogue going on,” he said at a recent news conference in Montreal. “I don’t see any need for a dramatic change.

“There have been less attempts to injure this year than last year or the year previously,” Ziegler said. “Our statistics do not show that injuries are increasing by way of fouls.”

New York Islanders Coach Al Arbour said that the recent stick-swinging incidents are nothing new.

“It seems like these things go in cycles,” he said. “There are a couple of incidents and the league gets tougher with it. . . . I certainly don’t want to see anyone using a stick to hurt someone.”

Said John Ogrodnick of the Detroit Red Wings: “I don’t think there are any more than usual. I think it’s pretty much the same. There are always two or three incidents a year. People have been talking about violence since Philly had those tough teams (known as the Broad Street Bullies).”

“It could be a lot worse. I think they’re doing a good job with the suspensions that they are handing out.”

Former All-Star goalie Glenn Hall, goaltending consultant to the Calgary Flames, said, however, that the NHL could stop all stick incidents by taking a firm stand against them.

“Write a letter to a half dozen guys in the league and say that if you’re going to swing your stick, you’re going to be fined,” Hall said.

Glen Sather, coach of the Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers, said the league is imposing tougher penalties.

“You can look at a guy and get a 10-game suspension,” Sather said. “They spend a lot time enforcing it now. They never used to put this much emphasis on it the way they do now in the league.

“It’s a tough job for anyone to enforce the rules, but I think discipline needs to be much more systematic. How do you determine if something is premeditated or a reaction to what happened?”

Players agree that intentionally using a stick to cause injury has no place in the game.

Said Bobby Carpenter of the Washington Capitals: “I don’t think there should be any stick swinging at all. You shouldn’t slash someone just to let him know that you weren’t happy with what he did.

“But I guess some players get so excited that they get carried away and lose their temper.”

Said Mike Gartner, also of the Capitals: “I think the game is getting a little faster, and sticks are always a great equalizer when it comes to speed.”

Said Steve Payne of the Minnesota North Stars: “It doesn’t seem to me that there have been any more stick incidents than usual this year, but I don’t think there should be any at all. They have made the suspensions and fines tougher, and I think it’s good because it discourages it.”

Several players said that it’s the responsibility of the game officials to cut down on stick swinging and violence.

Said Mike Krushelnyski of the Edmonton Oilers: “To tell you the truth, I think the referees are at fault for what’s happening. They let some stuff go and call other stuff so you don’t know what you can get away with.”

Said Brian Sutter of the St. Louis Blues: “I think a lot of it comes from retaliation, where the ref misses the first one. The only way to stop it is to catch the first one.”

Said Paul Coffey of the Edmonton Oilers: “There haven’t been that many this year. Most of it is done in frustration.”

Said Edmonton goalie Andy Moog: “I think the incidents this year have been more publicized than before. And it’s also a time when the league is saying, ‘Let’s cut down on violence.’

“I don’t think most of it is done in retaliation, it’s done in frustration. If I’m doing my job, I shouldn’t be interfered with. I can feel for goalies if they get players coming into their crease.”

Said center Dale Hawerchuk of the Winnipeg Jets: “Stick incidents are part of the game, those things happen. Guys just get riled up.”

Discipline in the NHL is the province of one man. Brian O’Neill, the league’s executive vice president, reviews video tapes of all incidents, then rules after hearing from everyone involved. In most cases it takes at least a week for O’Neil to make a decision.

O’Neil has not suspended anyone for more than 10 games this season.