DH: Who is Swindon Wildcats’ designated fighter?

GR: Wildcats defence man Shane Moore does the majority of the fighting for his team, with Sam Bullas as his occasional back-up.

In the EPL, and in most leagues throughout hockey, teams will usually have one or two players that are known for fighting, and in games they will often fight with the players known for fighting on the other team.

DH: What prompts the fight?

GR: Firstly it is to stick up for yourself or a team-mate. They most commonly occur after some intended foul play. For example, if someone got dangerously hit from behind and the team thought it was done on purpose, the fighter would then look to take on the opposition there and then. A lot of things happen to players that don’t fight, so the team’s fighter will step in to sort things out.

DH: Do the fans want these scraps?

GR: There is no doubt it is a key part of the entertainment for the fans. The crowd certainly get pumped up and there is a lot of cheering for the home player involved.

“The players also make plenty of noise and show respect by tapping their sticks on the ice or bench. They all have a lot of respect for the person sticking up for them.

DH: What other reason might there be for a fight?

GR: Well, it can also be tactical to gain some momentum for your team.

If the Wildcats are on the back foot and struggling, head coach Ryan Aldridge will ask Shane if he is able to pick a fight. Especially at home, this gets the crowd going, and if he wins it, his team-mates get pumped up as well and will hopefully get themselves back into the game.

DH: So Shane does not need the excuse of righting a wrong like some medieval champion at a joust?

GR: No. A few weeks ago, Shane fought Andre Payette (a Canadian known for fighting throughout world hockey) straight after the puck was dropped to start the game.

Nothing in the game prompted this fight, just a few words in the warm-up, but Shane took him on to show Sheffield that Swindon weren’t afraid of Payette or any other player.

Players develop rivalries in the league, and there are several combinations who are almost guaranteed to have a scrap when their respective teams play each other.

DH: Is this all within the rules?

GR: Fights are within the rules, and afterwards the two protagonists are sin-binned for five minutes, or four in the EPL. Then you are free to return to the game.

However, you receive a match penalty if you leave the bench for a fight, so Shane needs to wait until he is next on the ice to try and start his fight.

DH: How do you officially start a fight – does the glove (gauntlet) have to be thrown down on the rink?

GR: The typical fight starts with a few words between the two players and then both the gloves and helmets are taken off and the clash begins.

“You also see fights that start a lot faster, and so players may still have their helmets on.

DH: Who decides the winner?

GR: The fight is stopped when a player falls to the ice, or the officials deem it to be dangerous at any point.

A lot of them end with a bit of a hand shake as both players know it’s a big role to take on and can lead to injuries, so the respect is always there.

DH: Can there be more than one fight per match?

GR: Yes, there is no official limit, but if the same people continue to fight, the officials will eventually say ‘one more and you’re out’!

DH: What role do the officials play in the fight?

GR: The two linesmen stay close to split the fight up as soon as a player hits the ice.

The main referee stands further away to monitor the fight and make sure nothing outside of the rules occurs.

DH: What’s maximum time allowed?

GR: No maximum or minimum time limit, but if the officials feel the fight is going nowhere they will split it up.

Fighting is very tough physically, so sometimes players end up gassed and can’t throw any more punches.

DH: Finally, George, what does Shane think about his role?

GR: Shane told me: “Fighting in hockey is very much a part of the game, and I think it would be a massive loss if it was to go.

“Hockey is a fast-paced, high adrenaline-fuelled game with lots of aggression. This will naturally lead to fights.

“If fights didn’t happen, I think we would see a lot more injuries from the stick work due to frustration.

“It’s always hard for me fighting most people, as they normally have a height and reach advantage as I’m only 5ft 7in.

“But I’m a big fan of it when it’s done right.”