Six months after the QMJHL announced that it was banning fighting, what impact did this decision have on the world of hockey? The newspaper has surveyed, over the past few weeks, leagues around the world, players who ardently defend fighting and experts who worry about athletes’ brains. We will present the result to you over the coming days.
A sign that the craze for fighting is not diminishing in the United States, a league which offers “hockey fights without the game of hockey” was created there a few years ago, and notably featured pugilists from Quebec.
One of the creators of the Ice Wars organization is former Danbury Trashers president AJ Galante.
For those who are not familiar with the latter, his story and especially that of his father, James, was told in a documentary on Netflix detailing the adventure of the Trashers.
This team of brawlers became a real attraction in the mid-2000s, before closing following the arrest of James Galante on dozens of corruption charges.
A knockout. to end the fight
Coming back to Ice Wars, they held their first events in the spring of 2022, deciding to use the excitement of hockey fighting to turn it into a sport in itself.
In order to promote its activities, Ice Wars also uses the slogan “Hockey fights without the hockey game» (“hockey fights without the game of hockey”).
The rules are clear: two fighters in an arena located on an ice rink and demarcated by hockey tape, dressed as hockey players from head to toe, except for the gloves which are substituted by mixed martial arts gloves, fight for two one-minute rounds on synthetic ice.
As is the case in mixed martial arts, a knockout. puts an end to hostilities. If the fight goes to the limit, judges give their scorecard and determine a winner.
To make a name for yourself
Wanting to push his limits and make a name for himself outside of Quebec, André Thibault agreed to participate, a few months ago, in an organization event.
Thibault had heard about this organization through one of his friends, Jean-François Lafrance, a tough guy in the North American Hockey League who had participated in Ice Wars events in the past.
Another colossus, Jon Mirasty, who acts as judge for the event, had been trying to attract him for some time.
“They are looking for a good show and are not going to pick up just anyone,” explains Thibault.
He adds that Ice Wars fights are broadcast on a paid platform. At first I was hesitant and didn’t really know what to expect. I had had good words from the fighters of the old editions and I decided to embark on the process.
“You’re a little sick.”
Before leaving, he did not hide having received some warnings from those close to him.
“A lot of people said to me, ‘You’re a little sick doing that,’” he says with a laugh. You don’t go there to play hockey, you go there for the show goons. Because that’s what it is, a tournament goons. On the other hand, when they saw me perform, people had good comments afterwards on what I did there.
During the tournament held in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Thibault made it to the final, losing to the 6’5″, 235 lb colossus Ryan Devine.
At a certain point, during the interview, a question burns on our lips: “André, how do you feel before an event like that? Aren’t you afraid of eating a volley?”
“I try to suppress the negative feelings at this level,” he explains. Maybe that’s why I perform: I’m not afraid of anyone. Maybe that’s a fault too!”
A fight against a giant
Before leaving for Cheyenne, he was looking at the list of participants and came across the profile of Catlin “The Chief” Big Snake, a 6’6″, 310 lb bully.
“I talked about it with my girlfriend before taking the plane. I knew it would be difficult if I had to face him because his arms are six inches longer than me and more than 70 lbs,” says the man who weighs 227 lbs at 6 feet tall.
Obviously, what was supposed to happen happened: he crossed paths with Big Snake in his second fight, which he won.
Thibault does not know if he will participate in other Ice Wars events, but, if he does, it will be in order to get noticed by certain leagues in the United States and, perhaps one day, ‘get a tryout in the ECHL.