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Assignment

Image for The Toughest Guys On Ice

Play now 25 mins

The Toughest Guys On Ice

Duration:
25 minutes
First broadcast:
Thursday 19 January 2012

Assignment goes inside the fast and furious world of North American ice hockey.

The sport's stars are national icons in Canada, earning huge salaries and widespread respect.

The sport is notorious for the fist fights between the players who are known as enforcers.

No other team sport tolerates this kind of fighting.

The fans, for the most part, love it.

But there is growing evidence that some players are suffering long term health consequences.

Alex Capstick reports.

(Image: Calgary Flames' Kostopoulos and Minnesota Wild's Stoner exchange blows in their fight during their NHL hockey game in Calgary. Credit: Reuters)

  • Are ice hockey 'enforcers' the toughest guys in sport?

    Are ice hockey 'enforcers' the toughest guys in sport?

    "I get up and he's standing in front of me like he wants to fight. So he pushed me and (the) next thing I know he was lying on his back. I caught him with a lucky punch and he was out"

    Read more on the BBC News website

  • Ice Hockey homepage

    Ice Hockey homepage

    BBC Sport's ice hockey site - the latest news from the Elite and English Premier League, plus details of all BBC coverage

    Read more on the BBC Sport website

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