Hockey fighting competition scapped
A controversial hockey fight competition which divided a northen B.C. town has bee scrapped by local officials.
Prince George's city council voted to cancel impending Battle of the Hockey Enforcers, a competition which would have featured on-ice brawling for money â without any hockey.
Opinion about the competition was split. Some people say it sends the wrong message to kids that fighting is OK, while others argued the event would have tarnished the city's reputation.
Fight defenders maintained it would have been no different than boxing or ultimate fighting shows, which have been held in Prince George.
City councillor Brian Skakun, who made the motion to canel the event, says holding this type of show would reinforce stereotypes of Prince George as a backward and rough town.
"Prince George is a growing community that's modern," he says. "This has caused harm to our community."
But Wednesday night's vote may not be the end of the controversy. The event's promoter says he'll be seeking advice from his lawyers.
Meanwhile, Mayor Colin Kinsley says he's worried the city will now have trouble attracting other major events.
He says rock concerts or religious events could be the next to go, if people don't agree with them. And he says that's not good for the city.