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Lucic: Don’t ban fighting in junior hockey

Boston Bruins v Buffalo Sabres

BUFFALO, NY - NOVEMBER 23: Paul Gaustad #28 of the Buffalo Sabres fights with Milan Lucic #17 of the Boston Bruins early in the first period at First Niagara Center on November 23, 2011 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

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Earlier this week we wrote about the push to ban fighting in junior hockey. But if you ask Milan Lucic, that would be a bad idea.

“I’m totally against it,” Lucic told The Province on Wednesday.

“I think there will be more injuries because there’d be no fear of fighting. The game will become dirtier. And, for myself, I don’t think I could have made the NHL the way I did without it.”

Lucic was a frequent fighter during his two seasons with the Vancouver Giants of the WHL.

His old coach, Don Hay – still behind the bench in Vancouver – agrees with Lucic, but for a different reason.

“If they have fighting in the NHL, I don’t think it’s fair to not have our players exposed to that,” said Hay.

Windsor Spitfires coach Bob Boughner concurs.

“We’re on a very, very dangerous slope,” he told the Windsor Star.

“We’re preparing guys for the next level and if you toughen the rules and get rid of it (fighting) in the game, it would have to coincide with the NHL and AHL.

“If they’re not doing it, then you’re putting kids (looking to go pro) in a tough situation.”