Criminals on Ice?

By stepping onto the ice at a hockey game, players are not consenting to acts of extreme violence, at least according to Canadian court. A Quebec judge has awarded a plaintiff $8 million in damages after a hit from behind paralyzed the player back in 2010. The judge stated that players are entitled to the expectation that other players will reasonably avoid gestures likely to cause prejudice. Traditionally, there have been criminal remedies for on-ice violence, but civil suits have been unsuccessful. It will be interesting to see if U.S. courts evolve similarly as attitudes surrounding on-ice violence change.

For more on the Quebec court decision, read the full article here.