A full-fledged skirmish of the verbal fistic variety has broken out in hockey circles following critical comments made by Dr. Charles Tator, a noted Toronto neurosurgeon, about the role played by Hockey Night In Canada Coach's Corner Host Don Cherry in promoting a belligerent hockey culture.

Dr. Tator, who was front and centre at Hockey Canada conference which delved into the effects of hits to the head, the prevalence of head-hunting at the highest levels of the game, and the increasing number of concussions, sounded off against Cherry and his Coach's Corner bully pulpit.

"I think he is a negative influence because he applauds aggressive hockey," Dr. Charles Tator said in a telephone interview, after delivering similar comments at a seminar on hockey concussions in Regina.

"We like skilled hockey, we like hard-fought hockey, but we don't like people going to the next step where there are hits to the head."

Reaction to the comments were mixed, with many within the hockey community coming to the defence of Cherry. Ex-hockey player Keith Primeau, who was forced to retire because of numerous concussions and blows to the head believes Cherry isn't the bogeyman most people are making him out to be.

"No one promotes hitting to the head," Mr. Primeau said in an interview yesterday, noting Mr. Cherry's efforts to reduce injury in minor hockey with the "STOP" decal program that gets children to think before they hit an opponent from behind.

For years, Mr. Cherry has also railed against touch icing, saying it needlessly endangered players who chased after a puck, only to barrel into the boards.

Sherali Najak, executive producer of Hockey Night in Canada, said Mr. Cherry "has been the leader in teaching tough, smart hockey and promotes respect amongst players at every level. Everyone who has watched Don over the years knows this, and any indication otherwise is misguided and a short-sighted misrepresentation of the facts."

Before readers get bent out of shape and think this is a witch hunt, the good doctor did praise Cherry for his past initiatives, however, he believes that more can be accomplished and that lives or careers won't have to sacrificed in the name of bloodlust and goonery.

Granted, Cherry is a hero and an icon to hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Canadians for his embrace of the Canadian brand of hockey and the physical aspects of the game, but lets not forget that truculence was part of the game long before Cherry was a twinkle in the eye of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. And that it will take a lot more to remove the nasty elements from the game.

Lest we forget, there was much hand-wringing during the '70s as well over excessive violence in the game, before there was a push back. Parting Shots is wondering if we have we hit a similar tipping point?

Has Don Cherry been unfairly singled out in this hockey debate?

Yes, quite so. Hockey is a super-fast and physically demanding, where the game ebbs and flows. Collisions occur, forced or otherwise and are a part of the game.

No, his views of the game are archaic and from a different era. He should be promoting a more skilled and dynamic version of the game, where players are allowed to display their extraordinary skills.

What say you Fadoo?

A Shot At Cherry [National Post]

Is Don Cherry preaching the wrong hockey message? [Toronto Star]

Enough brain damage already [The Globe & Mail]

Hockey Night in Canada defends Don Cherry [Toronto Star]

Doctor calls for Don of a new, safer era [Toronto Star]

Players face pressure to return to ice after concussions [The Globe & Mail]