Player speaks out about importance of fighting and why you can't take it out

The Incident

During a Canada versus Switzerland match, Joe Veleno of Team Canada appeared to intentionally stomp on Nino Niederreiter's foot with his skate. Despite the incident being visible on video, it went unnoticed by officials, and Veleno faced no penalty.

Kane's Reaction

Reacting to the video, Kane retweeted it, condemning the act as "disgusting" and "embarrassing." He strongly believes that incidents like this exemplify the necessity of fighting in the NHL. However, tournaments like the IIHF discourage fighting, often leading to suspensions.

Kane emphasized, "This is precisely why fighting in hockey is crucial; it deters such actions and effectively maintains game discipline. Witnessing such a disgusting play, particularly after my injury earlier this year, is truly embarrassing."

Kane referred to his own injury during the 2022-23 NHL season when he suffered a wrist cut from Pat Maroon's skate, causing him to miss over 30 games.

In summary, Kane stresses the role of fighting in discouraging incidents like these and upholding accountability in the sport