Brandon Dubinsky and Blake Comeau fight at practice
A spat between Blue Jackets Brandon Dubinsky and Blake Comeau escalated, quickly, into a full-on fight today during practice in Nationwide Arena.
Dubinsky and Comeau, who had moments earlier exchanged words and had to be separated on the bench during a penalty-kill drill, dropped the gloves and exchanged punches when their lines were next on the ice together.
They did so just feet away from coach Todd Richards, who unsuccessfully ordered them to stop. Assistant coach Dan Hinote intervened and pulled Dubinsky and Comeau apart, keeping things from getting out of hand as president of hockey operations John Davidson, watching from suite level, bellowed for the teammates to cease fire.
Just another day at the rink.
“I’m not angry about it at all,” Richards said. “I’ve been places where I get into an argument with somebody and would love to fight them. That’s part of it. It’s everyday life. You’re passionate about something, you believe in something. You’re laying it on the line. It happens.”
No one was injured, and the tussle sent a charge through the Jackets locker room. It was abuzz –borderline giddy — afterward. Practice fights are a rarity in the NHL these days. This one seemd to have a postive effect.
http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com/content/blogs/puck-rakers/2013/12/teammate-tussle.html