Enforcer Eligible For Workman’s Compensation – Who Ordered The Code Red?

“This court finds that fighting is an integral part of hockey.”

It’s nice to see a little legitimacy shine through for the enforcer role. During his time in Virginia, Ty Jones’ tenure as the Norfolk Admirals’ resident goon hit a few speedbumps. A former Panther and Blackhawk, Jones found himself out of work as a direct result of injuries sustained in a fracas he claims he was ordered to instigate. After his coach told him to "go get" an opposing player during a game in 2002, Jones found himself out of work with six screws in his shoulder.

The Admirals insisted that the fight "amounted to willful misconduct and that he was not entitled to workers’ compensation". So Jones was essentially left to twist in the wind for something he felt and was told was part of his job. It was looking pretty grim, until an appellate court ruled in favor of the enforcer…

"The Virginia Court of Appeals upheld a Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission finding that ‘fighting is an integral part of the game of hockey’ and that Ty A. Jones’ injury arose in the course of his employment as an ‘enforcer.’"

So the question now is – does that mean that Colonel Nathan Jessop would order a cross check?