And that's just one way to use abrasiveness on the ice, explains VandenBussche. Fighting is a little bit of everything. It can change the momentum of the game. Say you're losing 3-0. Sometimes you get a guy taking liberties on your smaller players, and you've got to answer that.
Intimidation still plays a big role on the ice.
The brawlers also make life easier for their less-violent teammates. If the game isn't going well, then I've got to go out and fight. If I want to fight, there's no one who can stop me from doing my job. Stick to the guys that can fight. But as long as everyone sticks by the code, there's not going to be any trouble.