Connor McDavid injury renews hockey fighting debate

Erie Otters' Connor McDavid controls the puck during an OHL game against the Sarnia Sting in Erie, Pa., Saturday, Oct.4, 2014. (Erie Otters, Matt Mead / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

A debate is raging on social media after an Ontario Hockey League star touted as the potential first-overall pick in the 2015 NHL draft was injured in an on-ice fight.

Connor McDavid, of the OHL's Erie Otters, suffered a fracture of the fifth metacarpal bone in his right hand and will be out five to six weeks. He will not require surgery. The injury occured after McDavid hit his hand on the top of the boards during a fight with the Mississauga Steelheads' Bryan Cianfrone.

The fight and McDavid's injury have reignited the discussion surrounding the role of fighting in hockey, and whether skill players should be trading punches.

Former NHL enforcer Paul Bissonette chimed in on Twitter saying that writers don't understand the role of fighting in hockey.

"At this point take fighting out of hockey just to shut up writers who have never been involved in a competitive sport in their life," he wrote.

Some fans wondered why McDavid's Otters teammates didn’t step in to defend the 17-year-old star centre.

"How are they letting him fight," said Reddit user Spitfires. "I'd send the goalie in to fight for him before I let him take a punch."

"Sure, he's allowed," agreed Reddit user RyanJG. "Doesn't mean we can't think it's stupid to do so."

For the entire online conversation, click here.

Bob McKenzie, TSN's hockey insider, pointed to McDavid's youth as a reason for what he calls a questionable decision.

"Because he's 17," he posted on Twitter. "Because he's a hockey player. Lots of guys who don't have the first excuse only invoke the second. Live and learn."

McDavid leads the OHL with 16 goals and 35 assists in just 18 games this season while the Otters top the Western Conference with a 16-1-0-1 record.

With files from The Associated Press.