Fans lose it over fist fight in first ever NHL game in Australia

In the first ever NHL game played on Australian soil, fans were treated to a wild fist fight, much to the delight of American fans.

Jacob Doty of the LA Kings fights with Josh Brown of the Arizona Coyotes during the NHL Global Series match between Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings at Rod Laver Arena. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

It’s not often you see top class ice hockey being played on Australian soil, and the NHL turned it on for Aussie fans in a pre-season game in Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.

The Arizona Coyotes defeated the Los Angeles Kings 5-3 in an entertaining contest in front of a near capacity crowd of 13,097 at Rod Laver Arena.

Watch The Biggest Sports from The US with ESPN on Kayo. NBA, NHL, MLB & NFL. Live Coverage Every Week in Season. Join now and start streaming instantly >

Seven goals were scored in the second period, before Barrett Hayton sealed the victory for the Coyotes with a goal in the dying stages of the third period.

Both teams then practised a shootout, as is customary in NHL pre-season games.

Teenage forward Logan Cooley impressed for the Coyotes, while Australian born Jordan Spence of the Kings got the rare chance to play in the country of his birth.

Spence assisted a goal by Adrian Kempe in the second period.

It was a solid game, but the highlight came early in the first period when fans were treated to some classic NHL biff as the ice rink at Rod Laver Arena momentarily turned into a boxing ring.

Ice hockey game or boxing fight? (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Jacob Doty of the LA Kings fights with Josh Brown of the Arizona Coyotes during the NHL Global Series match at Rod Laver Arena. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

The ref wasn’t too worried. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

The biff is back. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Arizona’s Josh Brown and LA’s Jacob Doty got into an old fashioned fist fight, whipping off their helmets and tossing their sticks aside as they exchanged blows while the referee watched on.

Josh Brown and Jacob Doty go toe-to-toe. 🥊 pic.twitter.com/9yggc6ZPXc

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 23, 2023

TV Ringside pic.twitter.com/ZLIGtmRbVP

— Shannon Gill (@ShannonGill13) September 23, 2023

The NHL going to Australia and having a fight-filled 1st period is honestly genius marketing lmao Aussies will eat that shit up.

— Ryan 👽 (@RC3POX2Point0) September 23, 2023

Dear Australia, these fights you’re seeing in this game are no longer a regular occurrence in the NHL. Consider it a treat!

— Paul Bromby (@PaulBromby) September 23, 2023

They’re going classic NHL and letting them fight. #GlobalSeries#GoKingsGo#NHLpic.twitter.com/RbbzIvx5Q1

— James Reberry (@jamesreb) September 23, 2023

Two fights already??? Someone in the NHL HQ clearly thought “This is Australia, folks, there MUST be bloodshed!" 🤣 #NHLGlobalSeries#LAKvsARI

— Parker W. Mason ⚾️🏒🇺🇦 (@Calichusetts274) September 23, 2023

There were two fights in the opening 10 minutes of the game, much to the delight of spectators.

While perhaps not as common as they once were, fist fights are a fairly regular occurrence in the NHL and fans couldn’t help but chuckle at the fisticuffs in the exhibition game.

Australian Nathan Walker, who plays for the St Louis Blues in the NHL and won the Stanley Cup in 2018, made headlines when he threw hands in an old school fist fight last year.

Melbourne is now the first city in the Southern Hemisphere to host an NHL game.

The Coyotes and Kings will play another pre-season game in Melbourne on Sunday before turning their attention to the NHL season proper, which begins on October 10.