There is no public outcry, the fans revel in it. There is nothing like it in, say, soccer or even rugby. Ice hockey in Europe or at the Olympics does not allow fighting – if you fight you get sent off.
What is the penalty for fighting in hockey?
A player who is deemed to be both the instigator and aggressor of an altercation shall be assessed an instigating minor penalty, a major penalty for fighting, a ten minute misconduct penalty (instigator) and a game misconduct penalty (aggressor).