Goon/Enforcer entitiled to WCB

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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 American Ty Jones' injury arose in the course of his employment as an ''enforcer.''

Jones' former team, the Norfolk Admirals, had argued that the fight amounted to willful misconduct and that he was not entitled to workers' compensation.

L. Steven Emmert, a leading Virginia appellate lawyer and hockey fan with no connection to the case, suggested the finding Tuesday was so obvious that it does not amount to much as a legal precedent.

''This court finds that fighting is an integral part of hockey,'' Emmert said. ''Thirty million Canadians could have told you that.'' But he added: ''Maybe clubs will be a little more careful about sending a goon - an enforcer - out to thunk somebody in the head.''