Photo: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images
The commissioner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) announced this week new, supplemental sanctions to prevent fighting in the league. The decision to ban fighting came back in February after QMJHL owners voted to add a new rule to its rulebook “which specifies black-and-white that fighting is forbidden in our league.”
The new sanctions are in addition to the original list of rules, penalties and sanctions established by the league’s Members’ Assembly voted during its meeting back on March 6.
The new, additional sanctions approved by the league’s Members include:
- Addition of a game misconduct penalty for any player involved in a fight;
- Addition of an automatic one-game suspension for any player declared the instigator of a fight;
- Addition of a minimum two-game automatic suspension for any player identified as the aggressor;
- In addition to the game misconduct, an automatic one-game suspension will be imposed once a player has reached his second fight, rather than his third.
The new sanctions are in addition to the original list of penalties and sanctions previously announced by the league.
The QMJHL has been working toward banning fighting since 2020, when Isabelle Charest, the minister responsible for sport in Quebec, called for it.
The League’s ban is expected to officially take effect this month, ahead of the 2023-24 season.
By Jon Sorensen
This is going to be strange. What happens when one guy gets pissed at another?
I m afraid this is a test for other leagues.
There is no need to ban fighting all you have to do is make a few changes: 1) require all players to wear helmets with cages and 2) if your helmet comes off in the action of fighting you get an automatic 10 minute penalty in addition to any other penalties that you might receive as the result of fighting. Now who in their right mind is going to punch a metal cage maybe John Erskine but cant think of anyone else. Problem solved at all levels.
Metal cages required, oh brother.
Druid, I think you make some valid points. I have also thought quite a bit about the hockey helmits. They come off way to easily for me. I have noticed that this year, especially at the ECHL level, when there is a minor altercation at, or just after a whistle, someone’s helmet gets ripped off. Why not make that a 5 minute major and stop that nonsense? As far as your suggestion about everyone wearing a helmet with some sort of cage, that would also eliminate most, if not all high sticking penalties, especially the the double minor variety.
Totally agree with making it a 5 minute major to remove another persons helmet as now you have a safety issue. And a point I didn’t t think of was the elimination of most of the high sticking penalties, good catch there there.
Honestly I don’t know why there is a push to eliminate fighting in hockey as it seems to be done les and less as time goes by. Players realize that being off the ice, like Wilson, is detrimental to the team and their winning and it is now done les and less every year. I’m thinking that in about 10 years there will be no fighting at the NHL level and that will filter down to the lower levels quickly.
Continuing New World Order destruction of honor in ice hockey
Wow,Druid you ever watched amateur hockey in Canada?….no probably not. Current CAHA(Canadian amateur hockey association) rule that has been on the books is as follows: any player engaging in fight will be assessed 5 minute fighting major as well as game misconduct (basically 10 minute penalty). That means rule applies to all levels kids-to senior men’s.
Full cages are used/mandatory for beginner to under 17 age groups,after that last depending on what league/level 1/2 cages,metal or plastic are mandatory. But interesting thing is if players fight usually smart ones take helmets/slash cages off before fighting.
All the Qmjhl are doing is aligning with caha rule & less with making thier own,which isn’t going to eliminate fighting it’s going to increase head shots & stickwork.
Besides here’s interesting fact one of the most fighting heavy senior leagues in all of Canada is …..Quebec pro league!
Did you write this during your Mensa meeting?
I think this is a sign of things to come for other leagues. Not that I agree, but the Q has shepard-in various rule changes as a gunea pig.
No Lenny didn’t write during Mensa meeting,wrote while watching a former Cap Prospect who wasn’t GOOD ENOUGH to stay with team get one game closer to winning second Stanley Cup……Chandler Stephenson!
Got it, thanks. Good to know Alberta’s school system is still thriving.
I don’t think they traded Chandler because he was not good enough. They traded him for salary cap relief and I also believe because they did not know how to use him. A Swiss Army Knife type of player is very useful but the Caps didn’t see it that way as they just did not know how to use him properly. I’m glad that he is getting his chance in Vegas and hope that he gets 2 or 3 Cups! A good and useful player lost just like Seigenthaler. Maybe the new head coach can convince management to hang unto the young guys and let them grow.