Suspension for fighting: QMJHL imposes brand new sanctions

Fighting in the QMJHL. It’s a polarizing issue that’s been the talk of Quebec for several years now.

After all, the health and safety of young players is at stake. They need to be protected in the best possible way, and that means changing the rules on fighting in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Mario Cecchini, the league’s new commissioner, wasted no time in tackling the issue. This morning, he unveiled brand-new penalties for players who want to fight on the ice. They are as follows:

We can add to this another one-game suspension for “any player involved in a 2nd fight in the same season”.

It’s not necessarily the end of fights… But it’s already a step in the right direction.

You may be wondering what the difference is between an “instigator” and an “aggressor”, and it’s not necessarily complicated.

In fact, when we talk about an instigator, we mean that two players are fighting, but only one of them has initiated the fight in question. When we speak of an aggressor, we’re talking about a player who attacks his opponent without the latter agreeing to throw down the gloves.

It’s also worth noting that the new fighting rules were adopted unanimously by all 18 QMJHL owners. Clearly, we wanted to see a changing of the guard…

And the league took note.

If I may say so, I think it’s a good thing. I said it at the outset, but we had to find a solution to maximize the safety of young players, because we know how damaging blows to the head can be to a player’s health.

I can’t wait to see how it all turns out… And, by the same token, I really wonder what the players think of it.

In brief

– I’m surprised. But it opens the door to coaching in the QMJHL.

– Indeed.

– Sick!

Mika Zibanejad is playing a set at Lollapalooza Stockholm!👀👏

📸: @lollapaloozaSE, @SNYRangers pic.twitter.com/li1jfaRtqa

– BarDown (@BarDown) June 9, 2023

– More good words for Logan Mailloux.

– Andrei Kostitsyn has been hired by Dinamo Minsk management. [HabsolumentFan]