Fights will be officially banned in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) next season and violations will continue to be penalized.
The Cecchini circuit announced this in its safety regulation update on Thursday. The Journal de Québec broke the news in March, and the league said in June that it was indeed making changes to its regulations.
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Players who engage in fights are systematically banned from the game and the instigator of a fight automatically receives a game ban, according to the LHJMQ. In the event of an aggressor penalty, the affected hockey player must spend two games away.
Finally, a suspension will be imposed if a player has been involved in a fight for the second time during the season.
“Rule 47 of the Rules of the Game prohibits fights beginning in the 2023–2024 season[es] through more restrictive and dissuasive sanctions to emphasize safe and developmental quality of play for players participating in QMJHL activities,” the amended regulations read.
The abolition of fighting had long been demanded by the Minister for Sport, Recreation and Nature, Isabelle Charest.