When the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced last March that it would tighten its fighting rules to host fewer and fewer fights, several fans took to the barricades.
Some people laughed at the track. Even the Canadiens’ captain, Nick Suzuki, said he didn’t understand the decision.
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Commissioner Mario Cecchini didn’t like the mockery. However, he is convinced that it was a decision for the benefit of his players aged between 16 and 20.
“The reaction is clearly different between English Canada and Quebec and our league,” he noted Thursday during his first press conference to mark the start of the campaign. In the last 24 hours, I’ve done three podcasts in the Maritimes and, frankly, I’ve noticed that combat regulation has made progress and I’ve felt support. »
Just a fight
In the 64 friendly matches, there was only one battle, compared to 19 and 20 in the last two years, about twice as many as in the regular season.
“It is the new generation that brings us here,” assured Cecchini, admitting that he expects around ten fights. The young people are there. Not everyone will say it openly. I think there is no longer any desire to stand out in this way. The preseason showed the message was sent.
Players who throw away the gloves are expelled from the game, those labeled as instigators and aggressors are given one or two game bans, while a second fight denies the player the opportunity to fight.
“What a player hates most is wasting his playing time,” confirmed Cecchini. If you’re trying to achieve your dream of playing in the National League, you’ll want to spend time on the ice. »
Memorial Cup adjustments
The major junior competitions in Ontario and the West, led by the Canadian Hockey League, are not as rigorous and a decision must be made with an eye on the Memorial Cup, the season-ending national tournament.
“The Canadian League must ultimately announce the regulations to be adopted. It will be interesting to have these conversations,” commented the QMJHL commissioner, adding that “it will be a first indication” of knowing in which direction the other leagues want to move.
No less robust
The decline in the number of contests did not stop the QMJHL from winning the Memorial Cup in the last four championships, although some said its players lacked resilience.
“Despite the size of the players [Thunderbirds de] Seattle, I didn’t see any softness [jeu mou] At the side of [Remparts de] Quebec, who controlled the game [final] From A to Z. We talk about hockey, culture and mentality change. I expect this kind of resistance,” emphasized Cecchini while touching the precious trophy.
However, the latter said he was “concerned about people who don’t do their research or scouts who don’t do their job 100% and would mistake it for cash.”
“This bothers me. We will work to ensure that our players are valued. I don’t want to be compared to other Canadian leagues, but to all players around the world who play in leagues that have similar rules to ours,” said Cecchini.
Watch Mario Cecchini’s interview with Jean-Charles Lajoie in the video above.