QMJHL plans to ban fighting beginning next season
Ahead of the 2023-24 QMJHL season, the league announced they’re planning to ban fighting, according to theScore. The rule is currently pending ratification ahead of the season.
Fighting has been a huge topic in the hockey world for the past few seasons. Now in the NHL, tempers among fighters have been a topic of discussion. The NHL recently suspended St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington for two games for throwing punches at Minnesota Wild players. Now, the QMJHL is stepping in to the scene to stop fighting as a whole.
A league spokesperson for the QMJHL spoke of the potential rule change for the league around fighting. “The QMJHL is planning to have a rule in place that will ban fighting, making it black and white that it is no longer a part of our game,” the spokesperson said. “The punishments have not been decided as of yet. We will be looking to have a rule in place in June when the next general annual assembly of the members of the board of governors takes place.” Via theScore.
QMJHL rule officials broke down fighting regulations back in 2020. These rules would help protect players and add safety to the game. In 2020, the QMJHL implemented a 10-minute misconduct rule to the five-minute major penalty. This new implemented rule would lead to success for the QMJHL, as fighting only occurred in only 0.07 fights per game in the 2022-23 season.
With fighting being banned, it might not be the best for the sport of hockey. What fans and officials don’t realize is that fighting allows players to take some steam off and relieve their anger. Not allowing players to fight forces them to retaliate in other ways, leading to unsafe hits and more.
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