Fan Forum - View Single Post - New Ruling Means Tougher Penalties for Violence in Junior Hockey

**sunnykerr** · 08-25-2008, 05:11 PM

Quebec moves to curb hockey violence

Young hockey players in Quebec may think twice about using their hockey gloves as boxing gloves in the wake of strict penalties announced Wednesday to curb on-ice violence.

Hockey Quebec is targeting unsportsmanlike behaviour such as fighting, checking the back of the head and verbal abuse in the minor leagues.

Among the new rules:

Players who fight, instigate, or jump into an on-ice brawl as a third combatant will be suspended for two games on a first offence.

A second offence puts the player out for four games and means a trip before a disciplinary committee.

A third offence means an indefinite suspension.

If the fight happens in the last five minutes of play or overtime, the players involved will be penalized an additional game and their coaches will also be suspended for one game.

A variety of other penalties and suspensions were also laid out Wednesday by Hockey Quebec in the case of other offences.

Penalties will increase in the cases of repeat offenders.

Provincial Sports Minister Michelle Courchesne praised the sanctions, which came about after she issued a call for tougher stands against hockey violence.

The call came last spring after a brawl during a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff game between the Quebec City Remparts and the Chicoutimi Sagueneens.

Quebec City player Jonathan Roy, the son of NHL legend Patrick Roy, who is now the coach of the Remparts, has been charged with assault in the incident.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is to announce its position on new rules in the coming days.

Quebec moves to curb hockey violence

I didn't know Roy had been charged with assault, but I am glad he was. I have never seen such a disturbing display of appalling lack of sportsmanship as his attack on that Chicoutimi goalie.

Hey, I'm a Canadian. I like my hockey and I like it rough from time to time, but this is hockey, not wrestling on ice. And especially when the players are as young as these guys, I think it's probably a good thing that the league is moving to enforce stiffer rules.