News & Politics - 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.

**vc318** · 08-25-2008, 06:35 PM

Just junior hockey? These penalties should be in place for the adult hockey teams too.

**TheAngel** · 08-25-2008, 07:33 PM

I used to play hockey for quite a few years. We didn't have a big problem with violence, we never had a fight, but we also had strict penalties for aggressive behavior. I ended up in the penalty box once because I got mad and shouldered another player into the boards. It was very immature (I was about ten at the time) but I never did it again because it let me sit down and see how immature it was. Hockey is an aggressive game, but it can also be a safe game as long as the rules are followed.

**sunnykerr** · 08-26-2008, 06:02 PM

I like a little violence in my hockey, I won't deny it. Not in lieu of the actual game, mind you, but it's like a vicarious outlet every so often.

Still, I've always maintained that anything that would be considered a crime off the ice should be treated as such on it as well. That unwarranted attack on the Chicoutimi goaler was probably not the only incident to keep in mind, but it was such a blatantly disgusting display of uncalled-for aggression that I'm glad it wasn't swept under the rug.

And they're getting tougher in the NHL, too. It isn't that long ago that full-on fights carried penalties, but not much more..