QMJHL plans to ban fighting beginning next season

The QMJHL is expected to ban fighting to start the 2023-24 season, pending ratification of the proposed rule change.

A league spokesperson confirmed the plans to The Hockey News on Wednesday.

"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."

QMJHL officials already cracked down on fighting in 2020 to enhance player safety, adding a 10-minute misconduct to the usual five-minute major for the infraction. The extra punishment worked, as the league recorded only 0.07 fights per game last season.

The OHL and WHL, the two other minor leagues under the Canadian Hockey League's umbrella, have also introduced changes in recent years to decrease fighting. The OHL enforces a three-fight rule, in which players who exceed that total are suspended for two games for every additional tussle. The WHL issues a misconduct to any player who tries to remove their or their opponent's helmet in a fight.