Another twist in fighting in the QMJHL

The QMJHL Board of Members has approved new penalties for players who fight in a game:

• adding severe misconduct to the game for any player involved in a fight;
• adding a one-match suspension to any player found to be an instigator;
• adding a minimum ban of two matches to any player declared to be an offender;
• Added a one-game ban for any player participating in a second battle during the same season.

Noting that the vote taken with the team owners had provided a unanimous result, the Commissioner was optimistic as to what, in his opinion, should create a safer environment for the players.

He said the fight rate has actually dropped since March to 0.14 per match. Last season we had 23 or 24 agitators and 7 aggressors. We expect to see these numbers drop dramatically.

Cecchini also believes that the package of additional measures effectively meets the expectations of the Minister of Sports, Isabelle Charest.

The minister responded with this post on her Twitter account: I salute the leadership and the work that LHJMQ did to bring the fight to an end. I will continue to work with my counterparts in other provinces to continue this trend.

Mario Cecchini admits, however, that this won’t completely eliminate all fights.

” For all of our bylaws, there are adjustments that need to be made every year, but the steps we take are very important; They are huge. There were good, long conversations, most of them positive. We’re in a very good place for the long haul. »

When asked about the isolation created by the new rules compared to what is in effect in the other two Canadian circuits (the OHL and WHL), the commissioner acknowledged that talks would have to be held to clarify the issue, particularly to introduce the Anniversary Trophy championship.

Meanwhile, preparatory meetings that were scheduled to pit teams from the QMJHL against Ontario teams have been canceled in hopes that everything can return to normal before the 2024-2025 season.

I think in the short term it comes down to that timing. When decisions had to be made for the calendar, we didn’t have the new regulations. So a decision was made for the period 2023-2024; I am completely confident. I only spent several days [à la Coupe Memorial] With my mates in Kamloops. We’ll find a solution for 2025. I’m not worried.

Also, in order to supervise and facilitate the work of officials, electronic tablets will be added to the penalty box. Additional cameras will be placed above the blue lines for offside calls.

During the press conference, there was also talk of upgrading some of the stands in the arena to standard (bands and lighting). Cecchini has hinted that these standards are still being negotiated with the Quebec government, which has already written this into the pages of its latest budget.

He was the commissioner in Sherbrooke for the QMJHL Draft, which was held head-to-head for the first time since 2019.