Should the QMJHL Revise its Ban on Fighting?

A photo from Le Nouvelliste when covering the QMJHL's no fighting rule

It’s a question that may not be on the QMJHL’s docket but is on the minds of many throughout the league and the province. In a series of articles over the last 2 weeks, news outlets have gathered opinions and background from QMJHL General Managers, player agents, league representatives, on-ice officials and politicians. One thing is certain- they agree to disagree.

The QMJHL made waves going into the 2023 season when it banned fighting. The Q’s rule calls for players to be ejected following any fight. In addition to the automatic ejection, suspensions begin following any additional fight(s) during the same season. 

Starting as part of a broader topic on the state of hockey in Quebec, and specifically its decline in producing NHL Players, a Soleil article on January 18th touched off the no-fight rule powder keg. In the article, Quebec Remparts GM Simon Gagne cited conversations with NHL Scouts claiming that without the fighting element, players from the league are viewed as not being physically ready for the NHL. Player agents and 10 additional GM’s would go on to agree with him. In the same article, however, league president Mario Cecchini refuted the view saying that the majority of leagues the NHL drafts from, including the NCAA, do not allow fighting either. 

Follow-up articles dedicated to the topic on January 26th, 27th, 28th, and 30th showed three distinct “camps” on the subject. What we’ll call “Camp 1” represents those in favor of lifting the rule, “Camp 2” represents those in 3 favor of adjusting the rule, and “Camp 3” represents those in favor of keeping the rule as it is.

Camp one generally utilized Gagne’s “scout warning.” An additional and unique perspective came from an on-ice official. The unnamed official noted the greater frequency and duration of post play scuffles that need to be broken up, as well as overall increase in “chippy” play. In this case, letting the kids get it over with was cited as a reason to lift the rule.

Camp 2 noted the need to be in line with the other CHL Leagues, using the OHL as the example. The OHL uses a 3 fight rule prior to suspension, does not include fights when defending against an instigator, and wipes the record clear for the playoffs. A player agent cited the need to maximize playing time, rather than penalty and suspension time, as the reason for revising the rule.

Camp 3 cited the decline in Quebec’s participation in the NHL preceding the rule, and the safety concern of having 16 year old boys fighting 20 year old men. The most interesting factor was Minister of Sport, Recreation and Outdoors Isabelle Charest admitting she used post-Covid relief funds as leverage in the league's agreement to reduce fighting. 

One thing agreed on by all camps was that the fighting issue alone won’t solve Quebec’s problem of declining representation in the NHL. Two certainties coming from the articles are that the Q has no plans on a revision or elimination of the rule, and the various camps won't give up their cases any time soon.