Table of Contents
- Fighting In Hockey
- Hockey Fighting Rules
- The Aggressor
- The Instigator
- Penalties For Fighting
- The Penalty Box
- FAQ
Fighting In Hockey
Fighting in ice hockey can have serious consequences for players and teams. However, fans and officials encourage it so that players can settle disputes.The rules and consequences of participating in a fight are highly technical and can result in serious penalties, fines, and suspensions.
Despite that, fighting in hockey is allowed. However, any players that participate in a fight will be assessed at least a five-minute major penalty for fighting.
A fight in hockey occurs if players get in a dispute during a hockey game. They are allowed to drop their gloves and fight. When this occurs, the gameplay will be stopped by a whistle from the referees. The fight will be allowed to go on until a player hits the ice or the referees deem it time to stop. Fights can sometimes escalate into an all-out brawl involving the entire team.
Hockey Fighting Rules
When a fight begins on the ice, all remaining players must leave the ice and go to the player benches. The referees will position themselves in the referee's crease, and linesmen will monitor the fight from a safe distance. Once the fight is over, the linesmen will intervene and separate the fighters.
Players are not allowed to remove their helmets prior to the fight. If they do, they will be given a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct in addition to the major penalty for fighting.It is not a penalty if a player's helmets fall off during the fight. All fights end when any player falls to the ground on the ice.
A fight starts when players get in an altercation, confront each other, and drop their gloves. Once it is clear that the players will fight, the referees will stop play with the blow of a whistle if it is not already stopped. They will then allow the fight to happen until a player hits the ice. Then both players will spend time in the penalty box.
The Aggressor
The aggressor in a fight is a player who continues to fight, even after the other fighter gives up or is defenseless.The aggressor always receives a game misconduct penalty on top of the major penalty for fighting.
The Instigator
The instigator in a fight is a player who instigatesthe fight. Here are some examples of the instigator during a fight:
- Throws the first punch
- Uses verbal language to provoke another player
- Drops their gloves when the other player does not
If a player is deemed the instigator and not an aggressor, they will receive a minor penalty and ten-minute misconduct penalty for instigating on top of the five-minute major for fighting.
If one player is deemed to be both the instigator and aggressor in a fight, they receive a minor penalty for instigating, a major penalty for fighting, and a game misconduct for being the aggressor.
Penalties For Fighting
When referees assign penalties for fighting, they may classify a player as the aggressor or instigator. This procedure is used to assign penalties, fines, and suspensions.
Players can be categorized as both. Players who are classified as both the instigator and the aggressor will receive an instigating minor penalty, a major penalty for fighting, and a game misconduct penalty.Each of these will be recorded and could affect the player’s fines, penalties, and suspensions moving forward.
A player who is deemed the aggressor in four regular season games automatically receives a two-game suspension. Further violations result in longer suspensions, with the fourth aggressor penalty drawing a four-game suspension and the sixth resulting in a six-game suspension.
Similarly, the third instigator penalty in a season draws a two-game suspension. The fourth is punished by a four-game suspension and the fifth results in six games off.
| FIGHT SITUATION | PENALTY TYPE |
|---|---|
| Any player who participates in a fight | Major Penalty |
| If players remove their helmets or jerseys | Minor Penalty for Unsportsmanlike Conduct |
| If players are taped up at the hands and draw blood | Match Penalty |
| Fighting off the playing surface (or with another player who is off the playing surface) | Game Misconduct Penalty |
| Fighting off the playing surface | Game Misconduct Penalty |
| The player fights after the fight is over | Major Penalty/Game Misconduct Penalty |
| The player is the aggressor | Major Penalty/Game Misconduct Penalty |
| The player is an instigator for the second time in the game | Major Penalty/Game Misconduct Penalty |
| The player is the instigator in the final five minutes of a game | Major Penalty/Game Misconduct Penalty |
| The player is has been an instigator three times or more in the same season | Major Penalty/Game Misconduct Penalty |
The Penalty Box
The penalty box is where players are sent if they participate in a fight. Players are only allowed to return to the ice when the duration of the penalty expires. When players are sent to the penalty box for a fight or other penalty, they will spend between two and ten minutes in the box. During this time, the player’s team must play down a player until the time is up.This is called a power play for the opposing team.
FAQ
What penalties are given to fighters in hockey?
If a player participates in a fight, he may receive one or a combination of the following penalties:
A major penalty is automatically given to anyone who participates in a fight.
Why is fighting allowed in hockey?
While there is no truly defined reason as to why fighting is allowed, it is generally thought to help prevent cheap shots and other unnecessary actions during a game.Knowing that a player from the other team is allowed to fight you in the event of a “dirty play” is meant to help prevent those plays from ever happening. Essentially, fighting is a unique way for the players to police themselves rather than dealing out ejections and suspensions. It also allows players to release some of their frustrations in a more controlled manner as opposed to building up into an even more dangerous play.
Why do hockey players drop their gloves before a fight?
While not technically required, it is an unwritten rule that players must drop their gloves when participating in a fight.One reason for this is that there are often hard pieces of plastic or metal on hockey gloves that can cause serious injuries in a fight. Also, hockey players must drop their gloves to signal that they want to fight. A player who does not drop their gloves is indicating that they do not want to fight, and any blows to that player can result in more serious consequences to the instigator.
