Here some interesting, and breaking news that just popped up on twitter today. It looks like junior hockey is going to ban fighting, or make it less prevalent in their hockey games. I am sure the Anti-Fighting Cabal will be happy with this move. I am torn, and I am not sure what to think about this.
The Junior Hockey News --- TJHN has learned from multiple sources that USA Hockey is working in conjunction with Hockey Canada on a plan to remove fighting from Junior Hockey no later than the start of the 2015 – 2016 season.
In October of 2013, the Canadian Junior Hockey League, which is the governing body for the ten Junior A hockey leagues, voted to ban fighting starting in the 2014-2015 season.
In essence a player that fights will automatically receive a game ejection where as in the past a player would receive a five minute major penalty. Some CJHL leagues began instituting escalating suspensions for players who continually found themselves in fights this past season.
In January at the USA Hockey annual meeting a proposal was presented that would call for an automatic game ejection, and an automatic two game suspension for those players that instigate fights.
Since January, USA Hockey and Hockey Canada have been in talks discussing how the two governing bodies can work together toward making these rules standardized for both countries. The goal is to eliminate all fighting by the beginning of the 2015 season.
While the elimination of fighting may sound good to some, a rule will not totally eliminate fighting. There will still be fights in Junior Hockey, but the rules being discussed will place escalating, and very severe penalties for those who continue to fight.
No comments:
Post a Comment