One & Done

Around noon today the CJHL sent out a press release regarding a new rule on fighting across the 10 Junior ‘A’ Leagues. There are not too many people who like these changes, at least from what I’ve seen and heard.

Below are the details…

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CJHL Endorses the Adoption of the ‘One-Fight’ Rule and National Supplemental Discipline Guidelines

Thursday, October 24, 2013

CALGARY, Alberta – The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Board of Directors has overwhelmingly voted to support an automatic game misconduct for fighting (the one-fight rule) and new national minimum discipline guidelines.

“The co-operation among our leagues and partners for standardized fighting rules and consistent discipline guidelines across all Junior A leagues is a significant step in the continuing development and evolution of the CJHL and Junior A hockey in Canada,” said CJHL President Kirk Lamb. “We will work closely with our stakeholders and key partners, such as Hockey Canada and provincial branches, on bringing these endorsements forward for consideration.”

One-Fight Rule Endorsed as National Standard

The CJHL supports the automatic game misconduct penalty for fighting. The automatic game misconduct penalty, commonly known as the ‘one-fight rule’, results in a 5-minute major as well as the immediate ejection of the player from the game. Five CJHL leagues – SIJHL, NOJHL, OJHL, CCHL and LHJAAAQ – are currently using this rule. In five other CJHL leagues – BCHL, AJHL, SJHL, MJHL and MHL – a player’s first fighting penalty results in the same 5-minute major penalty, but does not carry with it in an automatic ejection from the game. In those leagues, the automatic game ejection occurs after a player’s second fight in the same game. A move to a national rule for fighting would see all 10 CJHL leagues operate under the same automatic game misconduct penalty for fighting.

Junior A Supplement Supported as National Supplemental Discipline Guidelines

In addition to supporting a game misconduct penalty for fighting, the CJHL has overwhelming endorsed in principle a comprehensive set of minimum discipline guidelines based on a 4-year pilot project called the Junior A Supplement. The Junior A Supplement was designed and implemented by the BCHL, AJHL, SJHL, MJHL and MHL, in partnership with Hockey Canada.

“The Junior A Supplement has been an invaluable game management tool,” said BCHL Commissioner John Grisdale. “We have experienced a significant change in the culture of our game and player behavior and are enjoying the benefits of enhanced communication and education among players, coaches and officials.”

The Junior A Supplement is an innovative set of regulations involving both existing playing rules that have been strengthened or expanded, as well as the creation of new penalties for certain actions and player behavior. The key principles of the Junior A Supplement are:

• establishing common values relating to player, coach and team behavior
• suspension thresholds for multiple offenders of various infractions
• increasing suspensions for subsequent infractions beyond the suspension threshold
• coach and team accountability, such as fines and suspensions, for the actions of their players
• education of players, coaches and officials about the rules and values of the Junior A Supplement

“The Junior A Supplement provides a consistent supplemental discipline guidelines across the country and arms Junior A leagues with additional tools to help manage many aspects of our game,” said CCHL Commissioner Kevin Abrams. “As a league dedicated to the development of student-athletes, we continuously evaluate new rules and regulations to make the game more enjoyable and safer for our players and more exciting and entertaining for our fans.”

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My Thoughts:

Obviously this does not come into effect until next year. But many questions are brought up and will likely be answered over the coming months.

What does this mean for the max 5 fight limit currently established in the MJHL? Can you still fight five times before receiving a suspension? Or is that now out the window?

What happens when a player goes after another player early in a game just to get him out of the contest? Perhaps a team’s best player? Will an instigator type rule let the referee decide what happens to each player? ie. One is ejected and the other just sits for 5 minutes or less? Or is it as simple as once you throw a punch with your gloves off you’re out?

Yes the Commissioners support this rule change, but what about the coaches across the CJHL? Were they consulted at all before this decision was made. I’m assuming not.

Regardless, we all know fighting in hockey is becoming extinct. Sadly, it’s only a matter of time…

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Opinions:

Kings Head Coach & GM Marlin Murray: “I better not respond.”

Former Dauphin King D-man: “Taking the fighting out of hockey at a younger level, or increasing punishment is not good for the game. Kids who make the jump to higher levels are not going to have nearly as much experience on how to protect themselves against pro’s who have been doing it for years which will result in more injuries in the game. Fights are going to happen in the spirit of competition at any level.”

Fellow Broadcaster: “Fighting is down already with the Jr ‘A’ supplement. If a player needs to be held accountable he still will. Game misconduct or not.”

Columnist: “Considering a lot of Jr. A grads play NCAA, the CJHL’s one fight misconduct endorsement makes sense. Can’t fight in college anyway.”

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A busy weekend is ahead for the Dauphin Kings. They’re back it Saturday when they host the Wayway Wolverines at Credit Union Place. 7:30pm is start time. Then on Sunday Dauphin travels south to Neepawa to battle the Natives. That game happens at 6:30pm. Saturday’s contest can be seen on FastHockey, Sunday’s affair will be on 730 CKDM radio. Pre Game is at 6:20pm.

The schedule may be slow right now, but get ready for a lot of games in a short period of time in November. During the month there’s a stretch that sees Dauphin play 8 games in 11 nights.

Will have more on the Kings and their Weekend ahead in the next day or so!