Fighting

46.1FIGHTING ”Fighting” is not part of international ice hockey’s DNA. A Player who is willing to fight and/or actively participates in a fight shall be assessed a major penalty for fighting and an automatic game misconduct penalty. This is the standard penalty for a Player engaged in a fight. A fight shall be deemed to have occurred when at least one Player punches or attempts to punch an opponent repeatedly or when two players wrestle in such a manner as to make it difficult for the Linespersons to intervene and separate the combatants. The Referees are provided very wide latitude in the penalties with which they may impose under this rule. This is done intentionally to enable them to differentiate between the obvious degrees of responsibility of the participants either for starting the fight or persisting in continuing the fight. The discretion provided should be exercised realistically.

46.2AGGRESSOR The aggressor in an altercation shall be the Player who continues to throw punches in an attempt to inflict punishment on their opponent who is in a defenseless position or who is an unwilling combatant. PHYSICAL INFRACTIONS A Player must be deemed the aggressor when they have clearly won the fight but they continue throwing and landing punches in a further attempt to inflict punishment and/or injury on their opponent who is no longer in a position to defend themself. A Player who is deemed to be the aggressor of an altercation shall be assessed a minor penalty for being an aggressor plus a major penalty for fighting and an automatic game misconduct. In the referee’s judgement, a player who ”defends” themselves against an aggressor or an instigator may be considered as an “unwilling combatant” and the automatic game misconduct penalty may be waived at the discretion of the referee. A Player who is deemed to be the aggressor of an altercation will have this recorded as an aggressor of an altercation for statistical purposes and may be subject to potential supplementary discipline. A Player who is deemed to be both the instigator and aggressor of an altercation shall be assessed an instigating minor (2) penalty, a minor (2) penalty for being an aggressor and a major (5) penalty for fighting and an automatic game misconduct (20).

46.3ALTERCATION An altercation is a situation involving two Players with at least one to be penalized. 06

46.4CLEARING THE AREA OF A FIGHT When a fight occurs, all Players not engaged shall go immediately to the area of their players’ bench and in the event the altercation takes place at a players’ bench, the Players on the ice from that team shall go to their defending zone. Goalkeepers shall remain in their goal crease, except in the event the altercation takes place in the vicinity of the goal crease and therefore shall obey the directions of the Referee. Failure to comply can result in penalties incurred for their involvement in and around the area and may be subject to potential supplementary discipline.

46.5CONTINUING OR ATTEMPTING TO CONTINUE A FIGHT OR ALTERCATION Any Player who persists in continuing or attempting to continue a fight or altercation after they have been ordered by the Referee to stop, or who resists a Linesperson in the discharge of their duties shall, at the discretion of the Referee, incur a misconduct or game misconduct penalty in addition to any penalties imposed.

46.6HELMETS No Player may remove their helmet prior to engaging in a fight. If they should do so, they shall be assessed a two minute minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Helmets that come off in the course of and resulting from the altercation will not result in a penalty to either Player.

46.7FIGHTING OFF THE PLAYING SURFACE A major penalty for fighting and an automatic game misconduct penalty shall be imposed on any Player involved in fighting off the playing surface or with another Player who is off the playing surface, and may be subject to potential supplementary discipline. Whenever a Coach or other non-playing Team personnel becomes involved in an altercation with an opposing Player, Coach or other non-playing Team personnel on or off the ice, they shall be assessed a game misconduct, ordered to the dressing room for the reminder of the game and shall be subject to potential supplementary discipline. PHYSICAL INFRACTIONS

46.8FIGHTING OTHER THAN DURING THE PERIODS OF THE GAME Any Teams whose players become involved in an altercation, other than during the periods of the game, may be subject to potential supplementary discipline. Players involved in fighting other than during the periods of the game shall be assessed a major penalty for fighting and an automatic game misconduct. In the referee’s judgement, a player who ”defends” themselves against an aggressor or an instigator may be considered as an “unwilling combatant” and the automatic game misconduct penalty may be waived at the discretion of the referee. Any Player who would be deemed to be an instigator or aggressor pursuant to this rule at a time other than during the periods of the game may be subject to potential supplementary discipline in addition to an instigator or aggressor penalty according to rule

46.10and 46.2. Should Players come onto the ice from their players’ benches after the period ends and prior to the start of an altercation, they shall not be penalized if they remain in the vicinity of their players’ bench and provided, they do not get involved in any altercations. 06

46.9FIGHTING PRIOR TO THE DROP OF THE PUCK Unless this occurs prior to the start of the game or any period (see rule 46.8), a fight that occurs prior to the drop of the puck during the course of normal face-off, the altercation shall be penalized as if it occurred during the regular playing time. When, in the opinion of the Referee that, specific personnel changes have been made by one or both Teams late in a game and an altercation ensues, the appropriate penalties are to be assessed and the incident reported immediately following the game for review and potential supplementary discipline under Rule 28→ for both Players and Coaches.

46.10INSTIGATOR An instigator of an altercation shall be a Player who by their actions or demeanor demonstrates any/some of the following criteria: distance traveled; gloves off first; first punch thrown; menacing attitude or posture; verbal instigation or threats; conduct in retaliation to a prior game (or season) incident; obvious retribution for a previous incident in the game or season. A Player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation shall be assessed an instigating minor penalty, a major penalty for fighting and an automatic game misconduct. In the referee’s judgement, a player who ”defends” themselves against an aggressor or an instigator may be considered as an “unwilling combatant” and the automatic game misconduct penalty may be waived at the discretion of the referee. A Player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation will have this recorded as an instigator of an altercation for statistical purposes and may be subject to potential supplementary discipline. A Player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five (5) minutes of regulation time or at any time in overtime shall be subject to potential supplementary discipline. When a player has been penalized under this rule, the player’s coach shall also be subject to potential supplemental discipline under Rule 28→. A Player who is deemed to be both the instigator and aggressor of an altercation shall be assessed an instigating minor (2) penalty, a minor (2) penalty for being an aggressor and a major (5) penalty for fighting and an automatic game misconduct (20). PHYSICAL INFRACTIONS

46.11JERSEYS A Player who deliberately removes their jersey prior to participating in an altercation or who is clearly wearing a jersey that has been modified and does not conform to Rule 9→ – Uniforms, shall be assessed a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and a game misconduct. This is in addition to other penalties to be assessed to the participants of an altercation. If the altercation never materializes, the Player would receive a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and a ten-minute misconduct for deliberately removing their jersey.

46.12MAJOR PENALTY AND GAME MISCONDUCT A major penalty and an automatic game misconduct shall be imposed on any Player who fights. Note: In the referee’s judgement, a player who ”defends” themselves against an aggressor or an instigator may be considered as an “unwilling combatant” and the automatic game misconduct penalty may be waived at the discretion of the referee.

46.13DANGEROUS PUNCH – “SUCKER PUNCH” Any Player wearing tape or any other material on their hands (below the wrist) who cuts or injures an opponent during an altercation 06 will receive a major penalty and an automatic game misconduct in addition to any other penalties imposed including for fighting under this rule. A major penalty and an automatic game misconduct shall be assessed to a Player who punches an unsuspecting or unwilling opponent (i.e. “sucker punch”) and causes an injury. The Player may be subject to potential supplementary discipline.

46.14THIRD PLAYER IN A game misconduct penalty, at the discretion of the Referee, shall be imposed on any Player who is the first to intervene (third Player in) in an altercation already in progress. This penalty is in addition to any other penalties incurred in the same incident. If an aggressor penalty is being imposed in the original altercation, the “third Player in” penalty may be waived if in the referee's judg- ment the “third Player in” is doing so with the purpose of intervening to stop the ongoing altercation with an “unwilling combatant” and not to start a secondary altercation. This rule also applies to subsequent Players who elect to intervene in the same or other altercations during the same stoppage of play. Generally, this rule is applied when a fight occurs.

46.15DISCIPLINARY MEASURES If deemed appropriate, supplementary discipline can be applied by the Proper Authorities at their discretion for any violation under this rule. This includes, but is not limited to:

•instigating a fight,

•being an aggressor during a fight,

•punching an unsuspecting opponent,

•failure to clear the area of a fight,

•fighting at other times than during the periods,

•fighting prior to the drop of a puck, PHYSICAL INFRACTIONS

•fighting off the playing surface,

•leaving the players’ bench or penalty box,

•instigating or being an aggressor in the final 5 minutes or at any time in overtime