OHL continues crackdown on fighting; adds new ‘blindside hit rule’

TORONTO — The Ontario Hockey League is continuing a crack down on fighting and adding a new rule for blindside hits.

The league announced the changes Friday following its annual league meeting, describing the moves as further steps toward “addressing player safety”.

The new rule for fighting will see the minimum threshold for suspension lowered to three fights per player per season. Players who exceed that threshold will be subject to an automatic two-game suspension for each fight over the new limit.

Beginning in the 2012-13 season, the OHL introduced the first iteration of the rule with a 10-fight threshold per player person. Fighting has decreased by almost 50 per cent since then, according to the league, and over the past two seasons not one player has exceeded the 10-fight threshold.

Additionally implemented was a new “blindside hit rule” which will see a penalty assessed for those who check an opponent from the blindside. Referees will have discretion to dole out a minor, major, game misconduct or match penalty for such plays, which will also be subject to review for supplementary discipline.

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“As the number one development league in the world for the NHL and CIS, the OHL continually challenges ourselves to improve the on-ice environment and evolve the game for the benefit of the most important people in our game, our players,” OHL commissioner David Branch, said in a statement.

The OHL also adjusted its icing rule to the current hybrid format in the NHL.

The Canadian Press