OHL unveils stricter rules for fighting in 2026-27 season
The OHL is taking another crack at reducing the amount of fights in league play.
The major-junior hockey league unveiled amendments to the OHL's discipline policy governing fighting penalties for the 2026-27 season on Wednesday.
• Teams will be fined $5,000 per fight after it reaches a 35-fight limit. Previously, there was a maximum threshold of 50 fights and a maximum fine of $2,000 for each additional fight.
• A player can have a maximum of three fighting majors between the start of the regular season and Dec. 31. An additional three fights are allowed from Jan. 1 through the end of the season. Any fighting major beyond that limit results in a minimum two-game suspension.
• The league says it will strengthen its discipline for premeditated fights before the drop of the puck as well as for second fights within the same stoppage.
• Each OHL team also remains subject to an in-game threshold of three major penalties for fighting, with a sanction of $500 per fight beyond the limit.
The CHL's three member leagues — the OHL, QMJHL and WHL — all have different rules for fighting.
The QMJHL has the strongest rules, handing out a game misconduct to any player involved in a fight, among other consequences. The league introduced that plan in 2023.
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