New AHL rules take aim at fighting

Watch as Bridgeport and Albany mix it up twice, with even their coaches getting in on the action.

The American Hockey League wrapped up its Board of Governors meeting and unveiled a number of changes to be implemented for the 2016-17 season on Thursday.

In addition to modifications to division alignment and scheduling, the AHL announced new rules aimed at fighting.

Via official AHL release:

Rule 46 (“Fighting”)/Rule 23 (“Game Misconducts”)

  • Players who enter into a fight prior to, at, or immediately following the drop of the puck for a faceoff will be assessed an automatic game misconduct in addition to other penalties assessed.
  • During the regular season, any player who incurs his 10th fighting major shall be suspended automatically for one (1) game. For each subsequent fighting major up to 13, the player shall also be suspended automatically for one (1) game.
  • During the regular season, any player who incurs his 14th fighting major shall be suspended automatically for two (2) games. For each subsequent fighting major, the player shall also be suspended automatically for two (2) games.
  • In any instance where the opposing player was assessed an instigator penalty, the fighting major shall not count towards the player’s total for this rule.
  • This new approach to fighting is clearly an attempt to cut down on the number of staged fights, levying those who drop the gloves off of faceoffs with an automatic game misconduct penalty. The 10-fight rule should help facilitate a drop in the number of scraps across the league.

    Rockford IceHogs forward Michael Liambas led the AHL in fighting majors with 20 last season. By comparison, Colorado Avalanche forward Cody McLeod led all NHL players with 12 scraps. Under the new rules, Liambas would have been assessed suspensions totalling 18 games. A total of 22 players engaged in at least 10 fights in the AHL in 2015-16.

    While the rules may not sit will with players typically classified as “goons,” at least one player who hit the 10-fight mark last season voiced his satisfaction with the change. Toronto Marlies forward Rich Clune took to Twitter:

    The AHL also tweaked its icing rules, eliminating timeouts for offending teams on icing calls.

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