Quebec minister gives QMJHL an ultimatum when it comes to fighting

Quebec Minister Isabelle Charest, a former Olympic athlete, has told the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to stiffen its punishments for fighting, or else. According to a letter sent to the QMJHL and other leagues by Charest, she tells them to impose even stricter safety regulations to curb fighting or risk losing their legal status.

The letter, which was obtained by Le Soleil, states the leagues must bring in, at a minimum, an automatic game misconduct and a one game suspension for fighting.

"This is a logical follow-up to my action two years ago," Charest told Le Soleil in an interview. "I had made it pretty clear that I wanted fights in hockey to go away, there was a rule change two years ago [adding a 10-minute misconduct to a five-minute major penalty], but it wasn't enough. Two years later, we've gone further and the current increase in fights shows that we need to act more strongly."

When asked what would happen if the QMJHL refused to bring in these new rules, Charest said "their rules won't be approved by the ministry, the League wouldn't be legal."

"We have to change the culture and take responsibility," said Charest. "I can't imagine that in 2022, when we are leaders in doping, in the treatment of abuse and harassment cases, that we can justify young people fighting with their bare hands in a hockey game."

Charest insists she simply wants the Q League to impose the same rules that are being used at the international level. There has yet to be a response from the QMJHL, although it seems the league won't have much of a choice.

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