• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
News

Hockey 101: Fighting

By Kenneth Laws November 6th, 2014

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

This post is part of our series – Hockey 101

 

Ahh fighting. To the uninitiated and rookie fans of the NHL, fighting is the most exciting part of hockey. However, the effects of fighting are becoming more and more clear and public opinion has turned against the physical combat on ice. But there is more to understand about the last gladiators of sports than just pummeling another player.

How Exactly is Fighting Legal?

Before anything else, let’s cover the basic penalty that follows a fight. Each combatant serves a five minute major. This does not put either team down a man and keeps it at 5-on-5. This does not include instigator penalties, which will be discussed later.

Popularized by videos online and Hollywood movies (see: Goon), fighting has been a major part of the game of hockey for a very long time. Unlike in other sports, fighting is heavily regulated and sanctioned. When the benches clear in baseball or basketball, referees scramble to try and calm tensions. However, NHL and other hockey referees are trained in the physical altercations that overwhelm other sports officials.

fighting

(Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports)

While it may look chaotic, starting a fight is actually somewhat of an art. Hockey players are constantly talking to each other. Whether it is to pump up teammates or pester opponents, there is chatter on the ice. A fight starts in one of two ways, it is either planned or heat of the moment. To plan a fight, two players will usually “chirp” at each other and eventually, if things get heated the usual “You wanna go?” comes up. The gloves of both players drop as soon as play starts. Play is stopped and all other players clear the area while the refs watch closely. As soon as one participant goes down the zebras move in and separate them.

Heat of the moment fights take place when play is already going on and players drop their gloves. Whether it’s a heavy hit on the team’s superstar or just two speeding trains coming together, these fights are usually behind the play. Again, refs stop play and wait until the bout comes to an end.

New Penalties Associated With Fighting

fighting

Josh Wesley shows his ‘nasty’ side. (Photo via Josh Wesley)

In an effort to reduce the number of fights in the game, the NHL has recently introduced the Instigator and Aggressor penalties. The Aggressor penalty is assessed to a fighter that hits or attempts to hit a player who is unwilling or defenseless. For instance, if a player starts a fight and the other does not want to participate but the initial fighter continues and hits the latter, he is deemed an aggressor. A player is also an aggressor if he clearly has won a fight (the other player is down and defenseless) yet he is still throwing punches. Aggressors are also assessed a game misconduct on top of their five minute major. Suspensions and fines can be added at the league’s discretion.

The Instigator penalty is different. Both players are willing participants but one player sets himself apart by clearly starting the fight. This is where communication between the two fighters is important. A player can be given an Instigator penalty if he drops his gloves first, travels a great distance to start the fight, if the fight is retaliation from previous altercations with his opponent, or other criteria the refs can use. If deemed the Instigator, a player is assessed a two minute minor (that will put his team down a man) and also a ten minute misconduct penalty in addition to the five minute major.

fighting

(Photo by Andy Martin Jr)

Further Discipline

Multiple Aggressor and Instigator penalties in a single game or season can lead to supplemental discipline from the league. Stéphane Quintal, the face of Player Safety, will be releasing a video about the player if either of those penalties occur too much. The third Aggressor penalty in a season is immediately suspended for the next two games. This increases by two games for every subsequent Aggressor in the regular season. This process is the same for the Instigator penalty.

  • Tags
  • Fighting
  • Hockey 101
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 24th 6:15 PM
Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Find Success Against Red Wings

Jan 24th 6:10 PM
Column

Canadiens’ News & Rumours: Hot Start, Armia, Mete & More

Jan 24th 6:00 PM
Column

Senators News & Rumours: Road Trip, Lineups, Stützle & More

Jan 24th 5:50 PM
Other Leagues

Windsor Spitfires’ Notebook: NHL Players to Watch & Overseas Ice

Jan 24th 3:25 PM
Montreal Canadiens

3 Takeaways From Canadiens’ 5-2 Win Over Canucks

Jan 24th 3:15 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Prospects News & Rumors: Michigan, Gushchin & Gordin

Jan 24th 3:05 PM
New York Rangers

Rangers News & Rumors: Chytil, Dubois Traded, Lafreniere & More

Jan 24th 2:55 PM
Buffalo Sabres

Sabres Getting the Best of Curtis Lazar

Jan 24th 2:05 PM
New Jersey Devils

Devils Are in Good Hands With Jack Hughes

Jan 24th 1:35 PM
San Jose Sharks

Sharks Seeing Offense From Erik Karlsson But Defense Is Lacking

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information