Crackdown on fighting coming for SJHL

There could be significantly fewer fights in the SJHL next season.

Fighting in SJHL games could be a rarity in the 2014-15 season. The CJHL, which oversees the SJHL, is enforcing a one fight rule next year which will see players ejected from games for getting in fights. The current rule doesn't result in an ejection until a player fights twice in one game.Photo by Sean Macey

There could be significantly fewer fights in the SJHL next season.

The Canadian Junior Hockey League - the organization that oversees Canada's Junior A hockey leagues, including the SJHL - announced last week that it will enforce the one fight rule next season. Five of its leagues were already operating under the rule, which ejects players involved in fights. Now the other five leagues, including the SJHL, will be subject to the one fight policy for the 2014-15 season.

The SJHL polled its website viewers on the new rule. Of the 174 voters as of Monday afternoon, 75 per cent said they were against the change, with only 16 per cent in favour. Ten per cent said, "Let's wait and see."

Under the current rules, a player is ejected after two fighting majors.