Fighting ban already leading to serious injuries and dirty plays

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Josh Tupper
August 27, 2023 (9:13)

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Over the summer the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced major rule changes.

Those rule changes included stricter penalties for fighting and in a way effectively banned fighting from the league.

Fans and former players were outraged by the changes, with many making the case that the game would be more dangerous because of it.

On Wednesday night, the Cape Breton Eagles faced off against the Halifax Mooseheads in a preseason game, the would win the game 7-1, but would suffer a significant loss in another way.

Late in the third period of a chippy game, a Halifax forward stuck his knee out on an unexpecting Eagles player. The Eagles player, Rory Pilling, ended up being seriously injured on the play. What followed of course was no penalty and no retaliation.

Tough news out of Cape Breton Eagles camp, Rory Pilling of Glace Bay is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks after suffering a broken femur during Wednesday night's 7-1 pre-season victory over the Halifax Mooseheads at Centre 200 in Sydney. #qmjhl #lhjmq #Saltwire

While fighting is still technically allowed, the penalties for doing so range from a 1 game to a 3 game suspension. In a situation with retaliation a player would likely see the full 3 game suspension. As a result teammates are unable to come to the defense of their friends in events like this.

With the season not even started it's hard to believe this will be a one off situation and it's likely to only get worse.