OHL unveils stricter rules for fighting in 2026-27 season

The OHL is taking another crack at reducing the amount of fights in league play.

The major-junior hockey league unveiled amendments to the OHL's discipline policy governing fighting penalties for the 2026-27 season on Wednesday.

• Teams will be fined $5,000 per fight after it reaches a 35-fight limit. Previously, there was a maximum threshold of 50 fights and a maximum fine of $2,000 for each additional fight.

• A player can have a maximum of three fighting majors between the start of the regular season and Dec. 31. An additional three fights are allowed from Jan. 1 through the end of the season. Any fighting major beyond that limit results in a minimum two-game suspension.

• The league says it will strengthen its discipline for premeditated fights before the drop of the puck as well as for second fights within the same stoppage.

• Each OHL team also remains subject to an in-game threshold of three major penalties for fighting, with a sanction of $500 per fight beyond the limit.

The CHL's three member leagues — the OHL, QMJHL and WHL — all have different rules for fighting.

The QMJHL has the strongest rules, handing out a game misconduct to any player involved in a fight, among other consequences. The league introduced that plan in 2023.