Federal agency pushes for complete ban on hockey fighting in Canada

According to a report from TSN lead investigative reporter Rick Westhead, Hockey Canada is being pushed to ban fighting across all junior leagues and implement a national sanctions registry to inform the public about people who have been banned or suspended for serious maltreatment.

According to a team of researchers commissioned by the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC), a federal agency that is funded by Sport Canada, Hockey Canada should impose a complete ban on fighting.

“Hockey Canada should invite partnership with national governing bodies from other countries and other stakeholders, to work toward a concerted effort to campaign and influence the CHL and other leagues to eliminate fighting…,” the report said. “The aim would be to ensure the celebration of violence is not a deterrent for grassroots enrollment, and to protect the safety and well-being of young athletes.”

Sport Canada has the ability to withhold funding from organizations if it determines they have not done enough to make their sport safer for participants. During 2023-24, Hockey Canada received $5.5 million in funding from the federal government via Sport Canada.

The OSIC reporting was led by mediator Kyra Hudson and six other researchers who heard from more than 1,800 hockey players, parents, coaches, and officials who participated in surveys, one-on-one interviews, and a workshop.

Interview subjects included 45 hockey league administrators, board members, volunteers, former players and officials, as well as representatives from the IIHF and CHL.

The report recommended that Hockey Canada lead a national public awareness campaign “featuring champions, alumni, and players who are proponents of eliminating the celebration of violence in the game” to pressure the OHL and WHL to follow the QMJHL's decision to ban fighting.

The big problem, of course, is that fans like fighting. Hell, even players like fighting. Everyone likes fighting in hockey. I'd argue that if you DON'T like fighting in hockey, you don't really have a fundamental understanding of the game.

Now, I'm not talking about recreational hockey. I'm not talking about 9 year olds playing C level house league. I'm talking about Junior-aged teenagers who are playing the game at the top level of their age group. At the highest levels of competitive play, physical violence will always be a key part of this sport. Full stop.

I commend the OSIC for shining a light on fighting in recreational lower level hockey, but to seek a ban on fighting in the OHL and the WHL is a fool's errand, in my mind.

Thoughts, hockey fans?