Anthony Flanagan and Maxime Dodier unleash bombs in absolutely brutal fight

The QMJHL has made it very clear that fighting has no place in its game. Anthony Flanagan and Maxime Dodier apparently didn’t get the memo, or basically didn’t care.

The Charlottetown Islanders forward and Victoriaville Tigres defenseman went head-to-head earlier this week in an absolutely brutal fight that saw both players unload a series of heavy punches before finally being separated. Flanagan was coming to the defense of a teammate, who had just been rocked by Dodier near the boards.

Dodier, listed at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, had a noticeable size advantage over the 5-foot-11, 191-pound Flanagan, but that didn’t stop the Islanders forward from standing his ground. Neither player appeared interested in backing down, with both throwing bombs throughout the confrontation.

The result was predictable: five-minute majors and game misconducts for both players.

What makes the fight even more notable is the league’s stance on fighting. Ahead of the 2023-24 season, the QMJHL introduced strict rules designed to remove fighting from the game, with any player who starts or engages in a fight receiving an immediate ejection. The crackdown worked. Fighting numbers dropped significantly compared to previous seasons.

But every once in a while, a fight still breaks through.

And this one was impossible to ignore.

The video has already generated plenty of attention, with Flanagan and Dodier delivering the kind of old-school, back-and-forth fight that has become increasingly rare in the QMJHL.

Both players knew exactly what they were getting into and neither seemed willing to back down.