The (No) Fight Club

Prior to the exhibition season, each of the WHL’s 22 teams received a memo from the league’s Calgary office. A lot of that memo dealt with “staged” fights and the removal of helmets prior to fighting.
Here for your reading enjoyment then is a look at some of the most pertinent parts of that memo:
“During a game, the referee has the discretion to issue a warning to the
coaches of both clubs that ‘any fight will result in a game misconduct to
both players, unless an instigating penalty is being assessed to one player.’ The referee also has the discretion to assess a game misconduct to the head coach(es) should the fights continue. The referee will note on the scoresheet that the rule was implemented and notify the WHL office the reason he felt it was necessary to implement the rule.
“If, after a routine fight, a fight occurs on the next faceoff, the warning shall be issued immediately. Should a coach receive a game misconduct under this rule, he will be fined $500 and may be suspended.”
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“Should a fight occur on the faceoff to start the game or to start the second, third or overtime periods of an exhibition, regular-season or playoff game, the player shall receive an automatic game misconduct in addition to the major penalty. The club shall be fined $250 and the player shall be suspended for one game.
“Should it occur on a second situation, the club shall be fined $500, the player shall be suspended for one game and the head coach shall receive an official warning.
“Should it occur on a third situation, the club shall be fined $750, the player shall be suspended for one game and the head coach shall be suspended for one game.
“The fine and suspension to the coach shall be doubled on each further occasion during the season and playoffs.
”Should the same player be involved on more than one occasion, the
suspension will double each time.
“Should one player clearly initiate or instigate the fight, only that player will receive the game misconduct in addition to a minor penalty for instigating and only that player and his club will be disciplined.
“Should the linesmen intervene and prevent the fight from starting, the players involved will each receive misconducts.”
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(EDITOR’S NOTE: That means players no longer will be allowed to dance and preen prior to a fight. If two players square off and don’t get at it right way, the linesmen will intervene and both players will sit for at least 10 minutes.)
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”The first identifiable player to leave his bench or bench area to join a fight, or for the purpose of starting a fight (even if he is the only player to leave the bench), shall be suspended up to a maximum of 20 games and his club shall be fined a maximum of $5,000 for a first offence. Should a player leave the bench to join or start a fight, the WHL office will review the situation and may also suspend and/or fine the head coach of the club.”
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“If a player(s) removes his helmet prior to a fight, the linesmen shall move in immediately and attempt to separate the players before they engage in the fight. The player(s) who removed his helmet shall receive an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty if the fight is prevented. If the linesmen aren’t able to move in before the players start to fight, the player(s) will receive an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for removing his helmet in addition to the fighting major.”
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“If a player deliberately throws an opponent to the ice, picks him up by the pants or leg and throws him down, slew foots or trips him, or by any other action (other than regular fighting, jostling or wrestling activity) forces him to fall to the ice in a dangerous fashion, he shall receive an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a game misconduct. The WHL office will review the game misconduct for possible further disciplinary action.”
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”Should a player receive three instigator penalties during the course of the regular season, he will be automatically suspended for the next game. This rule will be applied in the same fashion as the current game misconduct-accumulation rule.”