The Ontario Hockey League is getting even more strict in its efforts to cut down on fighting.
The league announced Friday that starting this season automatic further discipline will kick in after a player has had three fights. The player gets an automatic two-game suspension for each fight after three. Last season the limit was 10.
If a player is instigated upon, the fighting major is not included in the player’s total number of fights.
According to www.dropyourgloves.com, four members of the Guelph Storm had more than three fights last season: Jake Bricknell, Givani Smith, Kyle Rhodes and Brock Philips. Bricknell led the team with 10 fights.
Overall the Storm had 52 fights in 68 games, second most in the league behind Kingston's 66 fights.
Sault Ste. Marie had the fewest fights in the OHL with 14.
The OHL has also implemented a new penalty for a "blindside hit."
"Based on the discretion of the referee, a minor, major and game misconduct or match penalty may be assessed. Such an infraction would also be subject to review and possible supplementary discipline by the league," the OHL said.
"Since the adoption of the 10 fight threshold for the 2012-2013 season, the league has seen the number of fights in the league decrease by 49.5 per cent and for the last two seasons have not had a single player with more than 10 fights based on the threshold criteria established," the OHL said.
The league has also made an adjustment to its icing rule in adopting the current NHL hybrid icing.