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Sunday, March 19, 2023

Notebook: Fighting rule changes coming

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs
CHARLOTTETOWN - A lot is being made about potential changes to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's fighting rules.

According to reports, fighting could essentially be banned in the QMJHL next season. Le Journal de Quebec reports that fighting could be an automatic match penalty during the 2023-24 season.

This comes as the QMJHL continues to be pressured by the Quebec government to make changes to player safety rules following past allegations of hazing and abuse, which ultimately led to the resignation of commissioner Gilles Courteau.

“The minister demands that all involved players be expelled from the ongoing game and be suspended for the next,” Quebec sports minister Isabelle Charest's office said to The Hockey News in an email earlier this week.

“The minister has the power, under the Loi sur la sécurité dans les sports (Act respecting safety in sports) to impose regulation for the game. Of course, we’d prefer to reach a consensus with the QMJHL, but if need be, the minister will take action via the legislative power.”

Some of the pressure being applied by the Quebec government may have to do with the COVID relief money that the 12 Quebec based clubs received.
FIGHTING NUMBERS DOWN
If new fighting rules do get put in place next season, will the difference be noticable?

With three games to go in the regular season, the Saint John Sea Dogs have just three fights this season, according to HockeyFights.com. They had 15 last season and 17 during the 2019-20 season. Saint John had two fights during the COVID impacted 2020-21 campaign.

Fighting numbers have steadily been going down over the years. The Saint John franchise record for fights in a single season in 91, set during the 2006-07 season. That record will never be touched.

COURTEAU TROPHY TO STAY
The Gilles Courteau Trophy is here to stay.

It was confirmed at Thursday's QMJHL press conference that the trophy will keep its name following the sudden resignation of commissioner Gilles Courteau.
The trophy was renamed from the "President Cup" when Courteau announced his retirement plans earlier this season.

A FEW TO GO
The Sea Dogs have just three games remaining on their regular season schedule.

On Sunday afternoon, the Sea Dogs host the Charlottetown Islanders. The team then travels to Charlottetown to face the Islanders on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

The Sea Dogs conclude regular season play next Saturday at TD Station, hosting the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Note that this is a 4 p.m. start.

NEW FOOD?
It certainly sounds like TD Station's concessions could be getting some long awaited upgrades.

In an interview with CBC New Brunswick, Dan Berger, OVG360's regional vice president for central and eastern Canada, mentioned that some new items could have an east coast flair.

"The high quality [of food] that you see in places is something that we are absolutely going to bring here," said Berger.

"Just because we've got a specific burger that works well in Penticton, it doesn't mean we're just going to completely mimic that," he added.

OVG360 has been managing and operating TD Station since last month.

BILODEAU TIES RECORD
Nicolas Bilodeau recorded his 41st point of the season on Friday night, tying a franchise record for points in a single season by a rookie defenseman. Radim Salda recorded 41 points in 2017-18.

Bilodeau, a fourth-round pick of Saint John in the 2021 QMJHL Entry Draft, has surpassed the likes of Thomas Chabot, Jakub Zboril and Jeremie Poirier.
STANDINGS CHANGES
A neat little video here.
OTHER THINGS
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