Fighting in amateur hockey may be a thing of the past as harsher punishments are being brought in to discourage skirmishes on the ice.
Fighting is one the most divisive issues in hockey as some find it entertaining while others call it disgusting.
Fisticuffs on the ice may be one step closer to being eliminated altogether, at least at the lower levels of the game.
Hockey Canada is experimenting with harsher punishments for players and teams who engage in on ice scraps.
The governing body is also looking at using fines as a way to discourage fighting.
The hockey organization says since fighting is extremely rare in international games, there is no reason it can't be eliminated at the amateur level altogether.
"I think that fighting is contradictory to rules you put in place to avoid head contact if in fights players are hitting each other in the head," said Paul Carson from Hockey Canada.
Some leagues are defending fighting during the game and say that it is a natural part of the game.
Some big league players used to be able to forge an HNL career based solely on their fighting prowess but those days are gone.
Officials in the WHL say they have done what they can but that a third of their players turn pro and they have to know all aspects of the game.
"I think the Western Hockey League has always been know for its physical style of play and we pride ourselves on developing players who are prepared to play at the next level and the game has changed, There is no question that there is more emphasis today on speed and skill and we are adapting to that as well as all the other leagues are as well but at the same time we want to make sure the physical nature of the game remains intact," said Rob Robison of the WHL.
Fighting in the minor leagues currently nets the offender a major penalty and a game misconduct.
