Is fighting allowed in international ice hockey?
A · Advanced · Fouls · 3 of 11Fighting is not allowed in international hockey. A player who fights gets a five-minute major and an automatic game misconduct. The player who started it gets an extra minor, and one who keeps punching a defenceless opponent another. The first player to join a fight in progress gets a game misconduct. A minor scuffle is roughing.
How it works
- A fight: repeated punches or attempts, or wrestling that makes it hard to separate the players.
- Penalty: major and automatic game misconduct.
- Instigator: extra minor; signs include travelling a distance, dropping gloves first, throwing the first punch.
- Aggressor: extra minor, for punching an opponent who can no longer defend themself.
- Unwilling combatant: the referee may waive the game misconduct for a player defending themself.
- Third player in: a game misconduct for the first to join a fight already going on.
- Helmets and jerseys: removing one before a fight brings extra penalties.
- Clearing the area: all other players go to their bench area; goalkeepers stay in the crease.
- Leaving the bench to join: the first two players off the bench get game misconducts.
- Roughing: a minor scuffle or punch; a minor penalty.
The glossary has the fighting, the aggressor and instigator, the altercation, the roughing, the game misconduct penalty and the supplementary discipline.
Tricky cases
One player is punched and covers up without hitting back. Are they ejected?
The referee may treat them as an unwilling combatant and waive the game misconduct.
A player skates in to pull a teammate off a fight. Penalised?
Possibly as third player in, though the referee may waive it if the purpose was to stop an aggressor.
Two players exchange a shove and one punch. Fight?
Usually roughing, a minor; repeated punches make it a fight.
A fight starts after the period ends. Does it count?
Yes. The same major and game misconduct apply, and further discipline may follow.
Why the rule exists
The IIHF says fighting is not part of international hockey. Ejecting fighters removes any tactical reason to fight, unlike leagues where a fighting major alone is the norm.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| IIHF | Major and automatic game misconduct | IIHF 46.1 |
| NHL | Major; ejection only in set cases | NHL 46 |
| Roughing | Minor | IIHF 51 |
From the rule book
International Ice Hockey Federation, Official Rulebook 2026/27 (version 1.0, June 2026), Rules 46, 51 and 70. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the IIHF Official Rulebook, revised each season.