NHL Takes Harder Line on Full-Scale Brawling

The National Hockey League’s Board of Governors, in a move to reduce bench-clearing brawls, adopted stricter penalties--including fines and suspensions--for players, coaches and teams involved.

Under the new rules, the first player leaving the bench for a fight would receive a 10-game suspension, his coach would get a five-game suspension and his team would be assessed a $10,000 fine.

The second player on the ice would receive a five-game suspension, his coach would get a three-game suspension and his team would be fined $10,000.

In both cases, each player and coach would pay a $1,000 fine, and suspensions and fines would double for each subsequent infraction.

Any team caught reimbursing its coaches and players to cover the fines would be subject to a $100,000 fine.

“The rule changes are intended to eliminate those incidents when you have both teams out on the ice fighting and pulling on each other’s jerseys . . . all of which is totally disgraceful to this sport,” said NHL president John Ziegler. “These are the strictest rules yet to cut down on violence.”

There were seven bench-clearing brawls during the 1986-87 season.

Also, any player leaving the penalty box for a brawl on the ice will be fined $500, the maximum allowed under the NHL’s collective-bargaining agreement.