The heads of all three branches of the Canadian Hockey League will meet Wednesday, with the role of fighting in junior hockey set to be on the agenda.
CHL president Dave Branch - who also serves as commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League - added fighting to the agenda for a meeting with Western Hockey League commissioner Ron Robison and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League commissioner Gilles Courteau after a column by James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail made waves in hockey circles over the past few days.
"I want to hear what Ron and Gilles have to say," Branch told Bob McKenzie of TSN. "It's a good discussion to have, to see where we agree or disagree, what challenges are involved. It's always better if (the three leagues that comprise the CHL) have the same rules but it's not necessarily essential either. That's why I put it on the agenda."
While fighting is down 16 percent in the OHL this season, and has decreased in each of the past six seasons, but the call to ban fighting altogether in junior hockey appears to be rising.
