An instigator of an altercation shall be a player who by his actions or demeanor demonstrates any/some of the following criteria: distance traveled; gloves off first; first punch thrown; menacing attitude or posture; verbal instigation or threats; conduct in retaliation to a prior game (or season) incident; obvious retribution for a previous incident in the game or season.

The aggressor in an altercation shall be the player who continues to throw punches in an attempt to inflict punishment on his opponent who is in a defenseless position or who is an unwilling combatant. A player must be deemed the aggressor when he continues throwing and landing punches in a further attempt to inflict punishment and/or injury on his opponent who is no longer in a position to defend himself.

An altercation is a situation involving two players, with at least one to be penalized.

1. A major penalty shall be imposed on any player who fights.

   A player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation shall be assessed an instigating minor pen-alty, a major for fighting and a ten minute misconduct.

   (NEW for 2005-06) A player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five (5) minutes of regulation time or at any time in overtime, shall be assessed an instigator minor penalty, a major for fighting, a ten minute misconduct and an automatic one-game suspension. The length of suspension will double for each subsequent offense. In addition, the player's coach shall be fined $10,000 -- a fine that will double for each subsequent incident.

   (NEW for 2005-06) (NOTE 1) No team appeals will be permitted either verbally or in writing regarding the assessment of this automatic suspension.

   A player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation will have this recorded as an instigator of an altercation for statistical and suspension purposes.

   If the same player is deemed to be the instigator of a second altercation in the same game, he shall be assessed an instigating minor penalty, a major for fighting and a game misconduct.

   A player who is deemed to be the aggressor of an altercation shall be assessed a major penalty for fighting and a game misconduct.

   A player who is deemed to be the aggressor of an altercation will have this recorded as an aggressor of an altercation for statistical and suspension purposes.

   A player who is deemed to be both the instigator and aggressor of an altercation shall be assessed an instigating minor penalty, a major penalty for fighting, a ten minute misconduct penalty (instigator) and a game misconduct penalty (aggressor).

   A player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation for the third time or the aggressor for the third time in one Regular Season shall be suspended for the next two Regular Season games of his Team. For the fourth instigator penalty or fourth aggressor penalty in the same Regular Season, the player will be suspended for the next four games of his Team. For the fifth instigator penalty or fifth aggressor penalty in the same Regular Season, the player will be suspended for the next six games of his Team.

   (NOTE 2) When the player receives his third instigator penalty in one Regular Season, he is automatically given a game misconduct following that third violation.

   (NEW for 2005-06) (NOTE 3) Automatic suspensions assessed to players who are deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five (5) minutes of regulation time or at any time in overtime, shall be served in addition to any other automatic suspensions a player may incur for an accumulation of three or more Instigator penalties.

   During the Playoffs, any player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation for the second time or the aggressor for the second time shall be suspended automatically for the next Playoff game of his Team. For each subsequent instigator or aggressor violation during the Playoffs, the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game.

   Prior to the commencement of each Stanley Cup Finals, a player will have his current instigator and aggressor violations removed from his current playoff record. They will remain part of his historical record.

   If a player penalized as an instigator of an altercation is wearing a face shield, he shall be assessed an additional Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty.

   (NOTE 4) Should the player who instigates the fight be wearing a face shield, but removes it before instigating the altercation, the additional Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty shall not apply.

   A player who deliberately removes his sweater prior to participating in an altercation or who is clearly wearing a sweater that has been modified and does not conform to Rule 24A -- Players' Jerseys, shall be assessed a minor penalty for Unsportsmanlike Conduct and a game misconduct. This is in addition to other penalties to be assessed to the participants of an altercation.

   A player who engages in fisticuffs and whose sweater is removed (completely off his torso), other than through the actions of his opponent in the altercation or through the actions of the Linesman, shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty.

   A player who engages in fisticuffs and whose sweater is not properly "tied-down" (sweater properly fastened to pants), and who loses his sweater (completely off his torso) in that altercation, shall receive a game misconduct.

   A player who is involved in an altercation, when the opponent has been identified as an instigator, shall not be assessed a game misconduct if his sweater should be removed by an opponent or an Official in the discharge of his duties.

2. A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who, having been struck, shall retaliate with a blow or attempted blow. However, at the discretion of the Referee, a major or a double-minor penalty or a game misconduct penalty may be imposed if such player continues the altercation.

   (NOTE 1) It is the intent and purpose of this Rule that the Referee shall impose the "major and game misconduct" penalty in all cases where the instigator or retaliator of the fight is the aggressor and is plainly doing so for the purpose of intimidation or punishment. To further clarify, the player who starts the fight, and who then also becomes the aggressor shall be assessed an instigating minor penalty, a major penalty for fighting, a ten minute misconduct (instigator), and a game misconduct for being the aggressor.

   (NOTE 2) The Referee is provided very wide latitude in the penalties which he may impose under this Rule. This is done intentionally to enable him to differentiate between the obvious degrees of responsibility of the participants either for starting the fighting or persisting in continuing the fighting. The discretion provided should be exercised realistically.

   (NOTE 3) Referees are directed to employ every means provided by these rules to stop "brawling" and should use this Rule and Rules 41(e) and (f) -- Abuse of Officials and other Misconduct.

   (NOTE 4) Any player wearing tape or any other material on his hands (below the wrist) who cuts or injures an opponent during an altercation will receive a match penalty under Rule 43 -- Attempt to or Deliberate Injury of Opponents in addition to any other penalties imposed including penalties for fighting under this rule.

3. A misconduct or game misconduct penalty shall be imposed on any player involved in fisticuffs off the playing surface or with another player who is off the playing surface. These penalties are in addition to any other time penalties assessed.
4. A game misconduct penalty, at the discretion of the Referee, shall be imposed on any player or goalkeeper who is the first to intervene in an altercation already in progress except when a match penalty is being imposed in the original altercation. This penalty is in addition to any other penalty incurred in the same incident.
5. When a fight occurs, all players not engaged shall go immediately to the area of their players' bench and in the event the altercation takes place at a players' bench, the players on the ice from that Team shall go to their defensive zone.

   Failure to comply with the Rule shall, in addition to the other penalties that may be assessed, result in a fine to the Team of $1,000 and the Coach of said Team in the amount of $1,000.

6. A game misconduct penalty shall be imposed on any player who is assessed a major penalty for fighting after the original altercation.

   Notwithstanding this Rule, at the discretion of the Referee, the automatic game misconduct penalty may be waived for a player in the altercation if the opposing player was clearly the instigator of the altercation.

7. Any Teams whose players become involved in an altercation, other than during the periods of the game, shall be fined automatically twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in addition to any other appropriate penalties that may be imposed upon the participating players by supplementary discipline or otherwise.

   Any player who would be deemed to be an instigator pursuant to Rule 56(a) at a time other than during the periods of the game shall be suspended automatically for ten (10) games.

   Such determination may be made by the Referee at the time of the incident or subsequently by the Commissioner or his designee based upon such reports and other information as he deems sufficient, including but not limited to television tapes.

   (NOTE) In the case of altercations taking place after the period or game the fine under this Rule shall be assessed only in the event that an altercation is commenced after the period or game has terminated.