Fighting in hockey can lead to serious and dangerous situations for players and officials. In order to ensure the best outcomes when an altercation and/or fight occurs during a game, there are procedures in place to help referees and linespersons know their roles. If you are officiating at any level in New Brunswick, you should be familiar with this material. 

The 28-page Hockey Canada document provides all key procedures to be used during game play and lists clearly the procedure to follow during an altercation and/or fight. 

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• The official who whistles the play down will take charge of the fight scene and will take up a
  position near the fight, which permits a good view of the fighters, the players on the ice and both benches.
• The other official will direct all other players to their respective benches by using both verbal and
  physical gestures. This official must also observe and verbally direct the goalkeepers to stay in their respective creases or go to a designated neutral area. Once this has been done, the second official will then proceed to the altercation.
• Prior to entering the fight, the officials shall decide which player each will take and they should remove any equipment in the area to prevent them from tripping and falling.
• The officials must enter the fight together.
• Once the players have been separated, it is important that the officials let them go.
• The officials should remain aware and ready to restrain the players if they try to get away. The
  body position of the officials in relation to the two combatants is extremely important.
• The officials shall remain between the players, keeping them apart and escort them to the penalty bench or an exit that provides access to the dressing areas. Should the players exit the arena towards the dressing rooms by way of the same exit, do not allow them to leave the ice at the same time.
• The officials will then confer at the official’s crease, while continuing to observe the benches and the players on the ice.
• Once they have decided on what penalties are to be assessed, one official will report the penalties,
  while the other official shall take up an appropriate position near the vicinity of the original altercation that allows the official to observe the benches and the players on the ice.
• At this time, the official in the vicinity of the altercation will direct one player from the ice from each team to collect any equipment left on the ice.
• Once the penalties are assessed, the official observing the benches and the players on the ice will collect the puck and proceed to the appropriate face-off spot.
• The other official will take a position as the back official and continue to observe the players and
  the benches
• Note: It is critical that the two-officials work as a team, as this is a critical time in the game.

• Get in close enough to the gathering of players so that they are aware of their presence, but not too close to restrict their view of all the players on the ice and the players’ benches.
• Blowing the whistle hard and raising both arms in the air is often an effective way to stop the play following an intense scramble around the net.
• Must first ensure that all other players on the ice are directed to their respective players’ benches
  or neutral area by using both a verbal and physical gesture.
• Must observe and verbally direct goalkeepers to stay in their respective creases or, in the event of
  an altercation at the crease, go to a designated neutral area.
• Shall penalize any player who does not go to the appropriate bench or neutral area when directed
  by the referee. In most cases, penalizing the most flagrant violators will make the point of the rule. Would notify the players of their Misconduct penalties only after the altercation is over and the
  referee is at the penalty bench.
• Should then take up a position which permits a good view of the players on the ice and both
  benches. It is important that the referee keep all players in view at all times and not get caught in
  the middle of an altercation.
• Should direct the linespersons to escort the players to the penalty bench or exit.
• Should remain in the area of the altercation keeping all players in view.
• Should direct one player from the ice from each team to collect any equipment left on the ice.
• Will proceed to the penalty bench to report the penalties.
• Should not discuss the infractions with the players until they have reported the penalties to the time keeper.
• When necessary, the referee shall communicate the penalties assessed to a captain or alternate
  captain from each team. This discussion shall be clear, short and to the point.
• The referee may communicate to the benches the man power on the ensuing play by indicating
  the number of eligible players for each team using their fingers (e.g. five-on-four) should get the game restarted as quickly as possible.

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The following procedures outline the responsibilities of the linespersons during altercations. Please note that in the modified 3-official system the back referee will conduct the duties of the back/second linesperson outlined in this section.

• Fighting in hockey is not condoned and player safety is of the utmost importance. Linespersons are required to prevent fighting whenever reasonably possible.
• Linespersons have the responsibility for breaking up fights and separating players involved in fights. It is important that one player not get an advantage to continue to hit another player who is being held or restrained by an official.
• Prior to entering the fight, the linespersons should remove any equipment from the area to prevent them from tripping or falling.
• Both linespersons must enter the fight together.
• Prior to entering the fight, the linespersons shall decide which player each will take.
• Linespersons should attempt to get between the players only when the players have stopped throwing punches or one player has gained a significant advantage. Then, the linespersons should get between them by tying up their arms and forcing them apart.
• To get between players the linespersons should come in from the side, each taking a different player.
• Do not come in from behind and pull backwards. Come in over top of the players’ arms forcing them down so that they are not able to throw punches. Force players apart with gentle sustained pressure, using the strength in your legs to force them apart. There is no hurry if they have stopped throwing punches.
• If players are wrestling on the ice, one official should get hold of a free arm of the player on top. The linesperson taking the player on the bottom must protect this player from punches. The linesperson taking the player on the bottom must come in from the side, covering the player’s head and face, protecting the player in doing so.
• An official should never enter a fight over a player’s skates.
• If players are using sticks in the fight or swinging sticks at each other, linespersons shall stay out until they stop swinging the sticks.
• Once players have been separated, it is important that the linespersons let them go. However, the linespersons should be very alert and ready to restrain the players if they try to get away. The body position of the linespersons in relation to the two combatants is extremely important. The linespersons shall remain between the players, keeping them apart, and escort them to the penalty bench or exit as directed by the referee.
• When a fight occurs, it is the linesperson’s responsibility to report to the referee any infractions that may occur during the fight, such as head-butting or hair pulling. Be aware of this and report to the referee if necessary.

• Continually talk to players involved.
• You must remain calm yourself and talk calmly with the players involved in the fight to defuse their anger and emotion.
• Do not hold players once they have been separated.
• Skate between players involved until they cool down.
• When escorting a player to the penalty bench or exit, position yourself between the player and potential hazards (e.g. the opposing team bench, other players on the ice, the referee, etc.).
• Make sure players are separated on the penalty bench unless there are separate benches.
• Both linespersons shall mentally record the number of the players involved.
• Do not grab a player’s stick and pull it away from the player; instead, push the stick away with an open hand.
• Protect players. It is your duty to see that no player gets the advantage over another player due to the way you are breaking up the fight.
• In multiple fight situations, linespersons should be methodical in escorting players either to the penalty bench or off the ice. Linespersons should make sure that they have removed the original combatants from the ice before they attempt to break up a second fight. Always work with your partner. Never go in alone.
• Protect yourself. Do not be overeager. It is a time to exercise extreme caution and good judgment.

An instigator will be defined as a player who, by their demeanour or physical or verbal actions, is responsible for starting or causing a fight based on any one or more of the following criteria:

i. Throwing or attempting to throw the first punch, thus forcing their opponent to defend themselves by engaging in an otherwise undesired fight.

ii. Verbal invitation, instigation or threat, thus forcing their opponent to defend themselves by engaging in an otherwise undesired fight.

iii. First player to remove gloves and throw a punch without their opponent’s compliance.

iv. Distance traveled to an altercation or travel to an altercation for the purpose of starting a fight

v. Attempting to throw, throwing or continuing to throw punches at an opponent who has physically or verbally expressed an unwillingness to fight.

vi. Attempting to throw, throwing or continuing to throw punches at an opponent who is in a defenseless position.

vii. Aggressive attitude or posture towards an opponent, forcing their opponent to defend themselves by engaging in an undesired fight.

viii. Retaliation for a legal or illegal action, thus forcing their opponent to defend themselves by engaging in an otherwise undesired fight.

An aggressor is the player who attempts to continue a fight by throwing or attempting to throw punches or by continuing the grappling action with their opponent with the intent of intimidation or punishment of that opponent, including but not limited to situations in which their opponent is no longer able to continue the fight or is in a defenseless position. The aggressor may or may not be the instigator of the fight.