How to Handle Player Disputes and Ejections in Your Hockey League

Every league deals with conflict. A hard hit leads to retaliation. Words are exchanged. Sometimes fists fly. How you handle these situations defines your league's culture and determines whether players come back next season.

This guide provides a framework for managing disputes and ejections fairly and consistently.

Key Takeaways

Have written policies BEFORE incidents occur

Respond quickly but investigate thoroughly

Apply consequences consistently—favoritism destroys credibility

Document everything in writing

Prevention First

Setting Expectations

Before the season:

Distribute code of conduct to all players

Require signed acknowledgment

Discuss expectations at captain's meeting

Brief referees on your standards

Culture Matters

Leagues with fewer incidents share common traits:

Leadership models good behavior

Captains held accountable for teams

Swift, fair discipline for violations

Zero tolerance for certain behaviors (slurs, spitting, etc.)

Types of Incidents

On-Ice Infractions

**Handled by referees**:

Penalties during play

Game misconducts

Match penalties (intent to injure)

**Require league review**:

Fighting

Abuse of officials

Match penalties

Repeated game misconducts

Off-Ice Incidents

**Examples**:

Confrontations in parking lot

Threatening messages

Disputes between teams in locker room

Social media attacks

**Why they matter**: Off-ice incidents can be MORE damaging to league culture than on-ice play.

Immediate Response Protocol

During the Game

**Let refs handle it**: Don't interfere with officiating

**Document what you see**: Take notes immediately

**Separate parties**: After game, ensure involved players don't interact

**Get referee report**: Before they leave the rink

After the Game

**Collect game sheet**: With all penalties and ejections noted

**Get witness statements**: Other players, refs, spectators

**Secure video**: If available

**Notify involved parties**: They're under review, don't discuss publicly

The 24-Hour Rule

Don't make final decisions in the heat of the moment. Inform parties:

"You are suspended pending review. You will receive a decision within [72 hours/1 week]. Do not contact the other party."

Investigation Process

Gather Information

Game sheet and referee report

Video footage

Witness statements (in writing)

Prior history of involved players

Context (score, time, prior incidents in game)

Evaluate Objectively

Questions to consider:

Who initiated?

What was the provocation (if any)?

What was the severity?

What was the intent?

What are the precedents in your league?

Prior History

Check players' records:

Previous suspensions

Pattern of behavior

Prior warnings

Time since last incident

First offense vs. repeat offender should influence consequences.

Discipline Framework

Suspension Guidelines

Use a consistent framework. Example:

| Offense | First Offense | Second Offense | Third Offense |

|---------|---------------|----------------|---------------|

| Fighting (willing combatant) | 2 games | 4 games | Season |

| Fighting (instigator) | 4 games | Season | Permanent |

| Abuse of official (verbal) | 1 game | 3 games | Season |

| Abuse of official (physical) | Season | Permanent | N/A |

| Spearing/slashing | 2-4 games | 4-8 games | Season |

| Slurs (any kind) | 3 games | Season | Permanent |

**Adjust based on**: Severity, provocation, injury caused, player history

Financial Penalties

Some leagues add fines:

Fighting: $50-100

Abuse of official: $100-200

Equipment abuse: $50 + damages

Fines go toward referee appreciation or league improvements—not profit.

Probation

For borderline cases:

"Player X is suspended 1 game and placed on behavioral probation for the remainder of the season. Any additional incident will result in [automatic additional suspension]."

Communication

Notifying the Player

Written communication should include:

Specific incident(s)

Rule(s) violated

Consequence (suspension length, fine, etc.)

Effective dates

Appeal process (if available)

Warning about future behavior

**Example**:

> Dear [Player Name],

>

> Following review of the incident during the [Date] game between [Teams], you are suspended for [X] games effective immediately.

>

> Violation: Fighting (Rule 6.2)

>

> Your suspension covers the following games: [dates/opponents]

>

> You may appeal this decision in writing within 48 hours to [contact].

>

> Any future violations will result in increased penalties up to and including permanent expulsion.

>

> [Commissioner Name]

Communicating to Teams

Captains should know:

Player is suspended

Length of suspension

When player is eligible to return

They don't need (and shouldn't get) investigation details.

What NOT to Share

Keep confidential:

Witness names

Investigation details

Other players' disciplinary history

Deliberation discussions

Appeals Process

When to Allow Appeals

Offer appeals for:

Suspensions longer than 2 games

Season-long or permanent bans

Cases with disputed facts

Appeal Process

Written appeal within 48-72 hours

Player states grounds for appeal

Review by different person/committee than original decision

Decision within defined timeframe

Decision is final

Grounds for Appeal

Valid:

New evidence not previously available

Factual errors in original decision

Procedural violations

Disproportionate penalty

Not valid:

"I disagree with the rule"

"Other player started it" (if already considered)

"I was having a bad day"

Special Situations

Fighting

**Both players penalized**: Even if one "didn't want to fight," dropping gloves and engaging makes you a combatant.

**Third man in**: Automatic ejection and suspension. This is non-negotiable.

**Clear aggressor**: Longer suspension for instigator.

Abuse of Officials

**Zero tolerance** is appropriate here. Officials are essential and hard to find. Protect them.

**Verbal abuse**: Ejection + 1-3 game suspension

**Physical contact with official**: Season minimum, potentially permanent

Repeat Offenders

At some point, the answer is "you can't play here anymore."

Define your threshold:

3 suspensions in a season?

5 suspensions lifetime?

Any incident on probation?

Team Accountability

Consider holding teams responsible:

Multiple players from same team fighting: Team fine

Pattern of team behavior: Meeting with captain, potential team penalty

Captain failure to control bench: Captain suspension

Documentation Requirements

What to Keep

For every incident:

Date and game

Parties involved

Incident description

Evidence collected

Decision and reasoning

Communication sent

Any appeals/outcomes

How Long to Keep

Minimum 3 years, ideally 7 years. Electronic storage is fine.

Why Documentation Matters

Consistency check (how did we handle similar situations?)

Legal protection (if sued, you have records)

Pattern identification (is this player a problem?)

Communication clarity (what exactly did we tell them?)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What if the referee didn't call anything?

A: You can still investigate and discipline. Referees miss things. League has authority beyond in-game calls.

Q: Can I suspend someone who wasn't ejected?

A: Yes. Post-game review can result in suspension even without ejection. Common for video-revealed incidents.

Q: What about "he started it"?

A: Both parties usually bear some responsibility. Retaliation is still a violation, even if provoked.

Q: Should I suspend during playoffs?

A: Yes. Playoffs don't exempt anyone from consequences. If anything, stakes make discipline more important.

Q: What if the suspended player refuses to accept it?

A: The suspension stands. If they show up to play, game is forfeit for their team and suspension extends.

Building a Fair Culture

The goal isn't zero incidents—that's unrealistic in hockey. The goal is:

Players know the rules

Consequences are predictable

Enforcement is fair

The league is a place people want to play

When you handle disputes well, players respect the league more, not less. They know bad behavior has consequences, which makes good behavior the norm.

For more league management guidance, see our [code of conduct guide](/blog/hockey-parent-code-of-conduct) or [league administration resources](/hockey-league-management-software).