Fighting is defined as engaging in a physical altercation with an opposing player, usually involving the throwing of punches with gloves removed or worse. Minor altercations such as simple pushing and shoving, and punching with gloves still in place, are generally called as roughing.
At many levels of hockey fighting results in the offenders being assessed a game misconduct and possibly a suspension based on league/conference/sanctioning body by-laws
| Ice hockey penalties | |
|---|---|
| Types of penalties | Minor Penalty - Major Penalty - Misconduct - Game misconduct - Match Penalty - Penalty shot - Gross misconduct - Stacked penalties |
| Infractions | Abuse of officials - Aggressor penalty - Attempt to injure - Boarding - Butt-ending - Charging - Checking from behind - Illegal check to the head - Clipping - Cross-checking - Delay of game - Diving - Elbowing - Fighting - Goaltender Interference - Goaltender Leaving Crease - Head-butting - High-sticking - Holding - Holding the stick - Hooking - Illegal equipment - Illegal substitution - Instigator penalty - Interference - Joining a fight - Kicking - Kneeing - Playing with too many sticks - Roughing - Secondary altercation - Slashing - Slew footing - Spearing - Starting the wrong lineup - Too many men on the ice - Tripping - Unsportsmanlike conduct |