An instigator of an altercation is a player who demonstrates any of the following actions: distance travelled; gloves off first; first punch thrown; menacing attitude. A player deemed an instigator will receive an instigating minor penalty. A player who instigates a fight in the final five minutes of a game (or anytime in overtime) will instead be charged a game misconduct and given an automatic one-game suspension. The length of the suspension would double for each additional incident. The player's coach will be fined $10,000, a penalty that would double for each recurrence.
| 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 |