Commissioner Cecchini Talks Player Safety, Replays, Schedules Before Start of Season

This past week, QMJHL Commissioner Mario Cecchini sat down for the annual season launch press conference. 

After inflicting stronger punishments on fights last season, Cecchini also announced that the league will put a focus on punishing blind-side hits with harsher penalties.

Another measure to improve player safety, Rimouski and Rouyn-Noranda have replaced their boards with flexible boards. 

These boards -- which can move upwards of 18 inches -- will help absorb the impact of hits, which should help lower concussion rates.

As of the 2024-25 season, now nine teams have flexible boards installed at the home rinks. He also mentioned that over the next three years, he expects three more QMJHL rinks to have access to flexible boards.

Cecchini confirmed numerous changes to the schedule, including the reduction of the regular season from 68 games to 64, as well as ensuring that most games are played on weekends or on holidays.

According to Cecchini, 90 per cent of matches this season will be played either on weekends or on holidays.

The purpose of this rule change is to help reduce the stress and burden of the hockey season on the players, many of whom are still in high school or are otherwise pursuing college or university level classes.

Last season, the QMJHL instituted video replays. Cecchini noted that the change left fans confused as they didn't know why the play was being challenged. Starting this season, the announcer will let the fans know the reason for the play being under review.

The press conference also included updates about the CHL Prospect Challenge in November.

The USA Hockey National Team Development Program and a super team of NHL draft eligible CHL All-Stars will compete in a two-game series in London and Oshawa.

The games will take place on the 26th and 27th of November, 2024.

Cecchini also confirmed that the event will be hosted in Quebec in 2026. 

As for the Memorial Cup, he mentioned that the tickets are already going fast.

He also spoke further about the renovations to Rimouski's arena, which should be completed by their first home game, which will be on October 19th, 2024.

The league also introduced its first ever orientation day for first year players, which took place in Moncton for Maritime-based players and in Trois-Rivieres for players from Quebec-based teams.

There the recruits were introduced to some of the league's resources, participated in leadership and character workshops

Cecchini also made note of the league's commitment to the student-athlete model, mentioning that the league has "no complex" to the amount of schooling support the league gives to players.

This comes after he announced in June that the league will increase the bursaries by 20%, starting in 2025-26.