Photo Credit: Nicolas Carrillo/Grand Rapids Griffins
On November 4, 2026, Grand Rapids Griffins forward Cameron Butler was ejected from the game 4:15 into the second period. Butler received a 10 minute game misconduct after getting into his second fight of the night.
Rule 20.4 Automatic Game Misconduct states, “An automatic game misconduct shall be applied to any player who has been assessed a third major penalty, or second fighting major penalty in the same game.”
There is a caveat to this rule to prevent opponents from goading a player into a second fight, forcing their team to go down a man for the rest of the game.
“The automatic game misconduct penalty due to the third major penalty, or second fighting major penalty shall be waived for a player in the altercation if the opposing player was assessed an instigator penalty in either altercation.”
Now, here is where things get a little tricky for Butler moving forward. With four fights 12 games into the season, Butler is six fights away from a one game suspension.
Per rule 23.7 Fines and/or Suspensions - Fighting Category : “In regular League games, any player who incurs a total of 10 fighting major penalties shall be suspended automatically for the next League game of his team.”
This rule also applies to fights 11 -13. Once a player gets to 14 fights, an additional game is added to the suspension.
“In regular League games, any player who incurs a total of 14 fighting major penalties shall then be suspended automatically for the next two League games of his team. For each subsequent fighting major penalty, the player shall be suspended automatically for the next two League games of his team.”
The instigator provision also applies here.
