Tuesday night’s preseason clash between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators at the Videotron Centre was supposed to be just another tune-up before the regular season.

Instead, it exploded into a spectacle that has everyone talking—not just about the score, but about the chaos that unfolded on the ice. Multiple fights, hard hits, and controversial penalties have pushed the conversation far beyond the rink, igniting a fierce debate that now echoes through the halls of Quebec’s parliament.

In a move that few saw coming, Quebec’s Minister of Sports, Isabelle Charest, has stepped directly into the fray, making a public statement that is already sending shockwaves through the hockey world.

Her remarks have drawn a clear line in the sand, challenging long-held traditions and inviting fans themselves to take action in a way that could reshape the future of the sport.

But what exactly did Charest say, and why has her intervention struck such a nerve? As supporters and critics clash over the place of fighting in hockey, the stakes have never been higher.

Could this be the tipping point that finally forces change in the NHL, or will the old-school mentality prevail once again? Read on to discover the full story behind this growing controversy.

Quebec sports minister Isabelle Charest and Canadiens-Senators fighting

Photo credit: All Habs / NHL

Tuesday night’s preseason game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators at the Videotron Centre left its mark far beyond the ice, mainly due to multiple violent hits.

The game, marked by no fewer than four fights and a series of dirty plays, and sanctions by the NHL, continues to generate reactions. This time, the debate has reached the political level, as Quebec’s Minister of Sports, Isabelle Charest, publicly spoke out to condemn this type of spectacle.

As reported by TVA Sports, Charest invited fans to express their dissatisfaction with fights in the NHL.

Isabelle Charest Openly Criticizes the Role of Fights in Hockey

“I invite fans to express their dissatisfaction if they see a fight,” she said Wednesday in the corridors of parliament.

According to her, this action can take several forms, whether it’s choosing not to buy tickets or making one’s dissatisfaction heard during games.

The former speed skater also added bluntly:

“I don’t believe in fights in hockey.”

– Isabelle Charest

Later, even though the minister admits she does not have the power to directly change NHL rules, her call brings back a debate heard almost every year: do fights still have a place in modern hockey?

Among fans, opinions are divided. Some see these incidents as part of the fun and intensity of the sport, while others believe they no longer belong in today’s context.

It remains to be seen whether the minister’s call will have an effect on fans or even on the NHL.