|
Rule changes take effect
The NCAA made a few new rules that will be enforced in the 2002-03 hockey season.
The first rule is visually noticeable to the WCHA rinks this season. Those who will get their first glimpse of the ice this season should notice that the goalie crease looks different. The crease has actually gotten smaller, mirroring the NHL's Brett Hull-rule that was enforced two years ago.
"Especially on the back side away from the goalie, you could put your foot in the crease and not get any interference on goals and enough people got upset at it in the NHL to take it out," SCSU head coach Craig Dahl said.
A couple rules will also be implemented this season to cut down on illegal stick and body roughness. First of all a new "clipping" penalty will be called on hits at or below the knees, which has been happening often. An "obstruction" penalty will also be called to be a little more picky on stick play.
"They call it obstruction, but really it's just tightening up on holding, hooking and sticks between legs on face-offs," Dahl said.
The rules committee also talked about tightening up on intent-to-injure penalties, especially by calling more hitting-from-behind violations.
The most important rule change is the 15-second face off rule, which will dramatically affect the pace of the game. This rule was first seen in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. When the whistle is blown, the head official will only give the visiting team five seconds to change their line, and the home team five seconds to change their line. The assistant referee will then blow the whistle indicating that the puck will be dropped in five seconds. If a team is offsides or encroaches before the face-off, the center will not be allowed to take the face-off. The second time a team violates this rule, they will be called for delay of game.
If the referees use this rule effectively, games should be about 20 minutes shorter.
"It's more friendly to the average fan," Dahl said. "Now the hardcore hockey fan, he doesn't care if the game goes into three overtimes, it would be one of the greatest games he ever saw. But the average fan wants to get in for a couple hours, and get out, and go eat or have a few beers."
Another major change in college hockey rules has to do with jurisdiction issues. For example, this season the game officials will be allowed (in specific situations) to award goals, though only if the goal was imminent and obvious, but prevented by an illegal act on the part of the opposing team.
The other jurisdiction rule enables video replays in tournaments to disallow goals that were the direct result of a hand pass or high-stick that occurred in the goalkeeper's privileged area.
|
|
|
|
Privacy Policy Network Advertising Article Syndication
|
|
