Summer Rule Changes

First of all, I apologize for the delay this week.  My plan was to release a post every Monday, but I got a little sidetracked on vacation last week.  Now I’m home so no more pontooning, fishing, jet skiing, and all of the other great summer pleasures.  But summer winding down means it’s getting closer to hockey time!  As you may know, the NCAA men’s hockey committee released their new rules last week.  Let’s take a look at some of the changes.

-More options for overtime (including 4 on 4 or shootouts).  Both of these add a level of excitement to the conferences that choose to use it, but I hope the WCHA doesn’t.  I hate for a game to end in a tie more than the next person does, but I don’t like to see a game decided in a different fashion than the game as a whole took place.  Instead, I would like to see the overtime extended from 5 minutes to 15 or 20 minutes.

-Hand passes are now illegal in all three zones.  “Weren’t they always??” you might say.  The Defensive zone hand pass rule has always caused confusion among average hockey fans.  In the past, a player could use his hand to push the puck (while in the D-zone).  The rationale behind this exception was that the consequence for a hand pass is simply a defensive zone face-off so there wasn’t really a reason to whistle the play down.  Now it will result in a defensive zone face-off and the guilty team will not be able to change lines as a consequence (similar to the icing rule). 

- Allowing goals that enter the net off of skates except when they are directed using a distinct kicking motion.  I’ve wanted this rule changed ever since the 2008 Frozen Four when a Notre Dame player’s game-tying goal was disregarded due to him angling it in off his skate.  For one, in a game as fast as hockey, I think this rule rewards skilled players who are able to use their feet to their advantage.  They can do it everywhere else on the ice, but in scoring position they haven’t been able to.  Also, it takes an often controversial judgment call out of the officials’ hands.  The Frozen Four goal in 2008 was disregarded because the referee found the Notre Dame player had “intentionally” angled his skate.  It’s very difficult to tell whether the player intentionally angles his skate or not and in circumstances like this, the official could end up determining the result of the game.  This rule is a good compromise so players still can’t kick a puck in (which many people feel would add a dangerous element to the game) but it still takes a little bit of the judgment away from the officials and allows for skilled players to use all of their assets.

One rule that many players and coaches wanted changed but that will have to wait for now is the option to wear three-quarter shields instead of full shields or visors.  At this point, college hockey is the only league where players over 18 are still required to wear a full shield.  Therefore, most players wear three-quarter shields through juniors; have to go to a full shield in college, and then return to the three-quarter, half, or no shield in the NHL.  They are waiting on more safety research before discussing this rule change again in two years.  

What does everybody think of the new rule changes?  Any speculations or feelings on the visor rule?