>                                 ...  In addition, you say that if you're not
>starting the period, you must make a beeline from the locker room to the bench?
>Is it just me, or does this sound like many pulled muscles and other such
>injuries just waiting to happen?
 
That's not a change.  The current rule has all players going directly to
the bench ...  its just not always enforced.  In fact, it caused quite a
pile of mail once last season when the delay of game penalty *was*
called :) The rule change is that only one-half of the ice may be used
...  instead of both teams sharing the entire surface (to start).
 
cheers,
wayne