Note the two memorandums included in this posting; the first notes points
of emphasis of existing rules for 1991-92, and the second lists new rules
changes for 1991-92.
 
NCAA MEMORANDUM                               September 6, 1991
 
TO: Intercollegiate Ice Hockey Officials.
 
SUBJECT: 1991 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Rules Committee Meeting.
 
At its annual meeting May 14-17, the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Rules
Committee discussed and proposed rules changes that it felt would
improve intercollegiate ice hockey.  Enclosed please find a chronological
listing of those changes.
 
The committee also declared its Points of Emphasis for the 1991-92
season, to include:
 
1. Interference.
2. Hooking.
3. Holding.
4. Coaches' conduct.
5. Contact with goalkeepers.
 
The committee is determined to eliminate interference from the game and
in the process, place a stronger emphasis on the speed and skill aspects
that are the foundation of the game.  It is incumbent upon all coaches,
players and officials to work toward abolishing interference, especially
hooking and holding, as a part of the game.
 
As was the case two years ago, the conduct of some coaches during the past
season was deemed unsportsmanlike; it is not to be tolerated this year.
In many cases, the referee allowed a coach to act this way without a
penalty.  Referees are urged to enforce Rule 6-1 (Abuse of Officials and
Other Misconduct) if this conduct continues in 1991-92.
 
Finally, after a great deal of discussion produced an equal amount of
concern, the committee felt compelled to include contact with the
goalkeeper as a point of emphasis again this year.  If contact with a
goalkeeper in the privileged area can be avoided and is not, officials
must call a penalty.  There will be no exceptions to this rule.
 
1991-92 POINTS OF EMPHASIS
 
1. Interference (Rule 6-24).  A minor penalty must be imposed on a player
   who interferes with or impedes the progress of an opponent who is not
   in possession of the puck.  NOTE: Officials must penalize any player
   who deliberately forces an opponent offside.
 
2. Hooking (Rule 6-22a).  A minor penalty must be imposed on a player who
   impedes or seeks to impede the progress of an opponent by hooking with
   the stick, whether or not the opponent is in possession of the puck.
 
3. Holding (Rule 6-21).  Holding the stick or any piece of equipment or
   clothing with the hand or arm is an automatic penalty whether or not
   the opponent is in possession of the puck.
 
4. Coaches' conduct (Rule 6-1).  Abuse or lack of respect toward officials
   will not be tolerated.
 
5. Goalkeeper contact (Rules 6-6b and 6-24e-3).  A player who charges or
   otherwise fouls a goalkeeper while the goalkeeper is within the
   privileged area must be penalized.  [The privileged area is defined as
   the rectangle bounded by a line connecting the faceoff dots in the
   defensive zone and on the sides by lines running from the dots to the
   end boards, thus including behind the net.  - mike]
 
 
NCAA MEMORANDUM                                 August 20, 1991
 
TO: Division I Ice Hockey Conference Commissioners and Supervisors
    of Officials.
 
SUBJECT: New Ice Hockey Rules for 1991-92.
 
Following are the new rules changes voted by the Men's Ice Hockey Rules
Committee at its May 15-17 meeting in Palm Springs, California.
 
RULE/NEW WORDING
 
1-3.  REVISED GOAL POSTS AND NETS.  The goal posts shall be kept in position
  by magnets, metal rods, pipes or similar means affixed in the ice or floor.
  It is recommemded that the goal posts be affixed with a release-type
  fixture.  [The last sentence is an addition. - mike]
 
2-2d.  ADDED to CAPTAIN OF TEAM.  The captain of both teams shall meet with
  the referee prior to the start of the game.
 
2-5a note.  REVISED CHANGE OF PLAYERS.  When a goalkeeper leaves the goal
  area and proceeds to the players' bench for the purpose of substituting
  another player, the rear referee or linesman shall be responsible to see
  that the substitution is not illegal because of the premature departure
  of the substitute from the bench (before the goalkeeper is at the
  players' bench and out of the play).  [The part in parentheses was
  changed from "(before the goalkeeper makes bodily contact with the
  boards at the players' bench)".  - mike]
 
4-1 note.  NOTE ADDED to PENALTIES.  NOTE - When play is not actually in
  progress and an infraction is committed by any player, the same penalty
  shall aply as though play was actually in progress.
 
6-9c.  ADDED to DELIBERATELY DISPLACING GOALPOST.  If a player of the
  defending team deliberately displaces the goal, and, in the opinion of
  the referee, the puck would have entered the goal had it not been
  displaced, a penalty shot/optional minor penalty shall be assessed.
 
6-17.  ADDED to HANDLING THE PUCK.  Play will not be stopped for any hand
  pass by players in their respective defensive zone.
 
6-23.  ADDED to ICING THE PUCK.  Last contact with the puck must be made
  completely over the center red line to nullify icing.  [Hockey East
  Supervisor of Officials Dana Hennigar said that this was designed to
  eliminate questions over whether the red line was meant to be treated
  as the blue lines; it is not.  - mike]
 
6-25b note 3.  ADDED to INTERFERENCE BY SPECTATORS.  If fans throw objects
  on the ice after being warned, a bench minor penalty may be assessed
  against the offending fans' team.  At the discretion of the referee, a
  warning may be issued prior to the game.  [The last sentence was the
  part added.  - mike]
 
6-28a.  ADDED to LEAVING PLAYERS' BENCH OR PENALTY BENCH.  When both teams
  are to leave the ice through a common exit, the team whose players' bench
  is closest to the exit shall leave the ice first.  For a violation of
  this rule, a bench minor penalty shall be assessed against the offending
  team.
 
6-46.  TIES IN TOURNAMENT COMPETITION.  Where advancement in a bracket or
  the determination of a tournament champion is necessary, any series in a
  format (e.g., total-goals series, single game, minigame series) that
  results in a tie will be broken by 10-minute, sudden-death overtime
  periods.  The ice shall be resurfaced upon completion of regulation
  play.  The teams shall not change ends, except as indicated in Rule
  6-42b.  Consolation games may follow the overtime procedures as
  described in Rule 6-45.  [The last two sentences were added. - mike]
 
[This was not in the memorandum, but HE's Dana Hennigar announced that the
limitation on 5 players from one team being ejected in one stoppage of
play, such as a bench-clearing brawl, has been lifted.  I do not
specifically know how this would be handled, but he did state that in the
situation where, say, entire teams were ejected and they did not have
replacement players to play the following night, the game would be
forfeited or cancelled.  - mike]