The NCAA rules with regard to the goal crease have not changed. In short,
what you've seen for the past several years is what you will see this year
at NCAA rinks where the institutions control the facility.
 
As for playing in rinks where NHL or IHL teams also play and where the NCAA
institution is not in charge, the NCAA position is simple: There will be
instances in which collegiate games will be played using goal creases not in
compliance with NCAA Ice Hockey Rules, and that such a scenario is
permissible given the fact that teams/conferences have no recourse. In other
words, in many instances the collegiate teams can't control the crease
design and thus, must play using the NHL design.
 
The NCAA has instructed teams/conferences involved in regular-season and/or
tournament games to request the arena hosts to change the crease to comply
with the NCAA configuration when possible (i.e., tournaments). That is not
to say that the hosts will change the crease, but there's always a
possibility.
 
Steve Hagwell
NCAA Staff Liaison to the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Rules Committee
 
> ----------
> From:         Paul Gentile
> Reply To:     Paul Gentile
> Sent:         Tuesday, October 20, 1998 6:24 AM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Reduced crease at Lowell
> 
>  
> Due to the fact that Lowell shares their rink with an AHL team, it looks
> like they'll be playing with a reduced crease. I had never seen one of
> these before last Friday night. What it looks like is that the "Olympic"
> half circle crease (5' or 6' radius?)  that has its two sides cut off so
> that there is very little crease beyond the width of the two posts. The
> top of the crease is still curved like the Olympic crease. I may be
> incorrect, but the width of this new crease design is smaller than the
> original NHL rectangle crease. Wasn't it 8' wide, extending a foot beyond
> each post?
>  
> A new proposal in the NHL is to reduce their 6' diameter by two feet on
> each side in a similar "chop" fashion. That would leave 1' extended beyond
> each post. The crease at Lowell appeared to be a similar design.
>  
> I'm wondering if the NCAA has any rules in this respect?
>  
> - Paul.
>  
> 
 
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