Hello All,

I was reading an article in the local rag and was somewhat surprised to
see that international hockey has eliminated the red line, so the two
line pass is legal. I guess I vaguely recall them doing it after the
1998 games, but at my age you never know.. ... :-)

At any rate, one coach was quoted as saying he watches the college game
and didnt think it (the college's elimination of the red line) had
increased the scoring, that is, the defenses adjusted. He seemed to
imply that at one time the college game had the same anti two line pass
rule as the NHL currently has. Does anyone know if it once existed in
college hockey?

The article went on to have several interviews with players, some who
played the college game who said it definitely would result in more
goals, to some who had never played without the red line and were unsure
or negative about it. The article also said that the NHL is going to
look closely at the Olympic games to see how the no red line rule worked
out and hinted they would consider adopting it.

Are there any hard statistics that confirm this one change results in an
increased scoring rate?

Lastly, I have forgotten, maybe someone can answer: is it illegal to
pass from behind your own goal line across your own blue line (ie a kind
of two line pass) in college or the pros? or are passing (or
anti-passing :-) rules related only to the middle area three lines, that
is, the two blue and red?

Sorry for mixing in so many different aspects here.

Tony Buffa
RPI '64
Go Engineers!!