Brian Morris writes:
 
 >Greg has converted one of my between-seasons-pass-the doldrums-post into an
 >interesting issue.
 
  >>Here's what I meant. You fire a pass to me from
  >>our defensive zone (behind our blue line). The
  >>puck crosses into our offensive zone (beyond their
  >>blue line), then I cross (on-side) and pick it up.
  >>Old rules: fine. New rules: illegal. Or so I think.
  >>True or false?
 
>Under the "new rules" I also believe the player is off-sides.  A player has to
>establish his stick with the puck in the neutral area prior prior to proceeding
>into the offensive zone.  (I know I shouldn't be trying a rule intrepretation.)
 
Sorry.  As long as the player follows the puck across the blue line,
he is on-sides.  He does not need to establish his stick with the puck
in the neutral zone.
 
By the way, the NHL rule for off-sides passes states that the player
is on-sides as long as he follow the puck across the red line.  So,
you can actually catch a pass beyond the red-line that originated behind
your own blue line and still be on-sides.  (Of course, this causes no
end of confusion among fans when it occurs).
 
>But I am fascinated about the "old rules".  Do I understand Greg's initial post
>correctly: There were no blue lines only a red line?  This WOULD significantly
>alter play.  The effect on short-handed situations alone would be a major
>difference.I don't remember this to be the case.  And how would the college
>game evolve so differentlyfrom the pros?The idea of a hockey game with no
>blue lines intrigues me.  Can anyone confirm this?
 
Under the "old" rules, the red line existed for offsides passes only.
For the purposes of icing, the red line didn't exist.
 
Brett Quencer
Clarkson '88
MSU '93 (hopefully)
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