I was "speaking" (via e-mail) with Pete Kester, and neither of us had noticed
any mention of the results of the men's ice hockey rules committee meetings in
May. So, I have dug out the NC$$ News report on the meetings (since we were
both interested) and we both thought that it would be a good idea to post the
rule changes here as well.
 
From the May 20, 1992 issue of _The NC$$ News_...
 
MORE EVEN-STRENGTH ACTION GOAL OF RULES COMMITTEE
 
In an effort to provide more even-strength competition, the NC$$ Men's Ice
Hockey Rules Committee voted to allow immediate substitutions for an equal
number of coincidental minor (Rule 4-2-e) and coincidental major (Rule 4-3-b)
penalties of equal duration to each team so penalized.
 
When coincidental minor or coincidental major penalties are assessed against
players of both teams, "the penalized players shall take their place on the
penalty bench and such penalized players shall not leave the penalty bench
until the first stoppage of play following the expiration of their respective
penalties."
 
"The coincidental-penalty situation was a major concern to the coaches...The
coaches didn't like the two-man down situation. It is their feeling that the
game is meeant to be played as close to even-strength as possible," said
Sidney J. Watson, chair of the committee and director of athletics at Bowdoin
College.
 
The committee also cracked down on the face-off (Rule 6-12-a), so that no
player will be allowed to have the stick or skates (on or off the ice) inside
the face-off circle, to be beyond the parallel face-off lines extended or to
come within 15 feet of the players facing off the puck. If a violation occurs,
"the official shall order the individual(s) replaced for that face-off by any
teammate then on the ice."
 
"The face-off has been a constant concern of the rules committee over the last
three to four years, and I hope that we have started a process that will
eliminate the activity inside the face-off circle," said Watson.
 
The committee voted to change the wording in the note to Rule 3-4-b to read:
"It is recommended that players, including goalkeepers, wear only a
HECC-approved hockey helmet."
 
Other rules changes and administrative items approved for 1992-93:
 
* Rule 1-3 was amended to read: "The goal posts shall be affixed in the ice or
floor with a release-type fixture."
 
* Rule 1-4-(b) was added so that it is required that the goal-crease area be
painted light blue.
 
* Rule 2-5-h was revised to read: "If, in the last two minutes of regulation
time or any time during overtime, there is deliberate illegal substitution
(too many men on the ice), a penalty shot/optional minor shall be awarded
against the offending team. No additional penalty shall be assessed."
 
* Rule 4-5-c was revised so the team of a disqualified player(s) shall be
allowed to dress a substitute player or players (equal to the number of
disqualified players) in the next scheduled game.
 
* Rule 6-6-(b) was added so that a major or minor penalty, at the discretion
of the referee, shall be imposed on a player who charges or otherwise fouls a
goalkeeper while the goalkeeper is within the goal crease or privileged area.
 
* Rule 6-9-(e) was altered to read: "If a minor penalty for deliberately
displacing a goal, or for the goalkeeper deliberately removing the
helmet/facemask during play, is assessed with less than two minutes remaining
in regulation, or at any time during overtime, the penalty shot/optional minor
shall be assessed against the offending team."
 
* The note to Rule 6-30-(b) was revised so that a reference point is required
for the imaginary lines. A red line 2 inches by 1 foot shall be placed at the
top of the boards indicating the imaginary line connecting the top of the
face-off circles.
 
* The committee altered Rule 6-43-1(a)-1 so that a two-minute intermission
will precede an overtime period.
 
* Because teams no longer change ends of the rink after a 10-minute overtime
period, the committee voted to alter the language of Rule 6-44 as follows:
"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,
mini-game series) that results in a tie will be broken by 20-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
6-41-b). Third-place games may follow the overtime procedures as described in
rule 6-43."
 
POINTS OF EMPHASIS FOR 1992-93
 
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, impedes or seeks to impede the progress of an opponent by
   hooking with the stick (Rule 6-22-a) or holds the stick (automatic penalty)
   or any piece of equipment or clothing with the hand or arm (Rule 6-21).
 
2. HITTING FROM BEHIND (RULE 6-26): A major or disqualification penalty must
be imposed on a player who hits an opponent from behind into the sideboards,
end boards, or goal cage.
 
3. FACE-OFFS (RULE 6-12): All face-off procedures must be strictly enforced,
including imposing minor penalties onplayers for encroachment with sticks
and/or skates into the face-off circles or into the area between the face-off
parallel lines extended.
 
4. PLAYER CONDUCT (RULE 6-1): A misconduct penalty must be imposed on any
player who uses abusive language or shows disrespect to other players,
officials, or fans. A game misconduct penalty must be imposed on any player
who persists with these actions.
 
5. DELIBERATELY FALLING TO THE ICE: Referees will use the wash-out signal to
indicate that they have observed a player deliberately falling to the ice in
an attempt to draw a penatly against an opponent.
 
Whew. This should give us something to talk about for a while.
 
My best,
 
Craig Cheslog