"Dr Martin G. Keeney" <[log in to unmask]> was kind enough to extract the following from the new rulebook. Thanks, Glen! From the 1999 NCAA Hockey Rule book, the following points of emphasis and rule changes. The "Points of Emphasis" section calls attention to certain areas of the game that the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Rules Committee believes must be improved, not through additional rules but by a stronger emphasis on existing rules. This year the rules committee requests that players, officials and coaches concentrate on the following areas: 1. Illegal Use of Stick Officials and coaches must continue to emphasize these violations with zero tolerance. Stick fouls (e.g., high-sticking, cross-checking and slashing) have become pervasive and must be eliminated from the game. 2. Hitting From Behind - Rule 6-20 Officials must continue to penalize this violation with zero tolerance. The rules committee is steadfast in its effort to eliminate hitting from behind from the game. 3. Charging - Rule 6-7 Officials and coaches must continue to emphasize this violation with zero tolerance. Violent hits, which are the result of charging, must be eliminated from the game. 4. Interference - Rule 6-25 A strict standard of interference must be adhered to in all areas of the rink. Players who impede or seek to impede the progress of opponents by hooking with the stick or holding the stick or any piece of equipment or clothing with the hand or arm must be penalized. 5. Mouth guards - Rule 3-4-c Officials and coaches must continue to emphasize the importance of the mouth guard. The rules committee is steadfast in its efforts to ensure that all players wear mouth guards. 6. Ethical Behavior/Respect for the Opponent Abusive language, acts of disrespect or taunting by playing and non-playing personnel shall not be tolerated and the appropriate penalties must be assessed. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rules changes for 1999 1-4-d. There shall be two "L-shaped" markings in each goal crease. Each line shall be 5 inches [12 7cm] long and 2 inches [5.08cm] wide. The corners shall touch the goal crease line, 4 feet out from the goal line. The lines shall be parallel to and perpendicular to the goal line (see special spot and goal crease diagrams). 2-1-b[added] The visiting team shall wear dark-colored jerseys and stockings; the home team shall wear light-colored jerseys and stockings. Light-colored jerseys (e.g., white, gold, yellow or light blue) may be worn by the visiting team only when the teams have agreed before the season. 2-2-e. During an altercation, the captain may not exercise his privileges until the referee(s) has entered the referees' crease or, in the absence of penalties, signals a face-off location. 3-1-d. A minor penalty shall be assessed to any player or goalkeeper who uses a stick not conforming to this rule. 3-4-c [added] For the initial violation of this rule, the offending player shall be immediately replaced on the ice, and the referee shall warn the offending team that subsequent violations by any player of that team shall result in the player being assessed a misconduct penalty. 3-7 A request for measurement of any equipment covered in Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Rule 3 shall be limited to one request by each team and involve only one player during any stoppage of play. 4-5-e. A player who receives a disqualification penalty in any game (including exhibition games) shall not be permitted to play in the team's next regular-season or tournament game against an NCAA member institution. Exhibition games cannot be used to fulfill the disqualification penalty. 5-3-b. In the three-man system (one referee, two assistant referees), face off the puck at the center ice face-off spot at the start of the game. 5-4-b. Conduct all face-offs with the exception of the face-off at the start of the game. 5-5-c-(7) To report a goal not observed by the referee. 6-12-p. When a stoppage of play in an end zone takes place and is followed by an altercation (whether a penalty is called or not), an attacking player on the ice or other player coming from the bench shall not enter the end zone farther than the outer edge of the face-off circles nearest the blue line. For violation of this rule, the ensuing face-off shall take place at the nearest neutral zone faceoff spot. 6-30-f. A player may not leave the players' bench or penalty bench at any time during an altercation. Substitutions made before the altercation shall be permitted provided the players substituting do not enter the altercation. For a violation of this rule, a disqualification penalty shall be assessed to the player or players who leave the players' bench or penalty bench during an altercation. For purposes of this rule, an altercation is considered to be concluded when the referee enters the referee's crease or, in the absence of penalties, signals a face-off location. No Midnight Maddness is MADDNESS! Wayne T. Smith Systems Group -- UNET Technology Services [log in to unmask] University of Maine System Co-owner of the College Hockey lists - Hockey-L/Info-Hockey-L/Hockey3