The NCAA Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules Committee met for the past three days in Indianapolis and came up with a set of rules recommendations. Those recommendations will then be sent to coaches and conference commissioners who will comment on them, before being sent to the Playing Rules Oversight Panel for approval.
The suggestions made were "subtle" according to committee chair and head coach at Michigan State Tom Anastos. Noticeably absent from the list were hot button issues such as allowing three-quarters facemasks rather than full shields, going to 4-on-4 in overtime, and a more uniform policy for supplemental discipline.
Here are the committees suggestions:
Hand Pass by Faceoff Player – The players taking a faceoff are not allowed to use their hand to play the puck. A violation of this rule will result in a minor penalty, similar to the NHL rule.
Faceoff Procedure – The defending team’s faceoff player shall be required to put the stick down first. Previously, the attacking team was required to do so. Center ice faceoffs will continue to require the visiting team to put the stick down first.
Goal pegs – Ten-inch goal pegs that are anchored into the ice or floor must be in place at all NCAA levels by the 2016-17 season.
Faceoff Location – Offensive Scoring Opportunity: If the offensive team is attempting to score and the puck goes out of play – the faceoff will remain in the attacking zone.
Faceoff Location – High stick/hand pass: In these cases, the ensuing faceoff will be one zone closer to offending team’s goal.
Video Replay – Several changes were made to the criteria and process:
• It is reviewable to determine if a goal was scored before a penalty occurred.
• If an offsides or too many men on the ice penalty is missed and a goal is scored, it is reviewable until the puck leaves the offensive zone. This replaces the previous wording that only allowed the review to occur if the missed play directly led to a goal.
• It was clarified that video review may be used without the restriction of games that are being broadcast on television.Penalty Shot/Shootout – During a shootout or penalty shot, if the goal becomes dislodged by the goalkeeper, the referee shall either award a goal (if intentional or if the goal was obvious and imminent) or allow the team to shoot again.
Penalty Shot – If a player that is awarded a penalty shot is injured and unable to take the shot, one of the players on the ice at the time of the infraction shall be chosen to shoot.
Look-Up Line – The committee approved the use of a warning-track style line intended to positively impact safety near the boards. The use of this line will not be mandatory, but is permissible.
Notable among them:
-Its no surprise to see Tom Anastos help get that penalty shot rule changed after his team was on the wrong end of this debacle last season.(Though MSU did eventually win that shootout anyway.
-The changes in the video review policy came after Hockey East officials mistakenly used video replay to overturn a UMass goal against Boston College last year.
-The 'Look-Up Line' was first used on the rink at last year's Frozen Fenway.