Announced from a Board of Governors meeting in St. Louis.... hmmmmm
From an ECHL press release:
Changes to Goaltender’s Restricted Area
The size of the trapezoid behind the goal has been extended to seven feet outside of each goal crease and eight feet from each goal post.
Helmets
A player on the ice whose helmet comes off during play will be assessed a minor penalty unless he immediately (a) exits the playing surface or (b) puts the helmet back on with the chin strap properly fastened.
Face-offs following icing
To curb delay tactics following an icing, if the center of the offending team is not in the face-off area within five seconds, the linesman will drop the puck immediately. If the center attempts to arrive at the face-off spot just as the five seconds elapse to gain an advantage to win the face-off, he shall not be removed from the face-off. The center will be warned by the linesman that he has committed a face-off violation. In the event the center commits a second violation, or the action is the second face-off violation, a two-minute bench penalty will be assessed.
When a team commits an icing infraction, any face-off violation will not result in the center being removed. The center will be warned by the linesman that they have committed their first face-off violation and any subsequent violation will result in a bench minor penalty for delay of game – face-off violation being assessed.
Comments
Oh brother. To many people involved in rule changes that have never played the game.
Why would you say that? What don't you like about these?
I agree Blake. This is good for hockey as it speeds up the game and puts emphasis on safety to the players. Most notably to respect that big "concussion" problem all of sports except rugby is dealing with.
Merger talks? It probably took them a week to make these rules changes.
I'd get rid of the trapezoid. Let a good stick-handling goalie go to to the corner if he wants to. All this rule does is add lines to the ice, and further confuse fans trying to learn the game.
Re: The helmet rule...not sure this increases safety, since you have now incentivized knocking people's helmets off to get them off the ice or penalized. Would be curious to know how many significant injuries can be tied to what this is trying to prevent.
Interesting point which I hadn't thought of. What I think they are trying to do is get the guys to wear their helmets properly. Would be my guess this is an insurance move as well as personal safety.