Proposed NCAA ice hockey rule changes

By Jason Paul | June 11, 2010

The NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee is proposing the following rule changes in their continued quest of the pussification of sports:

• Contact to the head will carrying a minimum of a major penalty and a game misconduct or disqualification. “Player safety is critically important to the college hockey community,” said Forrest Karr, chair of the committee and director of athletics at Alaska Fairbanks. “Players will be penalized severely for contact that targets the head and neck.”
• Hybrid icing rule combining the current automatic icing procedure with the touch-up system. According to the article, “In the new model, the official determines which player will reach the puck first, using the faceoff dots as a reference point. If it is determined to be the attacking player, icing is waved off. If it is the defending player, icing is called. A tie goes to the defender.”
• In addition, icing will be enforced throughout the entire game.  In other words, a shorthanded team can no longer ice the puck freely.
• Goalies will switch ends in overtime.
• Removed the obtainable pass rule.
• Altered the delayed-penalty rule so even if the non-offending team scores during the delayed call, they will still get a power play.
• Half shields will not be part of the changes yet.  The committee wants more scientific data before making a recommendation.

First off, contact to the head.  I have a feeling we’re going to be in for a LONG season if that change goes through, much like when checking from behind (in to the boards) became an automatic major penalty.  I can’t say I like it.  I mean, if two guys are battling for the puck along the boards and during their pushing/battling each other one guy’s arm accidentally taps the other guy in the face, is his night now over?  To me, punishment for a penalty should be dependent on the severity of the incident.  This automatic stuff goes a bit over the top sometimes.  If it’s something like that, give him two minutes and move on.  I guess Llewellyn better be careful who he tries to knock down in front of the U-M net after the whistle blows.  Get his hands up too high and his night is done.

Then the question is what next?  Why not make all penalties major penalties?  Kneeing someone can screw up their leg bad. Why’s that not an automatic major? Slashing a guy on his wrist hard can break a bone. How about making all slashes major penalties?  Running a goalie can injure the goalie. Why not make all those majors so players will think twice?  Why just the head?  Why not the rest of the body?  Kind of like the NFL/college football overly protecting any contact on the quarterback, there’s just this general movement in the pussification of sports to make any contact illegal.

I understand contact to the head is a serious issue, but there are different levels of severity of infractions and to group them all in to the same category and award the same level of punishment, personally I don’t like that.  Let refs make a judgment call.

Hybrid icing…fine.

Icing during penalty kills.  Yikes.  College hockey will certainly be going against the grain here as not even the NHL, CHL, or any other league that I know of has made that drastic shift.  According to the article, “This new rule has been used in USA Hockey Player Development Camps.” That’s the only place they mention.

This could either result in a lot of successful power play conversions or a lot of icing calls.  Not to mention how hard it might be to switch your penalty kill unit.  A team who ices the puck can’t switch players.  And if they have to softly clear the zone to avoid icing, the attacking team can quickly corral the puck and send it back up ice to prevent a change or catch them changing on the fly.  Those PK players might end up with some awfully burned out legs.

Last month when the initial list of potential rule changes came out, it was said in the USCHO article that “more than half of those surveyed were against a change there.”  But it was also hinted that the NHL might be looking to change the rule, too.

I am envisioning about 10 icing calls during a penalty kill right now, which will seriously annoy the crap out of everyone.  And I’m talking a minor penalty.  Can you imagine what would happen during a major penalty?

I understand the thought behind the rule change, but the current rule has been the rule for as long as I’ve been alive and I don’t think it’s broken and doesn’t need to be changed. Let the NHL screw this one up.  College hockey doesn’t need to be at the forefront of this change.  Looks like I’m not the only one who feels this way about “always-on icing,” either.  Fans on USCHO’s forum are also ripping the new rule proposals.

Topics: Michigan Hockey, Pussification of sports | No Comments »

Berenson signs extension; Schedule released

By Jason Paul | June 11, 2010

Two big items today…

First, U-M head coach Red Berenson has put the kibosh on any retirement rumors by signing a three-year extension. He will remain behind the bench for at least through the 2012-13 season.

“We’ve been doing a one-year contract of late and it seems like we’re spending a lot of time talking about when I’m going to retire,” Berenson said. “I think we can put that to bed for awhile and just focus on what we’re doing. The situation at Michigan is a little clearer in terms of recruitment or leadership of the program or what my future is. It’s pretty simple. I’ve thought about it a lot. I definitely was thinking about leaving earlier, but my passion has really been with this team and these players. They’re making a commitment to the program and I want my commitment to be clear as well.”

“I feel that this is a hugely important announcement for our ice hockey program and the athletic department,” Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said. “There aren’t a lot of Red Berensons in the world past, present or future. To have the ability to keep him and continue to contribute to his great work on behalf of Michigan ice hockey is an incredibly positive thing. We’re excited and I know he’s excited.”

Awesome news and I totally understand what Red was saying and glad he made it long term.  Every year the big question is always “Do you think this is Red’s last year?” so for him to make a long term commitment to the program helps clear up any uncertainty for current players and potential recruits and puts the focus on the product.

The other news of the day is the release of the 2010-11 schedule.  The Wolverines have 17 home games (20 if you include the two exhibitions and The Cold War II).  The most notable addition to this year’s schedule is a game at New Hampshire October 16.  I honestly don’t get these one game road trips instead of making that a weekend series.  Nebraska-Omaha, who will be playing their first season in the WCHA, will also be making a trip to Yost in October.

The full schedule can be seen here.

Topics: Michigan Hockey | No Comments »

Madden captures third Stanley Cup

By Jason Paul | June 10, 2010

Congrats to former Wolverine John Madden on hoisting his third Stanley Cup! (Photo credit Chicago Tribune)

Links of interest:

• NHL.com interview w/ Madden after Cup victory
• John Madden celebrates third Stanley Cup with his two kids
• Madden’s experience, leadership key for Blackhawks
• Madden mentors young Blackhawks during playoff run

Topics: Pro News | No Comments »

Twitter feed

By Jason Paul | May 27, 2010

Added the Twitter feed to the right side showing the five most recent posts.  With the summer slow down in news, expect me to post more tidbits and odds and ends there than on the main page.

Topics: Michigan Hockey | No Comments »

Internet Explorer users

By Jason Paul | May 23, 2010

I spent some time this evening and cleaned up the broken HTML code that was causing the website to appear out of alignment in Internet Explorer.  You should be able to view it the way it should be using the latest version of IE without having to turn on Compatibility View.

Topics: Michigan Hockey | No Comments »

Lessio selected in USHL Entry Draft

By Jason Paul | May 19, 2010

Well, I didn’t expect to see that name today.

2011 recruit Lucas Lessio was taken in the 1st round (8th overall) by Waterloo in the USHL Entry Draft today.

Lessio is one of the top forwards in Ontario and spent this past season with the St. Michael’s Buzzers (Cogliano, Caporusso, Burlon). In his rookie campaign he posted 30 goals and 42 assists in 41 games to finish second on the team in scoring. Needless to say, he’s pretty much already too talented for that league.

Lessio recently attended the Oshawa Generals (OHL) orientation camp, so it appears some sort of move, be it major junior or the USHL, might be in store. If that’s the case, lets hope it’s the latter so he can retains his college eligibility.

Topics: Michigan Hockey | No Comments »

USHL Futures Draft: Nieves goes in 2nd round

By Jason Paul | May 18, 2010

2012 verbal commitment Boo Nieves was drafted in the 2nd round of the USHL Futures Draft this morning by the Indiana Ice. The Ice is where incoming freshman Jacob Fallon spent the second half of this past season, and I believe defenseman Tristin Llewellyn also spent time with the organization.

2012 goaltending target Dalton Izyk, a teammate of Nieves, was selected in the 5th round by Youngstown.

The USHL Entry Draft takes place tomorrow. Any player born in 1990 or younger is eligible. Players for the Futures Draft were 1994 born only.

Topics: Michigan Hockey | No Comments »

Rule changes: they are a comin’?

By Jason Paul | May 11, 2010

USCHO has an article outlining the areas of discussion for potential rule changes to NCAA ice hockey.  Seeing as the committee can only change rules every two years, it is important they get it right.

University of Alaska athletic director and former Notre Dame goaltender Forrest Karr heads up the committee and, based on the article, it appears player safety is the top concern, particularly injuries resulting from contact to the head.  Karr notes to USCHO that the number of CTH penalties has increased the past two seasons.

“We hope it’s not because more people are violating the rules, more people are hitting to the head,” Karr tells USCHO. “We hope it’s because officials are more aware of it and making the calls more often.”

Two options under consideration are giving officials discretion to call a major penalty and game misconduct or game disqualification, or making contact to the head a standalone penalty instead of having another penalty attached to it.

I’m not sure how that latter one would affect anything.  If I understand that correctly, they could just call a penalty for “contact to the head” rather than “contact to the head – roughing” or “contact to the head – elbowing.”  But typically any penalty involving contact to the head involves a fist, elbow, or stick to begin with, so it doesn’t seem like to me making it a standalone penalty would change anything.

Other issues of note:

• Half shields instead of full face masks, though Karr said it’s not likely to get decided this offseason.  However, Karr said nearly 100 percent (!) of coaches are in favor of half shields.  The players want it.  The coaches want it.  So naturally the NCAA probably isn’t going to go for it.
• Changes to the format of overtime hockey to reduce the number of ties. “My overall feeling was that coaches are not largely supportive of the shootout,” Karr said.  “But if we were going to go to a shootout, they’d like to follow the NHL model of a four-on-four followed by a shootout.” Emphasis mine.  I’m not a big fan of shootouts.  The CCHA was the only league to implement a shootout for conference games last season.
• The officiating system.  According to the article, the CCHA is the only conference opposed to the current two referee system.  Interesting.  I’d be interested in hearing more why, though if it reduces the number of times the referee at center ice blows the play dead when there is a loose puck in the crease rather than, you know, letting the official standing behind the net make the call (not that that has EVER happened to us…), I’m all for it.
• Changing the rule so all goals that go in off a skate count, rather than just those deflected in.  Karr said the “iconic” coaches floated this idea.  I’m in total favor of it.  The way the rule is right now, where you can deflect in the puck off a skate but can’t direct it in, has caused way too many controversies.  Time to simplify it—either count them all or don’t count any.
• Changes to penalty enforcement (player remains in box for full minor or double-minor penalty, penalized team can’t make line change—similar to a team who ices the puck, shorthanded team can’t ice the puck, etc…).
• Eliminating the player’s ability to leave his feet or slide to block a shot.  Huh?!  Who thought up this one?  Their theory is that it decreases scoring chances.  Well, DUH!  Maybe that’s because it’s the defense’s job to PREVENT scoring chances.  Hence why it’s called DEFENSE.  Seriously, can you imagine this while watching a game… “Penalty to Chris Summers, two minutes for sliding to block a shot.”  I’ll stop watching college hockey if this ever becomes reality.  Dumb…just dumb.

Again, full article on USCHO can be read here.

Topics: Michigan Hockey | No Comments »

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