NCAA Rules Changes 2000 - 2001
NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Rules Committee

The committee took these additional actions:

--Recommended that goal pins be used whenever possible.

--Re-emphasized that a deliberate illegal substitution to stop a scoring chance shall be
awarded a penalty shot

--Applauded the efforts of officials to call diving and hopes to include footage on the annual rules video to clarify the rule.

--Recommended that goal judges be officials when possible.

--Deleted a portion of the offsides rule, which allowed officials to ignore an offsides when a player was pushed across the blue line. Now, the player is either offside or the player that pushed the opposing player should be called for interference.

--Incorporated the punching rule into the rule for fighting. Also, the committee changed the wording relating to fighting to penalize players that participate in an altercation.

--The committee discussed using an overtime format that plays the five-minute period with four skaters to a side. The proposal was defeated.

--Changed the wording relating to forfeits and refusal to start play and added a section for removal of a team from the ice. The referee shall assess a minor penalty to a team that does not start play for delay of game. If this continues, a major penalty will be assessed and, if the behavior persists, the game will be forfeited, If a coach removes all or part of a team in protest of a referee’s decision, this will be an automatic forfeit.

--Stiffened the penalty for spitting, making the offense a game misconduct penalty. The committee also made taunting a more serious penalty, voting to make it a misconduct or game misconduct penalty, at the discretion of the referee.

--Put in place a provision to allow play to continue in the case of a goal cage becoming dislodged. If there is an offensive opportunity for the non-offending team, and the goal cage that is that team’s defensive goal, play shall continue until the offensive opportunity has ended.

--Voted to allow the Central Collegiate Hockey Association to continue limited use of the two-referee, two-linesman system.

--Thanked chair Mike Sertich, University of Minnesota-Duluth, who attended his final meeting, and Glenn Thomaris, Elmira College, for their years of service.

2000 Men’s Ice Hockey Rules Committee Meeting

By Ty Halpin
Staff Writer

The NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Rules Committee altered its video protocol and added a penalty for obstruction at its annual meeting in Indianapolis May 22-25.

The committee, after discussing the video replay system, decided to make a change that will allow the instant replay official to alert on-ice officials to a questionable goal. The committee decided that all goals will be reviewed and that the on-ice official will not resume play until the instant replay official has reviewed the goal

Also, the committee voted to allow coaches to use their timeout for the purpose of reviewing situations that are in the video replay criteria or a potential goal that was not observed by the on-ice officials, Regardless of the outcome of the review, the team will be charged a timeout.

Instant replay is only allowed during regular season tournaments and postseason tournament competition, including the NCAA Frozen Four.

"The instant replay system works when it is used properly," said Mike Sertich, chair of the men' s ice hockey rules committee. "The committee felt these changes would give the officials as many tools as possible to ensure the correct call is made."

interference, a point of emphasis a year ago, helped pave the way for the new rule of obstruction this season. The committee was pleased with the improvement in this area, but felt more progress would be made with a specific penalty call. The rule relates to interference away from the puck in any way.

The rule reads: "Any player who interferes with a non-puck carrying player will receive a minor for obstruction. Obstruction will be called in front of the infraction (i.e. obstruction-holding)."

A new signal will also go into effect, which mirrors the National Hockey League’s signal for obstruction.

"The emphasis on cleaning up the stick work and interference away from the puck has improved’ Sertich said. "The committee feels making a rule relating to obstruction will continue that improvement."

The committee also altered its rule relating to relief in some shorthanded penalty situations. For example: Team A has a major and a minor penalty assessed, and Team B also has a minor penalty. Team B scores. The minor penalty to Team A would be erased and a player would return to the ice.

The rule will read: "If a short-handed team is scored upon while serving a major and a non-coincidental minor penalty (two different players), the minor penalty shall terminate."

"I think there is a general consensus that when a team is shorthanded and is scored upon, they deserve relief," Sertich said. "The committee felt this was the best way to address that."

The committee outlined its points of emphasis for the 2000-01 season. Obstruction, diving, hitting from behind and cross-checking/slashing will be emphasized in the rules video and in officiating clinics.