NHL New Rules List/DVD Sent To Teams (Video)

Added on Nov 09, 2010 by J Merrill in

NHL

The NHL has sent a video to all the teams in the league to let them know specifically what they will be looking for with regards to head hits, crosschecks, icing hits, clipping, and engaging(fighting) outside the playing time. Below is the video, and if you like hard hits make sure you watch it, but you can’t say the NHL isn’t being proactive and crystal clear. Yes, the refs will need to make judgment calls, and with players moving as fast as they do, you can count on some of them being the wrong calls. However, I appreciate the fact that some of my favorite players won’t have “Jello” for brains in 30 years. Heavy impacts and concussions can lead to severe head/brain injuries that may not appear until further down the line, including Parkinson’s disease. I enjoy the heavy hits as much as the next guy or gal, but the concussion rules the NHL has been putting in place have been bringing attention to how serious head injuries are in many other sports. The memory tests and screening should be used by the NFL, but we are now seeing them become more and more cautious with head hits. I hope they take it further. I am sure everyone would love to bring the Stanley Cup home for day, but not if the cost is they have to have it in front of them to collect the drool.

These rules will be enforced immediately.

48.1: Illegal Check to the head

Defined as: A lateral or blindside hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact is not permitted.

48.2 Minor Penalty

There is no minor penalty for this rule.

48.3 Major Penalty

For a violation of this rule a major penalty shall be assessed.

48.4 Game Misconduct

An automatic game misconduct penalty shall be assessed whenever a major penalty is assessed under this rule.

48.5 Match Penalty

The referee, at his discretion, may assess a match penalty if, in his judgment, the player attempted to or deliberately injured his opponent with an illegal check.

A player can also face supplementary discipline in which they can be suspended and/or fined.

The player placing the check bares TOTAL responsibility when contact to the head is made. Meaning the player delivering the hit MUST avoid making contact with the head with any part of his body or stick. The hit must be made through the body.

Hits to the head through illegal actions such as elbowing, high sticking, charging, boarding, and other illegal acts will continue to be penalized through the existing rules and regulations. They still fall under the on ice penalties, and supplemental discipline.

Low Hits/Clipping

An illegal low hit is a hit delivered by a player with the sole intent to check the player in the area of his knees. The player must not lower his body in the direction of the knees, and could face on ice penalty and supplemental discipline. Hip checks are still legal.

Contact on Icings

Any unnecessary contact with a player playing the puck on an obvious icing that results in the player being knocked into the boards shall be called as boarding or tripping. Players MUST avoid any physical contact on icings. Players could face on ice penalty and supplemental discipline.

Rules of Engagement

A misconduct or game misconduct and possible supplementary discipline shall be imposed on any player involved in fighting off the playing surface or with another player who is off the playing surface.

Any teams whose players are involved in an altercation outside the minutes of the game can be fined up to 25,000 dollars, and could face supplemental discipline off the ice. (in warm ups, or between periods.)

Any identifiable player who uses obscene, profane, or any abusive language directed at anyone runs the risk of an unsportsmanlike penalty and possible supplemental discipline.