By John McGourty | NHL.com
Change doesn't come easily but a faster, more exciting brand of
National Hockey League action begins with the new rules to be
introduced this season. The League and its players are committed to a
wide-open game with more scoring chances and fewer stoppages of play.
For
the new rules to succeed, they will need the support of all of the
NHL's players, coaches, general managers, owners and officials. Players
have been vocal in their support of the changes. The new standard of
enforcement will require referees to call penalties on existing rules,
including hooking, holding, tripping, slashing, cross checking and
interference."It's important that people out there in the
mainstream of hockey recognize that this is a cultural change in
hockey," said Stephen Walkom, NHL Senior Vice President & Director
of Officiating. "Accepted practices, practices that have been coached
into the game for the past 20 years, will now be called as penalties.
The clutching and grabbing of the puck carrier that has bothered the
fans for years will be addressed under the new standard of enforcement."NHL.com is pleased to present the video, The New Standard of Rule Enforcement 2005-06,
narrated by Walkom, that explains to fans, players, officials, coaches
and team executives how the rules will be enforced this season. Dozens
of examples are shown of banned practices, like defensemen
cross-checking forwards who plant themselves in front of goalies.
Acceptable practices are also illustrated in many situations.
"The
game this year will reward speed, quickness, skill, intelligence and
hard work," Walkom said. "It will penalize illegal tactics, especially
when a player uses his stick or free arm as a defensive tactic."
It's
evident from the video how ingrained some of the illegal tactics had
infiltrated the game, particularly the use of hands and sticks as
restraint devices to smother offenses. The rules changes will impact
the game in all areas of the ice and in all types of situations.
"The
practice of wrapping an opponent with your free hand along the boards
in the defensive zone is no longer permitted. This means more free
skating in the offensive zone," Walkom said. "A defensive player will
have to make an immediate hit on a rival who dumps a puck past him. If
an immediate hit is not made, defensive players must turn and chase
after the puck."
The new standards of enforcement are illustrated
in the video and explained by Walkom, a NHL official for 15 years
who worked the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, the 2004 World Cup
of Hockey and the 2002 and 2004 Stanley Cup Finals.
"The new
standards of enforcement, including restricting where the goalie can
play the puck and removal of the center red line, are all designed to
create more offense and scoring opportunities for the players in our
game," Walkom said.
