Penalty Box Post Quick Hit
Tuesday, June 21st
NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee proposes rule changes for video review challenges and major penalty options
The NCAA Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules Committee proposed several rules changes during its meeting last week in Indianapolis. Those proposals will now go to the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel for approval on July 20, and would go into effect for the 2022-2023 season.
The most notable proposal is a reform of the video review and coaches' challenge system for reviewable plays. While no limit to the number of challenges was indicated, a first unsuccessful challenge would lead to a timeout being charged and any subsequent unsuccessful challenges would result in a minor penalty for delay of game. Additionally, “several reviewable plays will require a coaches' challenge for review, including goaltender contact, offsides infractions and high sticking the puck that leads to a goal. Referees continue to have discretion to review most aspects of the scoring of a goal and players where a major penalty is being considered.”
Additional discussion centered on the discontinuation of an automatic game misconduct or disqualification penalty for major infractions such as checking-from-behind and head contact. The committee approved a proposal allowing officials the option of issuing a major (five-minute) penalty without an ejection.
Another point of business was the review of overtime procedures for regular-season contests. The committee decided to maintain the practice of a mandatory five-minute 3-on-3 overtime period with the option for a shootout in situations where the game remains tied after OT (based on the host school's conference policy).
Kaiser, Team USA take silver at U18 Women's Worlds
We send a shout-out to incoming Gopher Women's Hockey freshman Madison Kaiser (photo courtesy of USA Hockey) and the rest of U.S. Women's U18 National Team following their silver-medal performance at the 2022 IIHF Women's U18 World Championship earlier this month in Madison, WI. Kaiser finished with a goal and 4 assists for 5 points, along with a +4 plus-minus rating. Unfortunately, the Americans came up short in the championship game; Canada built a 3-0 second period lead which Team USA trimmed to one, but the Canadians took home the gold with a 3-2 victory.
The Americans were the top seed for the playoff round after winning all three of their preliminary games, 6-1 over Sweden in their opener, 5-0 over Finland, and a surprising 7-0 shutout of the Canadians. With the quarterfinal bye, Team USA defeated Sweden again, 3-2 in come-from-behind fashion in the semis to advance to the title game.
Canada struggled early in the tournament, losing to Finland for the first time ever at the U18 Worlds, 2-0 on day 1. They did defeat Sweden, 3-1 in their second game, but their preliminary-round loss to Team USA sent them to 3rd place in Group A and a quarterfinal contest. That quarterfinal turned into Canada's own 7-0 blowout win as they downed Slovakia, and they avenged their earlier loss to Finland with a 2-1 semifinal victory.
Finland claimed the bronze medal with a 3-0 win over Sweden. That contest, too, was a measure of redemption for the Finns after having lost to the Swedes preliminary round (4-3).
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