A mixed bag to my thinking:
Good/probably good:
NHL Offsides rule. If your skate is over the blue line (in contact or not) you're onside.
No player on the ice before the pregame process (likely not a real issue) and no players on the ice after intermission, except those actually playing (this was I thought technically the rule for a long time, just never enforced... either enforce it or get rid of it)
Intermissions either 12 or 15 minutes, no option for 18. (18 minutes is ridiculous. 12 at times seems a little short, but I'm mostly OK with it)
Covering the puck in the crease becoming reviewable by coaches challenge. How this wasn't reviewable before, I can't understand, but it definitely explains a lot of situations where I've seen it happen in play, but no challenge/review.
Maybe good/maybe bad:
Challenges - Essentially, you keep a challenge if it's upheld as I read it (you still lose the timeout). If you lose it, you can still challenge, but get a 2 minute minor if it's not upheld. Goalie contact/offside/played with a high stick will require a coaches challenge.
Option for a 5 Minute Major with no ejection on CFB/Contact to Head - Whether this is actually good will depend on what the guidance turns out to be
Supplementary Discipline only for egregious actions - Again, depends on the guidance, I saw several times the last several years (including in games where the Gophers weren't even involved) where I honestly thought someone deserved additional suspension, but it very rarely happens.
Review on offside, if the defending team gains possession, this doesn't negate a review. Really not sure on this one. If you "gain possession" and try to clear, but it gets intercepted, sure, that shouldn't negate the offsides really, but, if you gain possession, have the puck for several seconds and a couple passes, at that point, that should be the end of it.
Playing the puck with a High Stick in the defensive end is treated like a hand pass, no line change. Not sure how I feel about this one, leaning toward "meh"
Bad:
(This is not a change, but discussed in the article) All regular season games are mandatory 5 Minute 3x3, and allowing shootouts in regular season games per conference choice. I hate both of these options. Only shootouts should be in-season tournaments in 1st round or 3rd place games, and 3x3 is ridiculous. Yes, it can be fun to watch for entertainment value, but neither should actually count for anything. If you to to 3x3 or Shootout, it should be in the books as a tie, and you only use the Stupid Human Tricks to figure out who advances in a tournament where both teams are playing the next day anyway.
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
Yeah the stupid lengths hockey goes to to avoid ties is ridiculous. 3x3 is entertaining in that it is just video game hockey but it should never decide anything and shootouts should only count for seeding type situations. Ties are fine.
No player on the ice before the pregame process (likely not a real issue)
Actually this happens a lot... For those of us that get there before the crowd is let it, you will regularly see players out there in shorts and a stick. Sometimes just warming up a bit. It is also common for a few Gophers to be out in their shoes throwing a football around. So this does happen often.
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No player on the ice before the pregame process (likely not a real issue)
Actually this happens a lot… For those of us that get there before the crowd is let it, you will regularly see players out there in shorts and a stick. Sometimes just warming up a bit. It is also common for a few Gophers to be out in their shoes throwing a football around. So this does happen often.
And what is the problem with this?
No player on the ice before the pregame process (likely not a real issue)
Actually this happens a lot… For those of us that get there before the crowd is let it, you will regularly see players out there in shorts and a stick. Sometimes just warming up a bit. It is also common for a few Gophers to be out in their shoes throwing a football around. So this does happen often.
And what is the problem with this?
Wild guess is they are afraid both teams may be out on the ice without any officials and both teams could go Fighting Whioux on each other. Another slightly less likely guess is that some teams may use that time as "extra" practice, but I'm not sure how in season practices work or if there is a limit.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
No player on the ice before the pregame process (likely not a real issue)
Actually this happens a lot… For those of us that get there before the crowd is let it, you will regularly see players out there in shorts and a stick. Sometimes just warming up a bit. It is also common for a few Gophers to be out in their shoes throwing a football around. So this does happen often.
Here in Mankato it happens every game that a few players from both teams come out with only shorts and a stick, it's just a part of their pregame routine. Daniel Brickley a few years ago had a pretty specific routine that he stuck to every game.
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In the old days the Gophers and Michigan got into a big skirmish during pregame warmups. I think it started when Don Micheletti went down to the Michigan end to retrieve some pucks. Not sure of all the particulars as it all happened before I arrived. This was at the old Mariucci. I believe this started mandatory officials on ice for warmups.
In the old days the Gophers and Michigan got into a big skirmish during pregame warmups. I think it started when Don Micheletti went down to the Michigan end to retrieve some pucks. Not sure of all the particulars as it all happened before I arrived. This was at the old Mariucci. I believe this started mandatory officials on ice for warmups.
Pat Micheletti tells a great story about this incident.
Apparently his dad hated coming to the Twin Cities but would trek down for games then immediately head back to Hibbing after the game. So his brother Don gets in a brawl before the game and gets a game misconduct (at least) for his role. Pat and his parents show up just before game time and hear the announcement of the penalties and Don won't be playing. Pat's dad stands up and says "Let's go" and they drive back to Hibbing.
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No player on the ice before the pregame process (likely not a real issue)
Actually this happens a lot… For those of us that get there before the crowd is let it, you will regularly see players out there in shorts and a stick. Sometimes just warming up a bit. It is also common for a few Gophers to be out in their shoes throwing a football around. So this does happen often.
And what is the problem with this?
Wild guess is they are afraid both teams may be out on the ice without any officials and both teams could go Fighting Whioux on each other. Another slightly less likely guess is that some teams may use that time as “extra” practice, but I’m not sure how in season practices work or if there is a limit.
Shocker, Schlossman says it's because of a Whioux player.
- <b>Pregame/intermission protocols:</b> Players can no longer be on the ice before pregame warmups, which start about 40 minutes before the game. This is a rule the NCHC instituted after former UND and Colorado College forward Westin Michaud attempted to carry a net to the dressing room in 2019 to prevent opponents from shooting on it . After intermissions, players who are not starting the period on the ice are asked to file directly into the bench instead of skating a lap or two.
Are we talking about just the physical ice or also the immediate vicinity (ex. the benches)? I've seen players loitering around the rink at Mariucci all the time, but I don't recall seeing them actually on it before warmups. I don't see anything wrong with that, especially since they stay separated, so are they just trying to prevent players from pulling a Michaud or are they tackling another problem I don't see?
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Some players like to come out on the ice early before warmups. Mostly in a t-shirt, shorts, socks or no socks and flip flops. They might do some stick handling drills or even tape their stick. It happens at all levels.
Keep your stick on the ice...
No player on the ice before the pregame process (likely not a real issue)
Actually this happens a lot… For those of us that get there before the crowd is let it, you will regularly see players out there in shorts and a stick. Sometimes just warming up a bit. It is also common for a few Gophers to be out in their shoes throwing a football around. So this does happen often.
Mark Hartigan for SCCC used to do this all the time. He would flip pucks around and suck and I think he wore sandals on the ice.
Harty was robbed!
I'm venturing into old man yelling territory... but I don't see any legit reason for players to do the stuff they've done on the ice before games. Like none of the examples I've heard sound actually helpful. Find a different space in the arena to get ready for the game. Ice is slippery and there's more bad that can happen than good. If I was a coach, then I'd probably yell at the players about it.
Probably silly that there's a rule... but that's where we are today. Okay... I'll step off the soap box.
And to play devils advocate - I see no reason kids can’t go on their own ice and dink around before games.
But to your point it’s most likely a CYA move as inevitably something would eventually happen - and nobody can skin a knee without a lawsuit these days.