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::SPORTS NEWS::
LE Newsletter -
March 11, 2010
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NHL to Crack Down on Head Shots
Source: www.thestar.com -
Peter Howell
(March 10, 2010) BOCA RATON, Fla.—It won't happen until next
season, which is too bad.
The new rule on
head shots
approved today by the NHL's general managers won't kick in until
the 2010-11 season, which means there could be another incident
like Sunday's Matt Cooke-Marc Savard ugliness during this
regular season or the playoffs with the league helpless to do
much about it.
"It's impossible to say to the referees, this is a call you now
have to make tonight," said NHL vice-president Colin Campbell
today.
First, the players and referees have to be educated and trained
on the new head shot rule. The rule must also be approved by the
NHL's competition committee and the board of governors, both of
which will happen in June.
That said, if there's an incident tonight or next week that
mirrors the Mike Richards hit on David Booth last fall, the hit
that finally changed the thinking of most GMs, there's going to
be an outcry.
"People are going to be asking why didn't we do anything,"
agreed Leafs GM Brian Burke.
As reported in
The Star
today, the new rule will have three components:
a hit primarily to the head from the side or the back will be
illegal. One from the front which sees the shoulder contact the
head is still okay.
a minor or major penalty will be assessed. It's also possible a
game misconduct could be tacked on.
serious offences will likely include supplementary discipline,
with an emphasis on repeat offenders.
"We're taking what is now a completely legal hit in our rulebook
and saying that in the future it’s illegal if it is to the
head," said Campbell.
The vote by the GMs was unanimous. Campbell, meanwhile, said he
still hasn't decided whether to take action on the Cooke
incident. Speculation is that there will be a hearing and Cooke
— already suspended twice previously this season — will be
reprimanded, but there will be no suspension
The league also approved a measure to fund the implementation of
the four-man officiating system in the American Hockey League
next season. The NHL will provide about $600,000 to the AHL,
which will use the four-man system in about 40 per cent of the
regular season next year and the playoffs. |
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::LANGFIELD
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