The NHL took a page out of the NCAA rulebook by taking out the red line for two-line passes. The NCAA returned the favor, copying the NHL by abolishing the strict crease violation rule and not allowing inadvertent goals that deflect off skates.
The new college rules will be in effect tonight at the Colorado Springs World Arena, where Air Force and Colorado College open the season against Maine and Union (N.Y.) College, respectively. The CC-hosted IceBreaker Invitational concludes Saturday with the Falcons playing Union and the No. 6 Tigers facing No. 11 Maine.
“We’ll get tested pretty good,” said CC coach Scott Owens, who returns the top eight scorers from last season’s Frozen Four team. “But we’ve got a veteran team here.”
For Maine, the abolishment of the crease rule comes two seasons too late. The Black Bears were denied the first goal in the 2004 NCAA title game against Denver because of the rule and lost, 1-0. The disallowed goal was the result of a Maine player having a skate slightly in the crease, despite being on the opposite side of the play and causing no interference with the goalie.
This season, a crease violation will only be called if an offensive player makes contact or “hinders the goaltender in any way,” Western Collegiate Hockey Association supervisor of officials Greg Shepherd said.
Shepherd said pucks caroming into the net off skates would be allowed “as long as there is no kicking motion, and as long as that skate is on the ice.
New NCAA rules also include:
Referees cannot call boarding or charging penalties when a player is hit from behind. A hit from behind against the boards will warrant only one penalty – a 5-minute checking-from-behind major and game ejection. The official may gauge the severity of the penalty by calling a game misconduct (no suspension) or game disqualification (one-game suspension).
Goalies skating outside the crease cannot freeze the puck without the act of making a save. Shepherd said referees have been instructed to tell goalies to play the puck before whistling them for a delay-of-game minor.
IceBreaker Invitational
What: Nonleague tournament
When: Tonight and Saturday
Where: Colorado Springs World Arena
Tonight: Air Force vs. No. 11 Maine, 5 p.m.; Union (N.Y.) College vs. No. 6 Colorado College, 8 p.m.
Saturday: Union College vs. Air Force, 5 p.m.; Maine vs. Colorado College, 8 p.m.
University of Denver
Opponent: Lakehead of Thunder Bay, Ontario
What: Exhibition
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Magness Arena
Note: Lakehead plays at Colorado College on Sunday and Air Force on Monday in exhibition games.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5453 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
