Rules changes for safety

[Mite-dad]

At the Little Falls vs. St. Cloud Tech game last nite they threw a Tech kid out for kneeing, which I agreed with, but then they only gave a LF kid a 2 and 10 for checking a kid in the back. The kid went head first into the boards and could have been seriously hurt. I can't believe they didn't throw that kid out. They need to start doing that w/o question.

[inthestands]

Without proper education for players, coaches and officials starting at the earliest levels, and consistantly flowing through mites to HS, there is very little chance to make significant changes stick.

We can make the consequences worse, we can work on tighter rule enforcement, and many other processes but the longevity or level of importance will be minimal.

As we can see from posts here, there are many different views on how rule enforcement "should" be dealt with. Problem is, many of the opinions are uneducated views from the stands. That doesn't benefit the players or the game at the end of the day.

Educate all people involved from the time they step on the ice, make realistic consequence for the actions trying to be eliminated, and follow through with all of the above.

[gitter]

At the Little Falls vs. St. Cloud Tech game last nite they threw a Tech kid out for kneeing, which I agreed with, but then they only gave a LF kid a 2 and 10 for checking a kid in the back. The kid went head first into the boards and could have been seriously hurt. I can't believe they didn't throw that kid out. They need to start doing that w/o question.

Unfortunately until the MSHSL changes the checking from behind penalty from 2 and 10 to something else, there is little a referee can do, unless he deems the hit to be with malicious intent. He obviously saw something that made him feel the kneeing incident was "malicious" versus "careless", which I'm sure is what made him decide to give the kid a game ejection.

Again, to me every check from behind or any contract to the head should be changed to automatic 5 minute majors and game DQ. Kids are becoming way too careless in their checking, whether it be hands and elbows to the head or hitting from behind.

[MNHockeyFan]

Again, to me every check from behind or any contract to the head should be changed to automatic 5 minute majors and game DQ.

That's what I've been saying as well - then it becomes a matter of ENFORCEMENT. Refs would be strongly encouraged to error on the side of CAUTION.

Other things that COULD be done:

1. More severe penalties for second and third infractions (like we already see with alcohol and drug violations).

2. Impose sanctions on coaches if their teams are cited for "x" number of majors of this type.

3. If coaches complain about referees calling these penalties such complaints will ALWAYS fall on deaf ears, so there's no sense complaining about them!

[HShockeywatcher]

"On the site, www.jackspledge.com, players are asked to sign documents promising: "I play the body to play the puck. I do not hit to hurt. I do not board. I do not cross-check. I do not check from behind. Ever."

I think this is a great quote; it expresses the reason why you should be checking in this sport.

There are two sides to this discussion [imo] and only one of them is really being talked about, which is the safety issue. We all want our kids to be safe, but in any sport, from XC to football and swimming to hockey, injuries will always happen. Even with the best precautions. There will probably be more serious injuries in hockey than XC or swimming til the end of time, it's just the nature of the game.

The other side is that, potential for serious injury or not, the actions are against the rules. Period.
If a player is skating up the ice, bends over, picks up the puck, skates to the net and throws the puck in the goal, will it be allowed? No.
Is it because the player is a jerk or malicious or anything of the sort? No.

I have heard all sorts of different excuses from actual hockey players about why they should be able to check more and they are comical when you think of it from a rules perspective. Why is it that rules that involve being tough and hurting others we as a sport community let slide, but we hold to the others. It happens in every sport and it happens for the sake of "being tough."

[Haute hockeymom]

To those who fear the game will become too skillful and safe if we enforce the boarding rule, I say, have it your way at higher levels. Injure your superstars. Play by unwritten codes, not the rulebook. But don’t endanger children by imposing your code on them.
Jack Blatherwick

[Haute hockeymom]

CONCERNED INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING THE JACK JABLONSKI FAMILY, SPEAK OUT AND LAUNCH CAMPAIGN TO MAKE IMMEDIATE CHANGES FOR SAFER HOCKEY

(www.hcmc.org)

In light of the recent tragic incident involving Benilde St. Margaret Sophomore, Jack "Jabby" Jablonski, who sustained a severe spinal cord injury from a check from behind that sent him headfirst into the boards, Jack's family members and hockey leaders are speaking out for immediate changes to hockey to make it safer for our nation's youth.

WHAT: A press conference covering pointed statements and a call-to-action for USA Hockey to strictly enforce the rules as outlined in the USA Hockey Official Rules & Casebook, particularly on body checking and the boarding penalty.

WHO:
Max, Leslie & Mike Jablonski

Ken Pauly, head coach of Benilde St. Margaret Boy's Hockey

Lou Nanne

WHY:

We must create a safe environment for all hockey players, especially our children.

•We are witnessing an increase in dangerous contact in hockey -- a 100 percent increase over the past decade in visits to the hospital due to violence in the sport.

•If the USA Hockey Rules were enforced more assertively, checking directly into the boards without intention of playing the puck would be called as boarding penalties. They typically are not.

•What does the USA Hockey rulebook say about boarding? A minor or major penalty shall be assessed to any player who commits any action that causes an opponent to be thrown violently into the boards...The purpose of a body check is to separate the opponent from the puck. Any time a player delivers a check for the purpose of intimidating or punishing the opponent, and therefore causes the opponent to be driven excessively into the boards, a boarding penalty must be assessed.

•Already, the Minnesota State High School Hockey League is addressing this issue.

•USA Hockey leaders are at a national meeting in Florida this weekend. A loud call-to-action is necessary to ensure that we place pressure on this governing organization to immediately address this urgent issue. We want referees calling boarding penalties and fans to support the referees that do so.

•A campaign is being launched to drive change involving governing bodies, parents/fans, players, coaches and referees.

•We must create a safer hockey environment so that no other player EVER sustains an injury like Jack Jablonski. We can't let this happen again. We must drive immediate change.


WHERE:

Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis

730 S. 8th Street Entrance, Room # RL110


WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 12, 1:30 p.m.


ADDITIONAL DETAILS: Q&A to follow remarks.

[gitter]

•We must create a safer hockey environment so that no other player EVER sustains an injury like Jack Jablonski. We can't let this happen again. We must drive immediate change.

Here is the problem I have with this. There are no absolutes in life, and hockey is no exception. Checking in any form is illegal in girls hockey, yet one needs to look no further than what just happened to the poor girl not a week after Jack's tragedy.

The best we can do is make stiffer penalties on illegal hits, ensure we are enforcing those rules, teach and instill the proper techniques for body checking, and continually monitor our performance/results to ensure these goals are met.

[inthestands]

•We must create a safer hockey environment so that no other player EVER sustains an injury like Jack Jablonski. We can't let this happen again. We must drive immediate change.

Here is the problem I have with this. There are no absolutes in life, and hockey is no exception. Checking in any form is illegal in girls hockey, yet one needs to look no further than what just happened to the poor girl not a week after Jack's tragedy.

The best we can do is make stiffer penalties on illegal hits, ensure we are enforcing those rules, and continually monitor our performance/results to ensure these goals are met.

Can anyone explain exactly what did happen in that girls game? From the short video I watched, it's unclear what took place?

[Bluewhitefan]

•We must create a safer hockey environment so that no other player EVER sustains an injury like Jack Jablonski. We can't let this happen again. We must drive immediate change.

Here is the problem I have with this. There are no absolutes in life, and hockey is no exception. Checking in any form is illegal in girls hockey, yet one needs to look no further than what just happened to the poor girl not a week after Jack's tragedy.

The best we can do is make stiffer penalties on illegal hits, ensure we are enforcing those rules, teach and instill the proper techniques for body checking, and continually monitor our performance/results to ensure these goals are met.

You say you have a "problem" but you seem to be in agreement with the post. Enforcing the rules, making them more strict, playing by them, etc. will all go toward creating a safer environment.

[seek & destroy]

•We must create a safer hockey environment so that no other player EVER sustains an injury like Jack Jablonski. We can't let this happen again. We must drive immediate change.

Here is the problem I have with this. There are no absolutes in life, and hockey is no exception. Checking in any form is illegal in girls hockey, yet one needs to look no further than what just happened to the poor girl not a week after Jack's tragedy.

The best we can do is make stiffer penalties on illegal hits, ensure we are enforcing those rules, teach and instill the proper techniques for body checking, and continually monitor our performance/results to ensure these goals are met.

You say you have a "problem" but you seem to be in agreement with the post. Enforcing the rules, making them more strict, playing by them, etc. will all go toward creating a safer environment.

I think what he is saying is that he has issues with the wording sounding like it was an "absolute". The terminology being used said "no other player EVER sustains an injury" when what they mean is that we need to do everything we can to create a safer environment. Injuries will still occur and some of them may be serious but at least we will have done what we can to reduce the chances.

[Bonehead]

Am I wrong to suspect that increasing the punishment will only make refs MORE uncomfortable with calling them? They already routinely downgrade checking from behind. If the refs would go strictly by the book with the existing penalties I think the kids AND COACHES would quickly learn how and when to properly check.

[whos_it]

Every game (almost) at the highschool level is filmed these days. A solution to refs "not calling" those violations would be to review the film and get rid of the official. On the down side, it would likely only be weeks before high school hockey would have to be discontinued because there would be to few officials to hold the games.

[gitter]

•We must create a safer hockey environment so that no other player EVER sustains an injury like Jack Jablonski. We can't let this happen again. We must drive immediate change.

Here is the problem I have with this. There are no absolutes in life, and hockey is no exception. Checking in any form is illegal in girls hockey, yet one needs to look no further than what just happened to the poor girl not a week after Jack's tragedy.

The best we can do is make stiffer penalties on illegal hits, ensure we are enforcing those rules, teach and instill the proper techniques for body checking, and continually monitor our performance/results to ensure these goals are met.

You say you have a "problem" but you seem to be in agreement with the post. Enforcing the rules, making them more strict, playing by them, etc. will all go toward creating a safer environment.

I have a problem with absolutes - which the original poster explicitly called out.

It creates a safer environment - it does not create a fail-safe environment and will not prevent this from "Ever Happening" again. The only true thing that would prevent this from happening again (100%) is to stop playing hockey period.

[Bandy]

It creates a safer environment - it does not create a fail-safe environment and will not prevent this from "Ever Happening" again. The only true thing that would prevent this from happening again (100%) is to stop playing hockey period.

Right on. We all accept risk--or at least live with it--every day. Most worthwhile activities carry risk. Hockey should be no different.

What greatly increases risk is illegal contact, in all its forms.

Male drivers with blood alcohol content above 0.15% (about 2x the legal limit) are more than 700 times likelier to die in a car crash than sober male drivers. Our society has judged that to be an unacceptable risk.

Illegal contact is the drunk driver of hockey.

Call the game strictly as the rules are written, and the game gets a lot a lot less risky.

Accidents happen, but they happen a heck of a lot more often when you have human projectiles trying to drive an opponent through the boards.

Even seemingly innocent rule infractions--a little hook or slash to the legs to slow down someone who has position on you (cheating) can unintentionally cause that person to lose an edge at the worst possible time & place, and send them crashing into the goal or boards. If it's a hook, call it. If it's a slash, call it. Swallow the whistle, and you're encouraging illegal behavior that sooner or later results in major injuries.

[Django]

So 'the puck' says 'The game shouldn't be tampered and that's my opinion. '
I know you are on here a lot and that you seem to garner respect, but I have to say that is the dumbest comment I've heard all year.
Games evolve, all games. As players evolve the games need to also. Everything evolves. Life evolves, else we would all be apes. Thats life at its core. I truly hope you aren't in any position of influence.
Hockey needs to evolve so my son doesn't become a Boogaard or Jablonski.
Geez, hockey is a game, like basketball or badminton or volleyball, it's not some sacred practice that must be preserved.

[philip18]

Years ago in some Canadian cities they made a stong law that pedestrians in the crosswalk had the right of way. Therefore peds started believing that they had the "right" to step into the walk whenever they wanted no matter the situation. Putting themselves in a dangerous situation.

The result was that over time more and more people were injured and killed while crossing the street. They are "dead right!"

We have trained our young players that hitting from behind is strongly against the rules and will feel very comfortable at putting themsevles in bad situations and hoping that they will not be injured. They should be assuming that they will hit from behind every time! This does not excuse the hit and it should be penalized.

The law of unintended consequences is tough.

[RoseauFan]

Somehow the coaches need to be held more accountable. The example from last nights Roseau/Warroad game. Warroad captain takes a run at Strand after the whistle and blasts him from behind with a cross check. Ref calls a cross check (by rules should have been check from behind but they were letting them get away with it all night). While the scrum was going on, the offending player from Warroad skates over to his bench and tries to hide. When getting to the bench his Head Coach pats him on the back and says good job.

Now this is a problem.

[inthestands]

This thread is a prime example of why message board banter is never taken seriously.

[PuckU126]

So 'the puck' says 'The game shouldn't be tampered and that's my opinion. '
I know you are on here a lot and that you seem to garner respect, but I have to say that is the dumbest comment I've heard all year.
Games evolve, all games. As players evolve the games need to also. Everything evolves. Life evolves, else we would all be apes. Thats life at its core. I truly hope you aren't in any position of influence.
Hockey needs to evolve so my son doesn't become a Boogaard or Jablonski.
Geez, hockey is a game, like basketball or badminton or volleyball, it's not some sacred practice that must be preserved.

Let me be clear and state that there is a difference between changing the game (ex. adding rules, removing checking) and having more stricter calls, more consequences being enforced and people taking responsibility.

All players, the young and the seasoned, need to learn the proper way to throw a check and take a check. This training needs to be encouraged and taught by two figures, the players' coaches and their parents. Refs also have a responsibility; they need to make the call when its necessary.

On the refs side of things, throwing more penalties and handing out suspensions will only mitigate violent checks to some degree. The same goes to the coaches and parents training their children; it will only mitigate. Hockey is a collision sport and incidents are going to happen regardless of what changes and evolutions the game goes through.

I can tell you care about your children's well being, Django, and I think that's great. You don't have to worry about your child becoming a Derek Boogaard (which I doubt he will). Unless he is an enforcer who fights his way on to the team which results in frequent concussions and if he is a drug addict. [Boogaard died of a drug overdose and had Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) by the way] Reference: Click Here

And God forbid your child is involved in an incident like Jack Jablonski. That's traumatic to the team, family and the community. But like what most people have already stated on this topic, you can change/evolve the game (and life) as much as you want; however, there are always going to be accidents as bad as Jack's.

So again, before changes are implemented, coaches and parents should assess themselves and their training approaches for their players/children well being.

In addition, Django, if you don't want your child to ever be injured in the game of hockey or in life; you're in for a rough ride, sir or madam.