Release from 11.09.2018
This summer was an IIHF Rule Change year, so the IIHF has incorporated some new rules starting with the 2018/19 season and the running till the completion of the 2022/23 season. The new rule direction of IIHF has followed the direction that the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga had taken in previous years. Director of Officiating Development Greg Kimmerly gives an overview.
Face-offs:
There will be an overall stricter standard in the conducting of face offs. All players will have to adhere to the markings on the ice and those in violation will be identified. In the EBEL we will no longer be ejecting center men for face-off violations. Rather, a warning shall be issued to the team committing the violation on that particular face-off. A second face-off violation by the same team on that face-off will result in a minor penalty. This procedure is similar to the procedure that the EBEL employed on face-offs after an icing. The warning procedure, followed by a minor penalty for a second violation, will now be carried out at all face-offs. This standard will be held for both teams on each and every face-off. This rule change should result in faster game times and will reward the skilled players that have trained to properly take a face-off. This is NOT an IIHF rule change, but is a change in the EBEL rules.
The EBEL will follow the IIHF in regards to a center man using his feet or hands to win a face-off. If a center man uses his feet (or hand) to win the face-off the linesman will blow the play down and issue a warning on the face-off. The same center man will take the 2nd face-off and any violation by his team, on that face-off, will result in a minor penalty.
Size of the goal Crease:
The EBEL has followed the IIHF in reducing the size of the goal crease. This rule change falls in line with the size of the goal crease used in North America (NHL). It will keep the goaltenders deeper in their nets and may result in more scoring.
Players without the puck getting Body Checked:
This year we will have a tighter standard on players delivering a body check to an opponent that does not have the puck on his stick. This tighter standard will be employed using the interference rule ( 2 minute minor) and the new IIHF rule Late Hit (2+2 penalty). The Late Hit Rule #153 in the IIHF book will be used when a player has shot or passed the puck, remains in a vulnerable position and is violently hit by his opponent. This Late Hit rule has been put in place to protect the safety of players that are unsuspecting of physical contact after they have released the puck. Generally, these penalized hits will fall into a category that is violent in nature. Previously in the EBEL we have already been identifying hits like this with our 2+2 penalties. We do not foresee a large number of these Late Hit penalties, we feel that our standard of checking to the head, charging, boarding & checking from behind will cover the majority of these situations. There will be a slightly tighter standard of players that get body checked prior to actually touching the puck. This is interference and will be assessed as a 2 minute penalty.
Goaltender Freezing the puck:
In an effort to keep the game moving and entertaining we will follow the new IIHF rule #221. The focus will be to make sure that the goaltender keeps the puck in play. Goaltenders that exit their crease and freeze the puck, solely for the purpose of stopping the play will be penalized. The crease is NOT the determining factor and a goaltender may be penalized when he freezes the puck within his goal crease. The purpose of the rule is game flow, the judgement of the Referee will be the determining factor. The Referees have been instructed to utilize this rule whenever a goaltender is not under any direct pressure and he holds or freezes the puck to gain a stoppage.
Tripping:
We will follow the IIHF on the tripping rule. No longer is it acceptable that if the defender touches the puck prior to tripping an opponent, this play will now be penalized. Usually, this would happen when an attacking player is on a breakaway and the defending player slides on the ice. If this sliding (defending) player hits the puck and trips his opponent a minor penalty for tripping will be called. If this sliding (defending) player does not touch the puck and only makes contact that causes the attacking player to trip, a penalty shot will be called. The change here is the touching of the puck prior to the trip. This is a tighter standard and is one that is followed in North American Hockey Leagues (NHL). It will reward speed and skill, not desperation by the defender.
Penalty Shot:
The EBEL will follow the IIHF with Rule #176 (I). Any player on the team may be designated to take a penalty shot. This will allow the coach to choose any player from his team, whether he was on the ice at the stoppage or not, to take a penalty shot. This will reward skilled players and will allow coaches to choose the player that they feel will give them the best opportunity to score on the penalty shot.
Cracked Visor:
The EBEL will fall in line with the IIHF on Rule #128. Any player with a cracked visor must leave the ice surface, similar to a player that looses his helmet. This rule has been put in place for the safety of the players.
Puck out of Play:
The IIHF has made an addition that any player who kicks a puck out of play will automatically be assessed a minor penalty for delay of game. The EBEL will follow this Rule #135.
Distracting the Goaltender:
Under Rule #151 of the IIHF, Interference on the Goaltender, no longer does an attacking player need to be facing the goaltender to be penalized when he is waving his arms to distract. The EBEL employed this rule in previous years under the category of unsportsmanlike. We will now call this as a minor penalty under Interference.