2006-07 Hockey Season

Hockey season has officially started and while I'm excited to see the NHL in full swing, it's even more fun watching amateur hockey games when you can be there live. The good news is: we will be!

Michael made the Bluehawks AA Midget team again this year. He's playing second line forward. Expectations are high for the team this year. We've added some new talent this year and the returning players are tougher and more experienced after last season.

Our schedule started September 8th with an early bird tournament in Toledo and should run through mid-March. We're hoping for at least 60 games. After five games in September, Octboer is filling up and we'll have 18 played before Holloween.

For 2006-07, there are new standards of play and an increased emphasis on certain infractions. These new rules apply to youth hockey and professional players. According to USA Hockey, the big changes are:

1. The stick can only be used for playing the puck - it cannot be used to impede a player's progress even if he has the puck, pull on a player's body, or hamper his ability to pass or shoot. Bacically, if the blade is not on the puck, it's in the wrong place.
2. A free arm cannot be used to grab or impede a player's progress; clutching or grabbing a stick, jersey, or body (even along the board) will result in a penalty. Players better control their other arm or there will be lots of holding calls.
3. Impeding the progress of an opponent that does not have the puck is considered interference. In other words, no blocking. I must be confused, I thought this was a full contact sport?
4. Any stick contact to the hands, arms, body, or opponents stick will be considered slashing and strictly penalized.

USA Hockey claims the new rules "will continue to allow the opportunity for imprved skill development and a more positive hockey environment". Duh! I would certainly hope so. They go on to say these rules are designed to provide a "...greater emphasis on skating, puck possession and proper use of body...". Sounds better, I can live with that. Actually, it's quite possible these changes will result in more offensive plays and therefore more goals. What we've seen so far is more penalties, lots of them.

Of course, many are questioning these changes and the players are complaining because change is difficult. It may be even more challenging in hockey because it's such a fast-pace game all the time and player reactions are spontaneous or intuitive. The only way to make the transition is reinforced these changes in practice, lots of practice, over and over again. Afterall, this is how they established the prior ones.

The good news is there seems to be an increased emphasis on more serious infractions. Offenses like contact to the head (big issue last year too), checking from behind, cross checking, late checks and roughing will get little if any latitude from the referees. Fighting is now an automatic two game suspension in youth hockey. All good stuff and these changes were needed providing the officials understand what to focus on. Time will tell.

A higher importance and more focus on these serious penalties was needed and is a step in the right direction. Too many times I have watched games where the refs were hypersensitive about minor penalties (like off sides or a little bumping in the corner). But when a player gets cross checked in the neck or checked from behind into the board, people get seriously injured and these can't be missed.

I feel the league should consider experience standards for referees, especially here in Dayton. When you have officials trying to referee a AA Midget travel team game when they usually officiate Peewee club teams, it isn't fair to the players or the refs. The end result is a 2+ hour hockey game full of minor penalties (half of them questionable) and then they miss the big stuff. Officials at this level need to focus on the big issues, watch for the more serious penalties, and call the ones that can change the outcome of a game for sure. But don't call a game full of minor penalties or call them to establish your authority on the ice. Try to call both sides equally, let some of the little stuff go, and let 'em play.

Go Bluehawks: http://www.daytonbluehawks.com/