Rules changes

Rule Changes in 2002-03
In an effort to improve the flow of National Hockey League games in the 2002-03 season, the league has implemented the highly popular hurry-up faceoff rule. The rule was very popular among fans and players during the 2002 Winter Olympics. Regular season games average just more than 15 whistles per period with the resulting faceoff taking in excess of 40 seconds in the past.
Beginning in the preseason, new rules will push for all linesmen to drop the puck within 15 seconds of a whistle. That could shave more than 18 minutes off each game. It shaved 14 minutes from each contest in the AHL last season.
A key component in the change is that the teams will not lose momentum, nor will the game's flow be stopped unnecessarily. An added bonus is that virtually all 7:30 p.m. starts will be completed prior to 10:00 p.m.
At some point during both the regular and preseason, a player or team will test a linesman and a faceoff will proceed with only one centerman in the circle. Exceptions to the new faceoff procedures will be during the final two minutes of the regulation and overtime. Even the most stringent supporters of the new rules wouldn't want a game decided because a team wasn't in the circle on time.
Players will receive a warning whistle five seconds prior to the puck drop. Line changes by both teams must occur within the new time constraints, with the visiting club having five seconds to change and the home team having eight seconds after that. Referees will be instructed to not allow any further substitutions after the allotted time. Any such change will result in a warning and then a bench minor.
While player substitutions between whistles will occur at a quicker pace, changes on the fly will also be subjected to new rules. When a goaltender leaves the ice for an extra attacker, the player taking his place cannot enter the playing surface until the goaltender is within five feet of the bench. If the rule is broken, a whistle will blow for an immediate faceoff if the team with the extra attacker has the puck. If the opposition has the puck, the whistle will not blow until they lose possession. No penalty will be assessed.
In addition, with the exception of the above noted extra attacker situation, officials will no longer have the option of calling a premature substitution. The ruling is being removed from the books and anytime a player has been deemed to enter the ice before the player he is changing with is within five feet of the bench and out of the play, it will be a minor penalty.


Back to Main