NCAA announces rule changes to hand passes, net dislodging, more

By Michael Caples –

The NCAA announced on their official website today that the governing body of all college hockey will not allow hand passes anywhere on the ice, among other rule changes.

The Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved proposals “aimed at increasing offensive opportunities.”

According to the release, all hand passes, even in the team’s defensive zone, will result in a whistle, and a face-off in the same zone. The team that commits the infraction will also not be able to complete a line change.

The panel also adjusted the rules on net displacement, which is quoted below.

Among the changes is to allow some displacement of the goal posts as long as the posts remain in contact with the pegs or pins. For a goal to be awarded in these situations, the posts must have been displaced by the actions of a defending player. The referee must determine that the puck would have entered the net between the normal positions of the goal posts.

Additionally, goals that ricochet into the net off an attacking player’s skates will be allowed, unless the referee determines that the puck was intentionally kicked.

Also, the NCAA said that they have approved an overtime procedure that conferences or competing teams can adopt that will allow for four-on-four overtime play. Five-on-five is the default procedure if a conference or two competing teams don’t agree on the four-on-four.

The NCAA will make a two-referee, two-linesman system mandatory for the 2013-14 season. Goal judges will not be required, only recommended.