Hockey Rules - A New Twist

Vol. I, No. 24

The NHL has gone and done it now. The sport will be a game of sissies afraid to hit. No, I take it back. 

Tuesday, the League approved a head-shot rule proposed at last month's General Managers meeting.  Thursday, the players association accepted the rule change. And the same day, Thursday morning, every NHL team had to watch a DVD showing the difference between legal and illegal hits.  An abbreviated video is now on the NHL website.

Check it out at:

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=618&id=63737

So what will Matt Cooke, the Pittsburgh Penguin wrecking ball, do now?

Suspended for two games in January 2009 for a devastating hit on Scott Walker of the Carolina Hurricanes. Suspended for two games in November 2009 for running New York Ranger Artem Anisimov. And then, NOT suspended this month for his felony-on-ice against Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins.  I guess one thing Matt can count on is a suspension every time he levels someone else.  And, when you get to three in one season, it's 8 games out and forfeit 10% of your salary. Cooke might have to give some back. Unless he can restrain himself.

To most people, head shots and intent to injure are obviously wrong. Some in the world of hockey have said that the new rule will disembowel the essential nature of the game.  Hits are part of hockey. How can a player make a decision while violence surrounds him, at breakneck speed? It's a tough call.

The good news is that the players are speaking out in support. Nobody wants their career to end prematurely.  Nobody wants a concussion.   So, many are now coming out of the woodwork declaring their support. It's about time.  

NHL's new rule, changes the game. Time will tell how it affects the play. Of course, we still have boxing on ice, almost every game.  But what's a shiner, in comparison to a concussed brain?

Hockey Rules - just a little different after this week's events.

PS Hot news. Marc Savard, Cooke's victim, will speak to the media at noon on Sunday. His recovery is reported to be going slowly.