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NFHS MAKES RISK-MINIMIZATION RELATED EQUIPMENT RULE CHANGES FOR 2018-19 SEASON

HDA News , Rules • May 18, 2018

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (May 16, 2018) – The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Ice Hockey Rules Committee approved three rule changes related to risk minimization and equipment for the 2018-19 season.

Two changes in Rule 3 were approved to decrease the risk of injury. In Rule 3-3-1, goalkeepers are now required to wear pants or socks under leg pads to cover exposed skin on the legs. Also, a HECC/ASTM protective full facemask is required. The full facemask has been required in the past but the HECC/ASTM language was added for clarification.

“Goalkeepers have been observed wearing goalie pads without any covering on the back of their legs,” said Dan Schuster, NFHS director of educational services and liaison to the Ice Hockey Rules Committee. “This creates a dangerous situation with skate blades, sticks and pucks that could cause injury to these exposed areas.”

Another risk-minimization change relates to the composition of the stick in Rule 3-1-1. Sticks must be free of any projections and all edges of the stick blade must be beveled. The committee’s intent was to prohibit any stick which could be dangerous to participants.

Seventeen states and Washington D.C. have high school boys teams participating under NFHS rules – Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Fourteen states have high school girls teams participating under NFHS rules – Alaska, California, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.