Category: Announcements

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26 Days

Friendly reminder that you need to have the 18/19 Crest on your sweater in 26 days. Complete your requirements now! Avoid having to turn back games, don’t wait!

3 Rules You Thought You Knew – Issue 7

Injured Players

In a Youth or Girls’ game a player is hit by the puck in the neck area and falls to the ice. When should the play be stopped?

Play should always be stopped the instant any of the On-Ice Officials believes the injury to be serious or when the injured player’s team gains possession of the puck in a non-scoring position. Rule Reference 206(a).

Although the Referee will generally stop play for an injured player, any on-ice official should stop play immediately at the younger age levels anytime they deem the injury may be serious. If unsure as to the seriousness of the injury, officials should always err on the side of caution.
If the injury is not deemed to be serious, play should continue until that player’s team gains possession and control of the puck in a non-scoring situation.

Tripping

The goalkeeper skates out of his goal crease to meet an attacking player on a breakaway and deliberately trips the player as he tries to go around the goalkeeper. What penalty should be assessed?

A minor penalty. Rule Reference 639(Note & a).
This situation does not call for a penalty shot because the player has not been fouled from behind.

What is the minimum penalty for Slew Footing?

A minor Penalty, Rule Reference 639 Note 4

Note 4) Slew Footing is the act of a player using his leg or foot to knock or kick an opponent’s feet from under him. This is done by pushing an opponent’s upper body backward with an arm or elbow and at the same time using a forward motion of his leg causing the opponent to fall to the ice.

(a) A minor or major penalty shall be assessed under this rule for any of the actions described above.
(Note) However, no penalty shall be assessed under this rule if, in the opinion of the Referee, the player was clearly hook-checking or poke-checking the puck for the purpose of gaining possession.
(b) A major penalty plus a game misconduct penalty shall be assessed to any player who injures an opponent as a result of tripping, clipping, leg checking or slew footing.

NOTE Case Book 639 Situation 4 – Injury Potential – in most instances a Slew Foot should be called as at least a Major Penalty because it is an injury potential penalty.

Your turn

Have a question that you’d like to see answered here? Knowledge that you’d like to share? Just hit reply, we’d love to hear from you.

#WeHaveYourBack

Have you as an official been placed in a situation that you feel was not resolved to your satisfaction? We can help you. We are here to support you. Abuse by a player or coach is never acceptable, we have your back. Click reply, and we’ll do what we can to help.

If you would like to promote your business to other officials,
email with the details.

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** REMINDER **
Your last chance for seminars is this week in Canton. Don’t miss your chance! Wednesday October 10, Level 3 and Saturday October 13th Level 1 and Level 2. Preregistration is required, visit https://usahockey.com/officialseminars to get started.

Penalties

During a delayed penalty signal to Team A, Team B scores a goal. The signaled penalty is recorded but not served. Is the signaled infraction included in the cumulative penalty rules for players and teams?

Yes. Rule References 401(b) and 409(b).

Each penalty that is recorded on the scoresheet, whether or not it is actually served, counts towards the cumulative penalty rules.

Penalty Shot

The Referee has signaled a delayed minor penalty for charging on Team A. Team B maintains possession of the puck and a Team B player is fouled from behind on a breakaway resulting in a penalty shot call. Is the minor penalty assessed in the normal manner and if so, what happens if a goal is scored on the penalty shot?

The charging penalty is assessed in the normal manner regardless as to whether a goal is scored during the penalty shot. Rule References 406(a), 402(c) and 409(b).

Only one delayed minor penalty can be terminated as the result of a goal. In this instance, the penalty shot is awarded in lieu of the minor penalty for a “fouled from behind,” which takes the place of the minor penalty being assessed. A goal scored on a penalty shot does not terminate a different minor penalty.

Goalkeeper Penalties

If a goalkeeper receives a major and a game misconduct penalty for slashing, does the player designated to serve the major penalty have to enter the penalty bench immediately?

Yes. Rule Reference 407(b).

A player designated to serve the major penalty of a goalkeeper must be placed on the penalty bench immediately, unless the coincident major penalty rule applies.

Your turn

Have a question that you’d like to see answered here? Knowledge that you’d like to share? Just hit reply, we’d love to hear from you.

#WeHaveYourBack

Have you as an official been placed in a situation that you feel was not resolved to your satisfaction? We can help you. We are here to support you. Abuse by a player or coach is never acceptable, we have your back. Click reply, and we’ll do what we can to help.

By Posted on Posted in Announcements

3 Rules you thought you knew – Issue 2
Thanks for taking the time to read this email, we certainly hope that it’s helpful. If one official gets better, we all get better.

Jewelry

Must a player remove earrings or tape them to their body?

A HECC certified helmet (with ear pieces) or clear tape that secures the earring to the body will satisfy the rule requirements. Rule Reference 305(c).

Misconduct

A player directs offensive comments or actions towards an opponent, which the Referee does not hear. The non-offending team brings it to the Referee’s attention. May the Referee assess the prescribed game misconduct penalty based on the reported incident?

No. While these situations threaten the integrity of the game, the actual incident must be heard and/or seen by an On-Ice Official in order to assess the game misconduct penalty.

Rule Reference 601(e.3). The Referee should report the incident to the Coach or Captain of the team allegedly using the offensive comments or actions, and advise the team of the required penalty if such comments or actions are subsequently heard (or seen).

Slashing

For a slashing penalty to be assessed, must stick contact be made with the opposing player?

No. Rule Reference 634(a).

If the object of a slashing motion is to intimidate an opponent or to actually try to strike him, stick contact is not necessary in order for a penalty to be assessed.

Your turn

Have a question that you’d like to see answered here? Knowledge that you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you.

#WeHaveYourBack

Have you as an official been placed in a situation that you feel was not resolved to your satisfaction? We can help you. We are here to support you. Abuse by a player or coach is never acceptable, we have your back. Send us an email at Seminars@mahockey.org, and we’ll do what we can to help.

By Posted on Posted in Announcements
A Step Forward

In an effort to strengthen general rule knowledge by officials here in MA, we will be sending an email with a few rules questions/references for your review.

We appreciate you taking the time to read, hopefully you’ll get some clarity on some things that you already knew.

 

Progressive Suspensions – Coaches – 411(b)

Any team that receives three (or more) major penalties in the same game shall have its Head Coach suspended for the next game of that team.

When you do your game report be sure that you add an additional item in the game report for the coach and select 3 or more major penalties in the game.

 

Crosschecking

A player checks an opponent with two hands on the stick and the blade of the stick on the ice. May this be considered crosschecking?

No. Rule Reference 609(Note).

A cross-check is a check delivered with the stick while the player has two hands on the stick and the blade off the ice

Positioning

With play in the neutral zone, the officials in a two-official system should be:

  1. On their blue line straddling the line.
  2. At opposite blue lines, diagonal from one another, with both skates in the neutral zone.
  3. At opposite blue lines, diagonal from one another, with both skates in the attacking zone.

The officials should be on the opposite blue lines, diagonal from one another, with both skates in the attacking zone.

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Gordon “Red” Berenson, Natalie Darwitz, Leland “Hago” Harrington, David Poile and Paul Stewart will be enshrined into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame as the Class of 2018, it was announced today by USA Hockey.

The 2018 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Celebration will take place at the JW Marriott Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee, on Wednesday, December 12, at 7 p.m. Tickets for the event will go on sale on Monday, August 13, at 10 a.m. ET at USHockeyHallofFame.com.

“This class has had an enormously positive impact on hockey in our country,” said Jim Smith, president of USA Hockey. “Their contributions have helped shape and advance our sport over many decades, and we look forward to formally enshrining each of the five honorees in December.”

[Read More]

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The 2018/2019 Season is officials open.

Register as an official with USAHockey at https://www.usahockeyregistration.com

Then Register for your Seminar at: https://www.usahockey.com/officialseminars

The Seminar schedule is as follows:

Haverhill 8/15  – Level 1 / New Officials ONLY  (Wednesday night, class starts at 4:00)

Shrewsbury – 8/22 – Level 3

Shrewsbury HS –  8/25 Level 1 and Level 2

Agawam – 8/26 – Level 1,2 & 3

Andover – 9/8 – Level 1 & Level 2

Andover – 9/11 – Level 3

Hyannis – 9/22 – Level 1,2 & 3

Marlboro – 10/4 – Level 4

Canton – 10/10 – Level 3

Canton – 10/13 – Level 1 and Level 2

Please also note that every official that is 18 or older must complete a CORI background check this season. You will be able to complete this requirement at your seminar.

By Posted on Posted in Announcements, Stripes

On the USA front there are some changes to the registration for the 18-19 season.

USA Hockey is going to a two-tier fee structure starting with the 2018-19 season. There will be one fee for Level 1 and another fee for all other levels.
Level 1 $45 + $25 (MA Fee) =$70
Level 2,3 & 4 are now all the same fee $90 + $25 (MA Fee) = $115.

Important change for Level 1 officials that are 16 or over – you can only remain at level 1 for 2 years, and then you will have to move to level 2.

If you are a returning level 3 or 4 ( meaning you passed the closed book test and are a level 3 and skating test for level 4) you can test out of the elective modules.  Additionally, in the 19-20 season if you are a level 3 or 4 for three years (complete level 3 or complete level 4 for 3 consecutive years) you can attend a 3 day seminar and become tenured, more information on this program will be shared shortly.

All open-book exams will be level-specific with only 50 questions on each test.

Finally, all levels need to have all requirements complete by March 15 (was previously April 30th).

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Dates and Locations are subject to change, but they are pretty solid at this point.

Registration opens August 1, 2018

8/22 – Shrewsbury L3
8/25 – Shrewsbury L1 + L2

8/26 – Agawam L1 + L2 + L3

9/8 – Andover L1 + L2
9/11 – Andover L3

9/22 – Hyannis L1 + L2 + L3

10/4 – Level 4

10/10 – Canton L3
10/13 – Canton L1 + L2

Also keep in mind that USA Hockey is implementing some registration changes this year, read more at USA Hockey.com

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#PutYourStickOut

As a tribute to the victims and survivors of the bus accident involving the Humboldt Broncos Junior A team, we encourage all USA Hockey families to leave a stick outside their front door this weekend in support of the Broncos. While we cannot be there in person to mourn with the Humboldt community, each of us can show support by placing a stick outside on your porch this weekend. As was so aptly written … “Leaving it out on the porch tonight. The boys might need it … wherever they are.”
From everyone at USA Hockey, our heartfelt condolences continue to be with the Humboldt community. Our thoughts and prayers will forever be with all involved.
Sincerely,
Jim Smith
President, USA Hockey		 Pat Kelleher
Executive Director, USA Hockey
 
And the entire USA Hockey Family

By Posted on Posted in Announcements, News

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey announced today that Katie Guay (Mansfield, Mass.) has been named director of philanthropy for The USA Hockey Foundation, a charitable and educational nonprofit corporation that provides long-range financial support for USA Hockey and promotes the growth of hockey in the United States.

Guay, who served as a business analyst with Halo Text in Warwick, R.I., will lead The USA Hockey Foundation’s prospecting and donor relationship-building efforts in the New England region.

Prior to her time with Halo Text, Guay spent eight years (2008-16) at Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Mass., where she worked in the development office and also served as an assistant coach of the girl’s varsity hockey team. In her role as a major gifts officer, she cultivated, solicited and stewarded a portfolio of 125 leadership prospects. A project manager for events and member of multiple committees at Noble and Greenough, she also served as director of the First Class Fund for Faculty, an annual fundraising initiative for the families of the senior class, and increased the fund by more than 60 percent over fiscal years 2013-2016. In addition, Guay served as the school’s assistant director of annual giving from 2010-12 and campaign coordinator from 2008-10.

Guay has also served as an ice hockey official since 2006. She has completed eight assignments for the International Ice Hockey Federation, highlighted by her selection to officiate women’s ice hockey at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. In 2015, she notably became the first female to officiate NCAA Division I men’s college hockey, and has served as an official in various other NCAA and USA Hockey events and tournaments in past years.

A 2005 graduate of Brown University (Providence, R.I.), Guay earned her bachelor of arts degree in business economics and psychology, and played four years of college hockey for the Bears.

She will begin her duties with The USA Hockey Foundation on April 9.

USAHockeyFoundation.com