AHL Rule Changes for 2006-07

The American Hockey League held its annual fall meeting at the league headquarter in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts this past Tuesday and approved the following rule changes:

All AHL skaters, regardless of age or experience, will be required to wear approved visors beginning this fall.

Requests for stick measurements during a shootout must be made prior to the referee blowing his whistle to begin a shootout attempt. If the stick is deemed to be legal, the requesting team forfeits its next shootout attempt; if the stick is deemed to be illegal, the offending team forfeits that attempt and the offending player becomes ineligible to participate in the rest of the shootout.

The home team now has the option of shooting first or second in a shootout. Previously, the visiting team always shot first.

The maximum allowed curvature of a player’s stick has been increased from half an inch (½”) to three-quarters of an inch (¾”).

The league took action against protecting their players after Jordan Smith, of the Portland Pirates, caught a puck to an eye and suffered a career-ending injury last season. Dave Andrews, President of the league, was happy about the rule being put in place “The safety of our world-class athletes remains a top priority, and after lengthy discussions with the Professional Hockey Players’ Association and medical experts, there is no doubt in our minds that this is necessary and the right thing to do.”

SHARKS BOOSTER CLUB MEETING: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST – 7 P.M.

The Worcester Sharks Booster Club will be holding their monthly meeting tomorrow night at the Worcester Public Library. All are welcomed to join the discussion and the fun. Meeting starts at 7 P.M. and approximately ends at 9.

*Quote & picture courtesy of the AHL