NCAA Promises A Return to Old-Time Hockey

Like most labor battles, the NHL lockout produces lies and evasions from every side. The biggest whopper of them all is that no NHL means "no hockey." What the phrase actually means is "no astonishingly over-priced and often-not-worth-it hockey."

The AHL and other minor leagues are ready to play. Major Junior hockey is well underway in Canadian rinks and several U.S. border towns. The European leagues are humming along, bolstered by over 180 idle NHL skaters.

But the most interesting game to watch this season might be NCAA hockey. In an Open Letter to the NCAA Ice Hockey Community, the folks who run the college game have established new refereeing standards aimed at eliminating interference:

"While the so-called 'let them play' philosophy has become deep rooted and the concept of penalty selection is universally accepted, these philosophies need to be amended. The traditional approach – “let them play” – has allowed too many infractions to go without a penalty being called and the result is a different game. The result is, in our opinion, a less attractive game."

"No one is asking for more penalties to be called. We are establishing new standards and expect the players and coaches to adapt. If they choose not to abide, more penalties are likely to be called. In the end, the players and coaches will have more to say about how many penalties will be called than the officials."

The new standards are defined in detail, and the letter includes a section on "Weathering the Storm" to ensure that standards do not slip.

A new era for college hockey? Or an overhyped "crackdown" that will be forgotten by Christmas?

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