JOHNS ISLAND, SC – The United States Hockey League originated the hybrid icing rule and saw its use expanded to National Collegiate Athletic Association and American Collegiate Hockey Association ice hockey. The USHL now waits to see if the National Hockey League moves to use the junior hockey originated rule. That consideration took another step forward as based on an NHL request the American Hockey League agreed to test hybrid icing in the first part of the 2012-13 season. The AHL website announced late last week that “the Board approved a test of a variation on Rule 81 (“Icing”) at the request of the National Hockey League.” Hybrid icing first used in the USHL in the 2007-08 season is partially designed to eliminate the potential injuries in the current touch icing used in the NHL and AHL. Previously the only option to touch icing or a race to see which team’s player could touch the puck first on a potential icing situation was automatic icing. Critics of automatic icing feel that it takes the competition out of icing and slows down action. On the other hand the touch icing rule with the race for the puck towards the end line and end boards has resulted in a number of serious injuries. USHL Referee-in Chief Scott Brand who also heads USA Hockey’s Officiating Development Program designed hybrid icing in response to escalating concern for touch icing injuries that were occurring in junior hockey. “The USHL grooms players and officials for collegiate and professional hockey careers,” said Brand. “We wanted to maintain competition for the puck yet cut down on potential injuries.” In hybrid icing, all of the regular tests for potential icing remain. The difference is when the determination of icing or no icing occurs. Under the hybrid rule the linesman makes that decision once the “potentially iced” puck is at the far end zone face off dot. If in the linesman’s judgment the defensive player is closest to the puck or there is a tie at the dot, once the puck crosses the goal line the whistle is blown and the puck returns to the offending team’s defensive zone for a faceoff. If the linesman rules the offensive player was in position 1st to arrive at the puck by the faceoff dot first then icing is waived. The USHL Board of Directors and coaches accepted the rule and have never looked back. The NCAA and ACHA adopted the rule two seasons ago. The NHL has show interest over the past two seasons by testing the rule at its annual seminar which considers various rules and playing concepts. The AHL test will help the NHL make a determination.
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