Will Minnesota Rule Changes Affect Local Hockey?

After two recent spinal cord injuries to youth hockey players in Minnesota—one that resulted in the —the group governing that state's high school sports decided to stiffen penalties for illegal checking.

The Minnesota State High School Hockey League got the OK from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFSH) to assess automatic five-minute major penalties for checking from behind, boarding and contact to the head, effective earlier this month. The Minnesota Hockey Association, which governs youth and amateur hockey, adopted the same changes effective Jan. 25.

Previously, referees calling a checking from behind violation had the option of giving the player a two-minute minor penalty and an additional 10 minutes in the penalty box; boarding was merely a two-minute minor.

Whether New York school-based teams will follow remains to be seen—the hockey committee of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association plans to discuss the changes at its March meeting, according to Nina Van Erk, executive director. 

Some locals say the rules are sufficient and a focus on skills is more important than lengthening time spent in the penalty box, but others say they would support harsher penalties as a deterrent to dangerous play.

"We may want to toughen the rules," said Paul LaSpina, a coach and member of the board of directors of the Bedford Bears Hockey League, in an interview with Patch. "We see some players more than others in the penalty box, and it might help teach about focusing on the game instead of the hit."

The rule changes in Minnesota were a reaction to high school sophomore after he was checked from behind in a junior-varsity game on Dec. 30. Doctors don't expect him to walk again. On Jan. 6, another Minnesota teen, high school senior Jenna Privette, was injured in a game and as of this week, she .

USA Hockey, which provides guidlines to youth and amateur hockey programs, like the Bedford Bears, has no immediate plans to discuss any rule changes, said Dave Fischer, director of communications.

"Safety is always at the forefront of our discussions, and what's happening in Minnesota has heightened the conversation nationally," he told Patch. "Right now there is no movement to adopt any changes to our penalties for checking from behind—what we need is consistent officiating and enforcement of infractions."

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