Rule Changes in the A – Include 3 on 3 OT

The AHL Board of Governor’s meeting concluded last week in Hilton Head, South Carolina. There were three rule changes – including 3 on 3 play for a portion of a regular season overtime session. Here are the rules changes, courtesy of the AHL website:

Rule 85 ("Overtime")

During the regular season, the sudden-death overtime period will be seven minutes (7:00) in length, preceded by a "dry scrape" of the entire ice surface.
Teams will change ends at the start of overtime.
Full playing strength will be 4-on-4 until the first whistle following three minutes of play (4:00 remaining), at which time full strength will be reduced to 3-on-3 for the duration of the overtime period.
If the game is still tied following overtime, a winner will be determined by a three-player shootout.

Rule 20.4 ("Major Penalties")

An automatic game misconduct will be applied to any player who has been assessed two major penalties for fighting or three major penalties for any infraction in the same game.

Rule 9.6 ("Helmets")

A player on the ice whose helmet comes off during play will be assessed a minor penalty unless he immediately (a) exits the playing surface or (b) puts the helmet back on with the chin strap properly fastened.

by Keith Mcafee