NHL Camps Give Rules a Dress Rehearsal
The following article appeared February 15 on the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Web site.
By Ty Halpin
In NCAA terms, experimental rules have been around nearly as long as the flying wedge. Through the years, NCAA playing rules committees have allowed institutions and conferences to experiment in the nontraditional season or early season contests to gather opinion and collect data on a rule’s effect on the game.
The National Hockey League has taken a different approach, melding a scouting opportunity for its teams over two days with an extensive – and in some cases radical – experiment with the rules of play. The NHL used the two-day camp this summer in Toronto to tinker with its rules on the ice, while also allowing the league’s general managers a peek at the top prospects in the 2011 draft class. Several current NCAA student-athletes participated in the camp.
The rules experiment used several scrimmages to showcase potential rules in an effort to improve the game. Playing the role of mad scientist was Vice President Brendan Shanahan, a former player who hung up the skates after a 21-year career with several teams. NHL scouting director and former NCAA coach E.J. McGuire also played a pivotal role in the camp’s organization. McGuire attends the NCAA rules meetings yearly to provide NHL updates and insight.
