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USA Hockey’s first-ever 24-Hour Hockey Game, in which one 30-minute running-time game in each of the nation’s 50 states will be played consecutively beginning in Maine, will commence at 12 noon ET on Friday, Feb. 29.
“We’re very excited about the 24-Hour Game,” said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. “February 29 has been designated as the worldwide day to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the International Ice Hockey Federation and our 24-Hour Game is a unique and fun way for us to be engaged in the celebration and also bring visibility to our great sport.”
USA Hockey’s 24-Hour Hockey Game will begin in Hallowell, Maine, at 12 noon ET on Feb. 29 (see complete schedule below). Hawaii and Alaska will both play a 30-minute running-time “overtime” game with the 24-Hour Game ending at 1 p.m. ET in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Saturday, March 1.
In Utah, a blended team of DCYHA Squirts and PeeWees will comprise the Stars team and the Stripes team. Our local event begins at 7:00 a.m. Saturday Morning at the South Davis County Recreation Center.
Players of all ages, backgrounds and skill sets will participate in the event. The mite (8 & Under), squirt (10 & Under), pee wee (12 & Under), bantam (14 & Under), midget (18 & Under), high school, junior, college (non-varsity), disabled, inline and adult levels of hockey will be represented, spanning across 100 teams.
In each state, one team has been designated as “Stars” and one team as “Stripes.” A national running score will be kept at the event website — 24HourHockeyGame.com.
Yesterday, a player for the Florida Panthers, Richard Zednik, suffered a serious neck injury in an NHL hockey game with Buffalo. Zednik’s carotid artery was lacerated when he was hit by one of his own teammate’s skate blade during the game. Zednik skated off the ice under his own power and underwent immediate surgery. He is currently in stable condition at Buffalo’s General Hospital.Zednik’s injury came 19 years after former Sabres goaltender Clint Malarchuk almost died when his jugular vein was cut by a skate blade in a goal-mouth collision between St. Louis winger Steve Tuttle and Buffalo defenseman Uwe Krupp.
The quick actions of the Sabres’ team trainer saved Malarchuk’s life.
Skate blades are very sharp. Ice-level collisions happen. The neck can be very vulnerable. Protection is available!
** EVERY YOUTH HOCKEY PLAYER SHOULD WEAR A NECKGUARD.
Please, buy your player a neckguard. Coaches: encourage your parents/players to wear one. Better yet, make it mandatory on your team.
Let’s not wait until a serious injury occurs. Make it happen NOW. In my opinion, neckguards should be mandatory for all players.
Please pass the word along to fellow parents, coaches, administrators and players!
Thanks!
What is the best caption for the above image? Submit your answers in the comments section below. Winner of the best response will receive an autographed puck and will be spotlighted in the next DCYHA newsletter.
Last month’s winner – Gus Erekson!
Your player has the puck and is breaking down the ice. It appears that he has a clear shot at the goalie but is penalized from behind. The referee’s arm shoots up signifying a delayed penalty. Will it be a penalty or a penalty shot? How can we tell? This edition of “Ask a Ref” looks more closely at the criteria that should be used in awarding a penalty shot.
The Penalty Shot – USA Hockey Rule 406
This one is relatively straightforward and simple. The Basic Officials Manual outlines the five key criteria used in distinguishing between a penalty and awarding a penalty shot. In order to be awarded a penalty shot, all five of the following criteria must be met:
- The player must be in possession and control of the puck. The key word here is control. For example, a player who shoots the puck slightly ahead in a controlled manner in order to skate faster is still considered in possession and control of the puck whereas a player who is trying to dig the puck out from between his skates while he is moving may not be considered to have enough control.
- The player must be beyond his/her defending blueline.
- There is no opponent present between the player and the opposing goalkeeper. (Note, the opposing defensemen does not have to be directly in the player’s path but simply between the player and the opposing goalkeeper.)
- The player must be fouled directly from behind. an opponent who has an angle on the breakaway player and commits the foul from the side should be penalized, but no penalty shot shall be awarded.
- The player must have been deprived of a reasonable scoring opportunity. (Note, a player who still has a reasonable scoring opportunity, even though fouled from behind, should not be awarded a penalty shot.)
Like most rules, these criteria are somewhat subjective and while USA Hockey does provide additional guidance on defining the terms “possession,” “control,” and from “behind,” (meaning outside of a reasonable peripheral view), the term “reasonable scoring opportunity” is left to the official’s discretion. By the way, you can download a complete version of the USA Hockey Rule book and the USA Hockey Rules and Casebook (much more detailed “what if scenarios”) from the USA Hockey Website.
EXTRA Credit
Did you know that a team is allowed to change goalies just for a penalty shot?
Did you know that in cases where the infraction would normally have resulted in a minor penalty, the coach of the non-penalized team can opt to have the penalized player serve a 2-minute penalty instead of taking a penalty shot?
You Make the Call
During a penalty shot attempt, the puck is shot over the goal, rebounds off the glass, hits the goalkeeper in the back and enters the goal. Should the goal be allowed? (Answer will be posted in the next DCYHA newsletter. Click here to subscribe.)
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Do you have a hockey question you would like to ask? Ask our Expert.
by Tim Bergquist
The most-used item in ice hockey is probably one of the least understood by the new hockey player. As players we use whatever stick we buy without giving much thought to how it’s design can make our game better or worse. Many players pick a stick because their favorite player uses that model, or because they like a certain brand, or because it looks cool.
While those are certainly things to consider when buying a stick, perhaps the most important is the pattern of the stick. We all see sticks with an NHL pro’s name on them, but what does it really mean? Yes, it’s patterned after the stick which a pro uses, but what do you really know about the stick pattern? Your favorite pro’s pattern may be just the wrong thing for you because it may not fit your personal size and style of play.
There are several key things that constitute a stick blade pattern: lie angle, curve type, curve depth, face angle, toe shape, and blade length. Each of these aspects affects a player’s shot and passing. Here’s a bit more information about each of the factors that makes up a stick and how it might affect what you do with that little black biscuit.
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