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October 4, 2005

WCHA pre-season press conference review

Jim Dahl

It's that time of year again, the WCHA season kick-off press conference was this morning, October 4. I'll highlight the conference-wide announcements and N.D. coach Hakstol's comments. Everything here should be construed as a summary of my interpretation of statements; it certainly contains no direct quotes and is quite likely to contain factual errors.

Officiating

The NCAA encouraged the continuation of last year's efforts to open up the game. Last year's efforts dramatically reduced holding by the back boards and clutching and grabbing and the league will continue those efforts this year. The league wants all teams to be able to play the game and skate openly, not just the top couple teams. Officials will focus on letting players skate through the neutral zone without being held up by sticks and plan to call penalties consistently through the end of the game, not putting the whistle away with five minutes left.

Rule changes

• Goaltenders can only freeze the puck to make a save. They will not be allowed to come out of the net for a puck and freeze it or go behind the net and freeze it. If a goalie freezes the puck in one of those situations, the referee will instruct the goaltender to play it or will call a penalty if the goaltender refuses.
• The penalties formerly called as boarding and charging from behind will be called as checking from behind this year. That penalty will carry a 5 minute major and ejection from the game. This change will cause coaches to teach players not to commit that dangerous infraction.
• Players can now score a goal by directing the puck into the net with their skate as long as the skate is on the ice and there is not a kicking motion.
• Players can enter the crease. As long as they do not hinder the goalie, they can stand in the crease, skate through the crease, or be in the crease when a goal is scored. This should really change power plays by preventing the whistle from being blown and puck pulled back.
• If the net is lifted off its moorings, even if it is not knocked off, no goal can be scored. This situation occurred in a couple recent games so the rule was clarified and officially entered into the rule book.

Video replay

Video replay will be used throughout the WCHA this season to review goals. It was used in an experimental manner last year in Denver and Colorado Springs and met with great success. Though it would normally require a three year evaluation period, the WCHA petitioned the NCAA to allow video replay and it is allowed for in this year's rule book. Other leagues will be watching the WCHA to note the system's success.

Starting the last weekend of October, each rink will have a replay person and monitor. The replay person will be in the press box and will operate the replay monitor located in the penalty box area. Only the referee may call for a replay and the replay person will display the desired footage on the on-ice monitor. The replay person will not provide and input on the replay and cannot suggest a replay. Coaches and players cannot call for replays. Finally, the replay system will only be used to review goals, not penalties or any other plays.

Replays should be non-intrusive, taking 30-45 seconds unless there's a malfunction. A new system this year, there may be some technical difficulties, but those will be resolved.

Coach Dave Hakstol

Jordan Parise, 2004 WCHA Tournament
Photo: John Dahl

We have some challenges this year, there 13 returning players and 13 freshmen. We do have some quality returning veterans who should be able to lead on the ice and, more importantly, off the ice. We haven't voted yet for captains but plan to do that later today, so expect that announcement this evening.

Goaltending will have to be a stabilizing factor for us. Our veteran goaltenders, Parise and Lamoureux should be able to add stability; we can't ask them to win games for us single-handedly, but they should be able to give confidence to the young defensemen in front of them.

The defense will be young. Expect 4 freshmen defensemen in the lineup each night. We have a couple good veterans, Smaby should be a good leader for the defense and the team overall.

There will be a nice mix in the forwards. There will be 5 or 6 freshmen in the lineup each night, but it's less worrisome in that position because we should be able to get a good mix.

There are only 2 seniors on the roster. History shows that experience is a big plus, not necessarily required, but a big plus. Our goal for the season is to make the Western Regional tournament in our own town.

Q. Reports have been out the last couple weeks about your NCAA appeal. How do you make that not a distraction? How will that affect you if you make your regional?
A. I'm not going to presume we'll make the regional. It's not a distraction, our job is to win hockey games. We're proud to be the Fighting Sioux of the University of North Dakota. That is who we are, and our administration is doing a tremendous job of handling that issue.

Q. Quick update on Robbie?
A. He will not play this year. He is with the team, will remain with the team, but will medically red shirt this year. He will reevaluate 6-7 months from now for the future.
Q. Does that mean he can't pracitce?
A. He's been cleared to practice, clear to work out, but cannot be involved in any sort of contact.

Q. You've been around the league for quite a few years, how has it changed? The last few years... is it more competitive?
A. I would agree with forecasts of the league being better than last year. Prime example, the Hobey Baker winner, best in the nation last year, is returning to our league this year. Our league also has the top recruiting classes in the country. By Christmas the league is going to be tremendously exciting.

Q. As a participant in the Frozen Four last year, comment on four teams from the conference making the tournament last year. No one has even mentioned it today, you guys seem to be avoiding it?
A. We're all focused on and concerned about what we're doing today. Columbus was several months ago, everybody's looking forward to this year and focused on similar success in the upcoming season. Nobody is looking too far down the road, everyone is worried about building their team and developing their team for this season because the league is going to be extremely competitive.