Instant Replay Expanding in High School Hockey

Instant replay is expanding for high school hockey games across the country to review infractions involving student-athlete ejections.

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Ice Hockey Rules Committee proposed a total of five rules modifications, including instant replay, as a result of its meeting April 27-28, which were all subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors for the 2020-21 season.

The committee’s meeting was held in an online format to comply with current health safety guidelines, according to an issued press release from the organization.

The NFHS Board of Directors found that state associations that have authorized an instant replay system during games may now utilize it to review infractions that involve student-athlete ejections. This clause was added to Rule 9-13 as an accompaniment to the pre-existing instant replay situations, which include reviewing goals and undetected goals and determining the correct amount of time on the game clock.

“If a state so chooses to adopt this as part of its replay policy, it will allow review to ensure the correct player is removed in an ejection situation,” Dan Schuster, NFHS Director of Educational Services and liaison to the Ice Hockey Rules Committee said in an issued press release. “An ejection, in some cases, can be as critical to a game as a goal. This will give state associations the flexibility to review this important moment in a game.”

Other rule changes involved risk-minimization guidelines. A player who strikes an opponent with his or her hand could receive a major penalty at the official’s discretion. A player caught wearing “dangerous” skates will face a game misconduct penalty in 2020-21, as opposed to just receiving a warning in past years.

Language was added to prohibit a player from moving an opponent’s glove, tooth or mouth protector that’s fallen on the ice as an effort to keep it away from the player. Previously only a stick was described as the equipment specified.

Lastly, the NFHS Board of Directors made a subtle change in language to clarify the purpose of the throat/neck protector as a “laceration” protector.

To read the full press release from the NFHS on rule changes for the 2020-21 ice hockey season, click here.