WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |Hockey Regulations: 'Checking' Them Twice

ONALASKA,Wisconsin (WXOW)--In response to two serious injuries this season to players, this week the Minnesota State High School League announced tougher penalties for boarding and checking.  

The MSHSL announced that checking from behind will now be a five-minute major penalty, instead of a two minute penalty.  They also announced contact to the head will be an automatic five minute major penalty--instead of allowing an official to use discretion in choosing between a five or a two minute penalty.

Currently in Wisconsin checking from behind results in a minor and misconduct--however if it's flagrant or causes the player to crash into the boards--a major or a game disqualification will be assessed.

The WIAA said Minnesota's new regulations are experimental. According to the WIAA's Tom Shafranski--checking from behind has become more and more concerning for many high school governing bodies--including Wisconsin.

Shafranski said the WIAA specifically addresses teaching proper angling techniques when it comes to checking. They've worked pro-actively over the last 10 years to deter players from checking at all. 

"We have told our officials first of all, we have zero tolerance for checking from behind and they are to penalize to the fullest extent possible checking from behind when it occurs where a student athlete goes into the board or into the goal," said Shafranski.

In addition the WIAA works with Wisconsin School Administrators and Coaches--each time that a game disqualification is called on their school. Any time a player is given a five minute major--that player is automatically disqualified for the rest of the game and part of their next game.

Before taking these pro-active steps to reduce checking--the WIAA saw an all time high of 18 game disqualifications in 2007. Since then--the number of game disqualifications and injuries have gone down.

Last year the WIAA saw an all-time low of just 8 disqualifications throughout the entire year. 

Shafranski adds that while Minnesota's new regulations are experimental, he thinks they are responding to the matter very appropriately and swiftly. Shafranski is also on the board for the National Federation of High Schools.

He said the national group will look at Minnesota's new rules very seriously when reviewing national rules for the 2012-2013 hockey season.