Jul 8, 2010 2:39:48 PM

The NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee on Thursday rescinded a proposal made at its June annual meeting that would have enforced icing rules at all times, including when a team is shorthanded.

The committee, acting in response to membership feedback, recommended that the rule be mandatory for exhibition contests only. As part of the NCAA playing rules approval process, all proposals are distributed for membership comment, and the rules committee has the option of reconsideration.

"The committee appreciates the membership feedback and values the opinions of coaches and administrators," said Forrest Karr, chair of the committee and athletics director at Alaska Fairbanks. "Responses indicate that while several coaches like the concept, there are concerns about the potential for unintended consequences. By using the rule in exhibition games over the next two seasons, the committee will have more concrete information."

The rationale for the proposal is to reward speed and skill and help to create scoring chances.

Icing occurs when a team sends the puck behind the opposition's goal line before crossing the center line (or red line) of the playing surface. In these instances, officials whistle the play dead and the ensuing faceoff takes place in the defensive zone of the team that iced the puck.

Currently, icing is called only when both teams are at even strength. Penalty-killing teams use the tactic to change players while the opposition retrieves the puck.

The committee believes the rules change will create more scoring chances for the team on the power play, and it will increase the skill level of "penalty killers" and could lead to more short-handed scoring chances.

Committee members believe players may be less likely to take penalties if the consequences to the team are more severe. If players know their teams can't ice the puck while short-handed, it may change behavior on the ice and reduce the clutching, grabbing, hooking, holding and obstruction type of penalties. That could indirectly open up five-on-five play, as well.

The committee's other 22 proposals were unchanged and will be forwarded to the Playing Rules Oversight Panel for final approval. PROP is scheduled to meet via conference call July 29.

Once approved, the rules will take effect and be in place for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.