The NCAA Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey Rules Committee reinforced its commitment to eliminating hitting from behind and mapped out a strategic plan for future changes at its annual meeting June 5-8 in San Antonio.

The committee also dealt with goals directed into the net by an attacking player’s skate, offered further protections to the goalkeeper with the crease rule and recommended that conferences check goalkeeper equipment for legality during the season.

The Playing Rules Oversight Panel will consider the proposals on a conference call for final approval.

Committee members discussed hitting from behind at length. The topic also had been vetted at the coaches meetings in April. The committee reviewed several proposals to create an intermediate penalty that might better enforce the infraction. The committee ultimately decided to stay with the current rule, which calls for a major penalty and game misconduct or disqualification when this infraction occurs into the boards or goal cage.

The only major change the committee made dealt with icing. Starting this season, when the attacking team attempts a pass that is deemed receivable by the official, icing will be nullified. The change, implemented successfully in the National Hockey League this season, allows play to continue and encourages additional offensive opportunities.

The committee also confirmed two clarifications it made during the season. The first indicates that goalkeepers are protected in the goal-crease area. The new wording applies to attacking players who are in the goal crease and impeding the goalkeeper from playing the position (visually, physically or otherwise). The committee also noted that officials may stop play if the goalkeeper is being impeded and conduct a faceoff outside the zone.

"The crease is the goalkeeper’s area," said Blasi. "The rule change made last year achieved the intended result, but we want to be sure we maintain the protection of the goalkeeper."

The second clarification deals with goals scored when the puck is directed into the net off an attacking player’s skate. The committee viewed several examples and confirmed its stance that those goals are allowed.

"The hockey community has made it clear that goals scored in this way should be viewed as a skill play," Blasi said. "The committee agrees with that position."

The committee did clarify, though, that the puck must be propelled first by the stick (for example, shot or pass) for the goal to count.

In other actions, the committee set a future agenda for the college game that included consideration of the following proposals that could be implemented by the 2008-09 season:

The committee also voted to use a two-year process for rules changes, meaning the next rules book will span the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons.

The committee also nominated Jim Knowlton of the U.S. Military Academy as its new chair beginning in September.