USA Hockey and NHL Team Up For Joint Campaign to Highlight Standard of Play

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

On-Going Awareness Effort Focused on Sept. 28-Oct. 6

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Hockey and the National Hockey League have joined together in a nationwide effort to create awareness of USA Hockey’s new Standard of Play and Rules Enforcement initiative.

Playing off the success of the NHL’s effort during the 2005-06 season, USA Hockey’s Board of Directors approved a Standard of Play and Rules Enforcement initiative in June that is being implemented at all levels of youth hockey in the United States in 2006-07. In short, the initiative calls for zero tolerance in regard to holding, hooking, slashing, tripping and interference.

USA Hockey and the NHL have targeted the period of Sept. 28 – Oct. 6 to highlight the initiative through various means, although the effort will be on-going throughout the season.

During the nine-day period, awareness will be heightened through NHL players visiting youth hockey practices to speak on the Standard of Play, distribution of posters to rinks across the country, coverage on usahockey.com and nhl.com and coverage through various media, including on Versus (OLN) during the opening week of NHL play.

“This is one of the most significant initiatives that has ever been implemented by USA Hockey,” said Ron DeGregorio, president of USA Hockey. “While there will be growing pains and patience needed, the end result, as we’ve already witnessed in the National Hockey League, will be a game where skill can be showcased instead of hindered through illegal tactics that were once viewed as acceptable.”

“We took a needed step forward last year with a number of rule changes and our new standard of rules enforcement and it proved to be a tremendous success,” said Gary Bettman, commissioner of the National Hockey League. “I commend USA Hockey for moving to implement the new standard throughout all levels of youth hockey.”

For more information on USA Hockey’s new Standard of Play and Rules Enforcement, visit usahockey.com.