OHL ANNOUNCES NEW PLAYING RULE
January 14, 2009 []
For Immediate Release – Toronto, Ontario
Wednesday, January 14th, 2009
Ontario Hockey League Commissioner, David Branch, today announced the adoption of a new playing rule in consideration of the health and welfare of all OHL players, specifically the proper wearing of helmets prior to or during an altercation.
Such rule will come into effect commencing with the schedule of games on Thursday, the 15th of January, 2009.
“If a player should remove his helmet or undo his chinstrap prior to or during an altercation, such player shall receive a game misconduct in addition to any other penalties assessed and an automatic one (1) game suspension. If a player should remove his helmet or undo his chinstrap prior to entering into an altercation, and his opponent does not remove his helmet, the player removing his helmet shall receive a two minute minor penalty, a game misconduct penalty in addition to any other penalties assessed and an automatic one (1) game suspension.
If a player should remove an opponent’s helmet or undo an opponent’s chinstrap prior to or during an altercation, such player shall receive an automatic game misconduct penalty in addition to any other penalties assessed and a one (1) game suspension.
If during the course of an altercation a player or player’s helmets should become dislodged, the linesmen are to intervene immediately”.
