Reports: Rule on blindside hits in works (NHL)

[JonLP24]

TORONTO -- The NHL wants to adopt a new rule against blindside hits to the head before the end of this season, according to two reports Wednesday.

The league is hoping to fast-track the proposed rule and is preparing a DVD package after a number of players suffered concussions this season. The highlight package will illustrate what would, and wouldn't, be allowed under a proposed rule change adopted by general managers at meetings in Florida last week.

The NHL plans to circulate the highlight package to all 30 teams within the next week or so, according to the reports.

"It's a process that has never been done before in the season," NHL senior vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell told the Globe and Mail in a story published online early Wednesday. "But this is so important an issue that if we can possibly avoid just one concussion, we should do this."

In order to get the new rule in place, the NHL needs to get the players, coaches, management and officials involved, Campbell added. Also, the NHL board of governors would have the final say on any change.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=5002178

[Forkboy]

1. Marc Savard says, "Gee, better late than never."

[JonLP24]

3. I thought you might be interested by this

Seems to be step in the right direction but my knowledge of the sport is of course limited. Also hughee made an interesting point that they did something in far less time that was far less serious so it seems there is some BS involved. :)

[hughee99]

2. So in the regular season, it takes a couple of weeks

to change a rule for issues that are "so important" like serious head trauma, but in the playoffs, Sean Avery annoys the F' out of Martin Brodeur, no one is hurt or even in real danger, and the rule is changed THE NEXT DAY.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/web/COM1128131/index.htm

[TZ]

4. Will this be named the "Ovechkin Rule"?

:hide:

[JonLP24]

6. I didn't see that one

but I did see the shots of the Bruins player blindslided by a Penguins players a week or two ago which I think had a lot with this do as well. Perhaps Ovechkin does too but I thought there was a rule for what he did which is why he was suspended?

[Captain Hilts]

13. Yes. Guess he'll have to get a goon to do his dirty work as Gretsky and Crosby did/do. nt

[joeybee12]

5. I don't know, start charing jackasses like Ovechin with criminal assault...

...that'll start changing things quicker.

[JonLP24]

7. It would be difficult to go through with that

Green was found not guilty because it was held that his actions were an involuntary reflex to be part of the roughness of the game. No conviction resulted in either case, but the court noted that sports were not immune from criminal prosecution.

(he fractured a guy's skull with a hockey stick)

Also

One famous case in the United States involving the NHL followed a 1975 incident involving Dave Forbes, a player for the Boston Bruins. Forbes knocked down an opposing player and proceeded to punch him in the back of the head, and pummel his head into the ice. This was the first U.S. case where a player was criminally prosecuted for on-ice violence. Although the evidence was overwhelmingly against Forbes, he was nonetheless acquitted by a split jury decision. Alarmingly, from the time of this incident until today, the criminal court system within the U.S. has deferred to league self regulation within hockey.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved=0CAYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportslaw.uslegal.com%2Fsports-violence%2F&rct=j&q=Charge+athletes+with+assault+during+in+game+fights&ei=VyihS__pIIygswOq3uXkBg&usg=AFQjCNGjs8gE7NuiLSBD8dOlx_FXJGnlSg

I've wondered about this in the past considering players involved with other players in on the field or on the court incidents were never charged so I'm familiar with the idea of charging players with assaults for happens during the game is rarely successful.

[joeybee12]

8. Yeah, but wasn't that in canada...you know how their justice system is

...below lower Moldavia's.

[JonLP24]

9. Not the Dave Forbes incident

He was acquitted in the US due to a split decision. The point is I can see why this might be a slippery slope when it comes to charging players for what happens during a game and also most if not all professional sports leagues are self governing meaning they suspend, fine, etc players so it most cases it's not necessary.

[joeybee12]

10. True, but Ovechin would easily be found guilty...

...that was so blatantly obvious it was sickening.

[JonLP24]

11. Well I can't imagine why they wouldn't have evidence against Forbes

I'm sure questions could be raised in trial regards to differences in what happens on the street compared to what happens in a rough contact sport that often leads to these type of confrontations that are usually not well thought out or based on logic and based on emotions which are usually strong for both teams in a highly competitive sport to raise doubt.

I'm not sure myself where I sit on this but I don't think simply charging players like Ovechkin would do a lot of good or be very effective. :)

Edit: I'm not a lawyer so someone could probably give a lot better answer than I can.

[joeybee12]

12. Well, not sure it matters...no one watches hockey anyway!!!

:evilgrin:

[TZ]

14. I don't think that would meet the criteria for assault.

And I think he got the proper punishment from the NHL. Lets not crowd up an overburdened justice system with sports crap.