The Professional Women’s Hockey League (LPHF) unveiled on Tuesday the update of its rule book in anticipation of the next season and fans will notice a significant difference.
Thus, the LPHF will become the first pro hockey circuit to automatically impose a major penalty and game misconduct for any illegal head hit. Officials will have the possibility of using the video replay shortly after a relevant sequence in accordance with rule 48 to confirm their verdict or reduce the sanction if they judge the contact to be accidental or if they believe that the head was not not the affected part.
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Furthermore, Rule 51 provides for a major penalty and match misconduct for anyone who pulls an opponent’s hair, chin guard, facial protector or neck guard. Then, a player will be kicked out of the match if she headbutts an opponent.
Costly penalties
Furthermore, the LPHF will implement the “No Escape Rule”, similar to that relating to refused escapes. Thus, skaters from a team receiving a penalty must remain on the ice for the next face-off and may return to the bench after play resumes.
Clubs wanting to create confusion when a penalty is about to be called by sending too many players onto the ice will receive an additional two-minute penalty for delaying the game.
La Victoire de Montréal will begin the campaign by hosting the Ottawa Charge on November 30 at Place Bell.
