In the wake of heavy backlash, the NCAA Rules Committee has rescinded the proposal that would call icing even when teams are shorthanded.
The NCAA announced Thursday that it plans to make teams experiment with the icing rule during exhibition games, though.
The news is bound to be a relief to Division I coaches, who were caught off guard and upset when the Rules Committee recommended in June that icing be called in all situations.
Western Collegiate Hockey Association coaches unanimously voted against the idea when it was initially discussed during April's annual meetings.
"I think it's just a crime," Bemidji State coach Tom Serratore told the Herald last month. "I've been in college hockey for 18 years and I've never seen anything like this in my life. It was almost unanimous for the entire coaching body. How can the committee overturn the entire coaching body? I think it's sad, the lack of respect that the committee had for the coaching body.
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"We didn't spend any time even talking about it because it was so radical. We just voted 12-0 and moved on."
UND coach Dave Hakstol told the Herald last month: "It's quite a shock. I haven't said much, but I'm going to speak my mind on this. I'm upset about us not having a say in it as a Division I coaching body. On a national basis, we were very strongly against it, if not unanimously against it."
Former UND coach and current Nebraska-Omaha coach Dean Blais also publicly spoke out against the proposal.
"The committee appreciates the membership feedback and values the opinions of coaches and administrators," Rules Committee chair Forrest Karr said. "Responses indicate that while several coaches like the concept, there are concerns about the potential unintended consequences. By using the rule in exhibition games over the next two seasons, the committee will have more concrete information."
The NCAA Rules Committee said the other proposals will be forwarded to the Oversight Committee as planned, including a couple that drew heat from some coaches.
Contact to the head will now be called like checking from behind: It will be an automatic five-minute major and ejection. Also, a team that scores on a delayed penalty will still receive a power play.
These proposals are expected to be enacted into the rulebook later this month when the NCAA Oversight Panel officially votes.
Reach Schlossman at (701) 780-1129; (800) 477-6572, ext. 129; or send e-mail to bschlossman@gfherald.com .
