The USA Hockey Annual meeting begins today in Orlando Florida, and there is no question that some of the rule change proposals are going to be hotly debated.
After reading the proposed changes and taking into account the impact these changes may have on many teams, this is sure to be one winter meeting that would have been heated whether it was in Orlando or Alaska. These are some of the most definitive, and aggressive rule proposals to ever be presented at one meeting.
While USAH comes under fire quite often for many things, the first rule change finally gets something right for the players.
NO MORE TRADES FROM TIER ONE AND TWO LEAGUES TO TIER III TEAMS!!!! Thats right, none of the forced player movement to Tier III that has been done in the past. http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0047/9601/LP_2014_Junior_1_Hockey_Trades.pdf
NO MORE 15 YEAR OLDS UNLESS APPROVED BY USAH AND THEY CAN ONLY PLAY TIER 1. http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0047/9602/LP_2014_Junior_2_Exceptional_Player_Status.pdf
TIER III, ONCE YOU SIGN THE CONTRACT, YOU ARE OBLIGATED TO THAT TEAM UNLESS SIGNED BY TIER II OR TIER I TEAM. http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0047/9603/LP_2014_Junior_3_Free_Agency_Player_Rights_2014.pdf
TIER III PLAYER COMPENSATION FINALLY GETS A CAP!!! http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0047/9604/LP_2014_Junior_4_Hockey_Calendar_compensation.pdf
TIER III PLAYER RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITieS NOW REQUIRED TO BE ATTACHED TO EVERY CONTRACT! http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0047/9605/LP_2014_Junior_5_For_Tier_III_Junior_Contract_Addendum.pdf
ALL TIER III TEAMS REQUIRED TO REPORT TUITION TO JUNIOR COUNCIL AND IT WILL BE PUBLISHED ON USAH WEBSITE!!!! ILLEGAL SCHOLARSHIPS $25,000.00 FINE AND SUSPENSIONS UP TO FIVE YEARS!!! NEW RULES ON PLAYER REFUNDS AT DEPARTURE!!! http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0047/9606/LP_2014_Junior_6_Player_Rights_Tuition_Payments_Crawford.pdf
TIER III TEAMS WILL HAVE TO LET PLAYERS MOVE UP WHEN THEY ARE NOTIFIED!!! http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0047/9607/LP_2014_Junior_7_Hockey_Tampering_permission.pdf
TEAMS CAN NOW MOVE FROM LEAGUE TO LEAGUE IF BOTH LEAGUES AGREE TO THE MOVE. http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0047/9608/LP_2014_Junior_8_For_Junior_Teams_Transferring_Leagues.pdf
A lot on the table for the Junior Council and there is sure to be some objection to many of these changes. But it is this Publishers opinion that the Junior Council is finally putting some teeth in the rules and they deserve credit for doing so.
Joseph Kolodziej – Publisher
