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36 // APRIL 2021 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM S c o t t Z e l k i n , m a n a g e r o f U S A H o c k e y 's Ju n i o r O f f i c i a t i n g Development Program, said two rules in particular pose problems. An automatic offsides at the blueline at some youth levels versus the delayed offsides in older leagues. There's also a 5-minute major penalty in junior hockey, where a game misconduct is assessed at the referee's discretion. At the younger age levels, it's automatic. "It is really hard on the referees," explained Zelkin, a former NHL referee. "There are times when an official may misinterpret or misap- ply the rules based on their knowledge of a different book." So, why all the different rule books? At each level of hockey, players have varying skill sets, and each governing body maintains different goals. "A 10-year-old player is different than an NHL player," said Matt Leaf, director of USA Hockey 's Officiating Education Program. "A 10-year is different than a college, international or junior player. Everyone has their own objectives on what they are trying to accom- plish as an organization." LaBuda added, "We are all governing different constituencies with different abilities and ages." The NHL reviews its rules every year. Other organizations take any- where from two to four years. USA Hockey's rule change process takes place every fours years as proposals are accepted in August and then go through a lengthy review process before the organization's board of directors votes on them the following June at its annual congress. Clearly, one thing all the rule books have in common is making the game safe for all its competitors. "We are trying to protect our kids and keep them [safe]," Leaf said. Mike MacMillan, a Minnesota high school coach for three decades, said all of the organization's rule books have moved closer together over time. But a universal rulebook remains a long shot. "It would be nice to move in that direction, wouldn't it?" said MacMillan, now an assistant coach at Hamline University. "That would take a lot of heavy lifting. We would have to get a lot of different people in the room from all the different governing bodies to make that happen. We would have to get consistency among all the board of directors. It's worth a discussion." USA Hockey's Leaf said it's not likely there will ever be a single rulebook. The skill levels are just too far apart. "Are we ever going to have the same rule book as the NHL?" Leaf asked. "No. There are things that are acceptable for a 10 or 12-year-old or even 16-year-old that won't work in the NHL. Are we ever going to be the same as the NCAA? Probably not. You are still looking at a very elite-level athlete." Some of rule differences are surprising. Since the 2016-17 season, the Western Hockey League has allowed players to kick the puck into the goal when they are not in the crease. Other leagues forbid the practice. "That rule would allow more scoring," Zelkin said. "That is an example of where a specific rule in rule books differs all over the world and can change the game." The IIHF in 2018 implemented a rule that penalizes virtually any late hit a player levels on an opponent. Its strictness sets the IIHF apart from the NHL. k Whether it's at the youth, junior, collegiate, international or professional level, officials are responsible to control the game by enforcing the rules as they are written in their respective rule books. PHOTOS BY USA Hockey Magazine Archive P L A Y I N G B Y T H E I R O W N S E T O F R U L E S