 New York Islanders goalie Garth Snow, often the brunt of jokes about big goaltending equipment, says he'll be exposed to more injuries with smaller pads.
(AP Photo/Scott Martin) |
The flap was designed to protect butterfly-style goalies' knees when they drop to the ice. But the pad could also be manipulated to stop pucks going through the five-hole, the space between the leg pads.
It's the first time the NHL has set a height limit on goaltending pads. Previously, the only restriction on goalie pads the width -- a limit of 30.4 cm (12 inches) -- remains in effect.
According to the NHL, approximately one-third of the league's goaltenders wore pads that exceeded 96.5 cm high last season.
"Our objective in bringing in a restriction on the height of pads was to create a level playing field for all goaltenders without compromising their protection," said NHL senior vice president and director of hockey operations Colin Campbell.
"We intend to strictly enforce this new standard by measuring goaltenders' pads on a regular basis during the season."
Previously, the league would call ahead to warn goalies of visits, but Campbell said that practice has now stopped.
"Now we'll make random checks," he said.
Former NHLer Kris King is overseeing the enforcement of the new rules concerning goaltending equipment.
Any goalie found to have illegal equipment rules will be suspended for one game and his team fined $25,000 US. A second offence will result in a two-game suspension and $50,000 team fine and a third offence would cost three games and $100,000 team fine.
"We have support from a lot of veteran goaltenders who were encouraging us to be more strict with the enforcement and reduction of goalie equipment because goalies don't stop pucks anymore, they just block them," Campbell said.
So far, many players are not happy with the new rules.
One of the more vocal opponents is New York Islanders netminder Garth Snow, who used 109 cm pads.
He told Newsday that since removing the flaps from the top of his pads, he's been struck several times on the inside of his knees.
"Common sense says that I would need a longer pad," said Snow, a six-foot-three backstop, "but who says common sense prevails?"
Both goalies and shooters believe the biggest effect the changes will have is on the five-hole. Equipment has grown so much in recent years that a goalie's kneepads can cover the gap when he drops to the ice in a butterfly position.
"That will be a huge change for a lot of guys," Dallas Stars goalie Ron Tugnutt told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "A lot of guys depended on that. You are going to see pucks squirt through the five-hole because of it."
Another issue with the pad restrictions is that it applies to every goaltender, whether they are five-foot-seven like Columbus' Fred Brathwaite or six-foot-five like Phoenix's Sean Burke.
The average NHL goaltender is six feet.
Mike Dunham, the New York Rangers' six-foot-three netminder, was told to replace his illegal 99 cm pads during King's inspection at the team's training camp. He said he's concerned that the new restrictions will lead to more injuries.
"The first time a goaltender gets hurt, it's going to be very interesting what they have to say," Dunham told Newsday. "I hope this isn't a case where they've gone too far and there are broken knees or injured thighs from the padding they're making us remove.
"It's frustrating that they keep picking on goalies. They always come back to the goalies to change stuff. The players have new sticks. They're shooting the puck harder than ever. I'd think the last thing you would want to do is take equipment away from guys."
King was unsympathetic to recent complaints.
"We had guys wearing 42-, 45-inch pads," he said.
"Is 38 the right number? We think so. The taller guys feel they're being unfairly targeted, but we felt that was long enough for everyone. We hope the threat (of a fine and suspension) is enough to deter them from cheating."
While some players are glad to see the NHL clamp down on goaltending gear, league veteran Claude Lemieux believes the new regulations won't make much of a difference.
"The goalies are no longer short and out of shape and playing in net," said the Stars winger. "I don't think (the league) really changed anything. Goalies today are big and fast and cover more net. They are bigger guys, and they need bigger pads. That's the bottom line."
As the debate over the new limitations on goaltending equipment continues, the National Hockey League Players' Association added to the fire when it filed a grievance against the NHL, saying the league established the new rules without consulting its membership first.
“We did a lot of research on this," said Campbell. "We certainly don't want to expose goaltenders (to injury) but when you have things hanging down between your legs in the five-hole, what are you supposed to do?
"We only had one other alternative, leave the goalies alone and make the nets 10 feet by 10 feet."
It will be a while before the grievance is heard.
The NHL is without an independent arbitrator since firing Joan Parker in the summer. A new arbitrator must be agreed upon and the equipment issue has to wait its turn for a hearing.
with files from Canadian Press
