PWHL Continues To Innovate Rules Of The Game

Last season the PWHL innovated a number of rules including the adoption of the Gold Plan, the re-introduction of body checking to women's hockey, the "jailbreak" rule, and the opportunity for the top team in the league to choose their playoff opponent.

It has been an opportunity to grow the game, through improving the game.

This season, the PWHL will continue to innovate.

As the league wrote in a media release, they aim "to maintain a forward-thinking approach to hockey while respecting the sport's rich tradition and history" in hopes of designing roles that favor offensive play.

To do so, the league is implementing the new No Escape Rule (Rule 15.5). The rule "requires players on a team that take a penalty, which leads to penalty time on the clock, to remain on the ice until after the face-off that resumes action. This requirement, similar to the current No-Player-Change Rule that governs icing the puck, could lead to situations such as teams opening a penalty kill with three forwards and one defender on the ice until an opportunity for substitution arises."

If a team intentionally slows down the pace of play by placing too many players on the ice during in an attempt to create confusion during the application of this rule, a delay of game penalty will be assessed.

“We’re always looking to make the game safer for our players and more fun for our fans,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL Senior VP of Hockey Operations. “We believe these rule innovations take strides toward both objectives.”

The league also announced a number of additional rule changes for the 2024-25 season including

• If a shot originating in the attacking zone is deflected out of play by any means (off either team or the crossbar), the ensuing face-off will be conducted in the attacking zone (Rule 87.5).

• A coach may challenge applications of Delay of Game - Puck Over Glass. If the challenge is not upheld, the team that challenged will receive an additional penalty for delay of game. (Rule 38.11).

• When a goalkeeper is removed for mandatory medical evaluation or injury, the replacement goalkeeper may be afforded a brief warm-up (Rule 8.2).

• Rule 52.1 regarding Body Checking, has been reworded to provide clarity for the On-Ice Officials in applying the rule.