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From: ab870@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Eric Rickin)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey
Subject: NHL Rule Changes 1918-1978 (RULECHANGE)
Date: 24 Dec 1993 23:44:33 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Lines: 63
Message-ID: <2ffut1$m55@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu>
Reply-To: ab870@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Eric Rickin)
NNTP-Posting-Host: piglet.ins.cwru.edu


Some notable NHL rule changes over the years:
  
1918-19: The three playing zones, and forward passing in center area came into
  existence. Kicking the puck allowed. Tabulation of assists first started.
1920-21: Goalkeepers were allowwed to pass the puck forward in the defensive
  areas.
1925-26: Delayed penalty rule introduced. There must never be fewer than 4
  players on each team on the ice.
1927-28: Forward passes were allowed in defending and center zones. Goalie pads
  were cut down to 10 inches in width from 12 inches. Length of hockey stick
  limited to 53 inches (previously unlimited). Art Ross nets (?) adopted.
1928-29: Forward passes permitted in defensive and neutral zones and into
  attacking zone if pass receiver in neutral zone when pass made. However, no
  forward passing inside attacking zone itself.
1929-30: Forward passing permitted inside all three zones but not permitted
  across blue lines.
1930-31: Forward passing permitted across blue lines and in all zonnes but it
  was illegal to precede puck into attacking zone.
1934-35: The penalty shot made its appearance.
1938-39: Penalty shot made more spectacular for fans by allowing the player
  taking the shot to carry the puck right into the goal mouth if he so desired.
  One referee and one linesman introduces. Blue lines widened to 12 inches.
1940-41: Flooding ice surface between periods made obligatory.
1942-43: On Nov. 21, 1942 overtime discontinued in league games.
1943-44: Red line at center ice introduced.
1945-46: The one referee and two linesmen form of officiating made its
  appearance. Synchronized goal lights made obligatory.
1946-47: A system of signals by official was designed to keep fans better
  informed on rule infractions. Neutral linesmen introduced (?).
1949-50: Ice surface painted white. Club allowed to dress 17 players exclusive
  of goalies for a game.
1951-52: Goal crease enlarged from 3'x7' to 4'x8'. Face-off circle enlarged
  from 10' radius to 15' radius.
1956-57: Player serving minor penalty allowed to return to ice when goal
  scored by opposing team. (The anti-Montreal Canadiens rule.)
1960-61: Clubs allowed to dress 16 players exclusive of goalies for a game.
1964-65: Rules modified to provide no bodily contact on face-offs.
1966-67: Substitution allowed on coincidental major penalties.
1970-71: Home teams wear basic white uniforms, visiting teams wear basic
  colored uniforms. Limit of curvature of hockey stick blade reduced from 1"
  to 1/2".
1971-72: The third player to enter an altercation assessed an automatic game
  misconduct penalty.
1976-77: Referees may now assess additional penalties to players who they feel
  started an altercation.
1977-78: There will no longer be offside calls against a team that returns to
  full strength after a penalty while the puck is being shot down the ice. Each
  team will be allowed one 30-second time-out during the game. No team or team
  official may put markings on the ice surface other than those required for
  playing the game or for charitable organizations.
  
That's as far as the book I have goes. Some other rules:
 
1. "Montreal Rule" - players in ? mile radius of Montreal are automatically
   the property of Montreal. year?
2. "Anti-Edmonton Rule" - Coincidental minors require the penalized players
   to stay in the penalty box for the duration of the penalty without causing
   the number of players on the ice to be reduced. year?

-- 
Eric Rickin (ab870@cleveland.freenet.edu)
University of Michigan Class of 1996