Today I was looking a little further into the new NCAA rules and rightfully so the NCAA has banned the cheater pads I mean thigh guards. It is about time the NCAA gets on the same sheet of music as the NHL in the goaltender equipment. Look for more 5 holes goals to be scored this season.
Rule 3-3. Goalkeeper Equipment – Thigh Boards. In the goalkeeper equipment section, the following wording was voted: ―All inner knee/thigh protection, whether attached to the leg pad or not, must be tightly wrapped around the leg. Thigh boards are illegal.
Rationale: When the committee approved new goalkeeper equipment dimensions to coincide with the National Hockey League standards two years ago, thigh boards were not included. The NHL has since determined these attachments to be illegal and the committee believes this is appropriate. In all cases, there is a difference between protection of the student-athlete, which this rule maintains and an advantage in blocking pucks, which thigh boards allow. Additionally, this piece of equipment is an attachment and is easily removed from the leg pad.
Also on the bench all players including back up goaltenders have to wear helmets. I personally think that is a silly rule.
Rule 3-5, Helmet. The committee voted: ―All players, including backup goalkeepers, must properly wear a HECC-approved helmet and HECC-approved facemask to be in the bench area.
PENALTY—Warning and bench minor if not corrected.‖
Rationale: The committee believes all student-athletes in the bench area must wear a helmet and facemask for protection. Backup goalkeepers, in most cases, do not wear a helmet currently.
