INNISFAIL – Player well-being and safety are at the forefront of changes introduced in the Allan Cup Hockey West (ACHW) league this year.
New respect and discipline standards were implemented at the start of the 2018-19 season, and are continuing into the senior men's ACHW league playoffs, which began on the road for the Innisfail Eagles on Feb. 9 against the Rosetown Red Wings.
“It was born out of player safety but it’s also a matter of respect. That would be with game officials, penalty box workers, coaches, off-ice personnel and players,” said Richard Gregory, interim league president.
The changes were decided upon after the league's general meeting last summer, with a collective desire from all five general managers at the time, to see a larger emphasis on player safety, he noted.
“I do believe it’s something that many leagues across North America are dealing with, as far as the development of the game and that everybody is bigger and faster. It’s not 1985 anymore,” said Gregory.
He works with interim vice-president Rick Wyrozub and executive board member Sam Maupin in implementing the standards.
“The three of us together form a committee to speak to disciplinary matters,” he said, noting the league met with every team this season to inform and educate them on the changes.
“Spirited contests are what bring people to the rink, but not at the expense, the well-being or the welfare of any of our players,” said Gregory. “We want the best possible players to participate in our league and they won’t do so if they feel it’s going to be a gong show every time they step on the ice.”
In addition, there is also mandatory video review for every game.
“(Video review) would be for any on-ice incident that would take place,” he said. “That could be a difficult or aggressive hit or a sticking incident.”
It could also be used to supplement referees' actions on the ice, he added.
“If we felt an infraction was more aggravating than the referee determined it to be, we can review the video and implement further discipline,” explained Gregory, adding general managers may also submit any incident they would like to see looked at and ruled on by the league.
“By being able to record these things and keep track, we can monitor our players and educate our players too,” said Gregory.
The changes are being used throughout the post-season and will be reviewed again at this summer’s general meeting.
“Our league provides fans with the best level of hockey that they could watch inside Alberta, short of the NHL," said Gregory.
“It’s extremely good hockey. It’s fast paced, the puck moves well and it’s a physical game. It’s really a good product that we’re hoping to sell and continue to improve,” Gregory concluded.
