PWHL brings on-ice tweaks, harsher penalties to second season

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TORONTO — The Professional Women’s Hockey League will introduce on-ice tweaks and harsher punishment for some penalties in its second season.

The PWHL has made changes to its rule book ahead of the Nov. 30 start of the regular season.

The six teams that opened training camps Nov. 12 gathered in Toronto and Montreal on Tuesday for integrated three-team camps that will include scrimmages.

A short-handed goal ending a power play for the opposing team was among the innovations the women’s league incorporated into its inaugural season.

A new “No Escape Rule” requires players on a penalized team, with penalty time on the clock, to remain on the ice until after the faceoff resumes action. That could lead to a situation in which teams start a penalty kill with three forwards and a defender until a chance for substitution in game.

A delay-of-game penalty will be assessed to a team that intentionally places too many players on the ice to cause a stoppage and create confusion about which players have to stay on the ice in the application of the new rule.

A major and a game misconduct will be the default penalty of an illegal check to the head, unless officials determine upon review the hit was accidental, or the head wasn’t the principal point of contact.

The penalty for head butting has been upgraded to a major and a game misconduct, while that same punishment has been added to the rule book for any player that grabs an opponent’s chin strap, facial or throat protection, or pulls an opponent’s hair.

Other rule changes include an offensive-zone faceoff after a shot in the attacking zone is deflected out of play and the replacement goalie allowed a brief warmup if the starting goalie is removed for mandatory medical evaluation or injury.

Coaches can challenge a delay of game for a puck over the glass. The team is assessed an additional penalty for delay of game if the challenge is lost.

“We’re always looking to make the game safer for our players and more fun for our fans,” said PWHL senior vice-president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford in a statement.

“We believe these rule innovations take strides toward both objectives.”

The PWHL’s rule book for its first season was made public mere hours before puck drop in the league’s first game Jan. 1.

The changes were vetted by the league’s rules and competition committee chaired by Cassie Campbell-Pascall and Meghan Duggan, and approved by league operations.

The PWHL also announced Tuesday some key dates, including the Nov. 26-27 waiver period, draft declaration March 1, trade deadline March 2, roster freeze date March 3, the end of the regular season May 3 and the start of playoffs May 6.