Jim Ramlow, Toledo, Ohio
Fans who want the current "hand pass" rule rescinded apparently don't know the reason it originally passed.
A team under pressure in it's own end, especially when shorthanded and/or if one of it's players lost/broke his stick, would make a short, intentional hand pass to get a whistle.
As a result, the team threatening to score was denied a scoring chance and the defense benefited by being able to reorganize and even make a change before the ensuing faceoff.