The PWHL today announced their rule book for the inaugural season including some unique additions.
The PWHL today announced their rule book for the inaugural season including some unique additions.
TORONTO, ON (January 1, 2024) – The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has announced the publication of its official rulebook for the inaugural season. PWHL rules are modelled significantly on the NHL’s rules and include IIHF rules related to bodychecking, face protection, and fighting. The league has also adopted an innovative rule addition following experimentation of various adaptations and in-game scenarios during December’s pre-season evaluation camp in Utica, New York.
The PWHL’s rule addition specifically applies to Rule 16 – Minor Penalties: inclusion of penalty expiration criteria – team who scores is serving a minor penalty. In such an instance, the minor penalty with the least amount of time remaining on the clock shall terminate following the short-handed goal.
“The entire PWHL has embraced the opportunity to be innovative with how our game is played,” said Jayna Hefford, Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations.
“After the pre-season evaluation camp, we surveyed general managers, coaches, players, and officials and received broad consensus that this new rule added excitement to the game and to special teams situations. I think fans are really going to enjoy the PWHL for its speed and skill in addition to its physicality and competitiveness.”
The PWHL also announced members of its Player Safety Committee responsible for providing independent review and providing recommendations on supplementary discipline. The committee, chaired by Hefford, includes PWHL Special Advisor Cassie Campbell-Pascall; Katie Guay, a current NHL and AHL on-ice official; Mike Murphy, a long-time NHL executive and former VP of Hockey Operations; Matt McMahon, a member of the NHL’s Player Safety department.
Officials working PWHL games will be among the top-rated as identified in close partnership with the NHL and AHL and in consultation with Hockey Canada and USA Hockey. David Taveroff, an experienced on- and off-ice official over decades in the NHL and CHL, will administer the league’s officiating program.
Additional Rulebook Notes:
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Click here to download a copy of the Official PWHL Rulebook (PDF).