The PWHL will use the NHL rules with some small adaptations, and pull officials from the AHL for year one. When puck drops on the inaugural PWHL season, the league intends to use a rule book extremely similar to the NHL's. That's according to PWHL vice president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford, who said the PWHL will use NHL rules with a "few small adaptations." Hefford also spoke of the league's goal to have consistent officiating, particularly when it came to calling the difference between body checking and body contact. Body checking and fighting will be penalties in the PWHL, while body contact, as is the case in all women's hockey, is permitted. To uphold these standards, the PWHL will be utilizing officials from the American Hockey League's officiating pool for this season. Watch Jayna Hefford's full comments above.
