Minnesota State High School League Changing Penalties for Violent Hits in Hockey Gamges

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour

Two week's after a Minnesota high school hockey player was paralyzed from the neck down after a check from behind, the state's high school sports governing body has taken action to stiffen penalties for three different penalties.

Starting with Monday's games, the Minnesota State High School League players called for a check from behind, boarding or head contact will get at least a five-minute major penalty.

According to a news release posted on the MSHSL's website: "The penalties for three infractions of the rules have been significantly increased in an effort to thwart players from making dangerous hits on the ice."

The rules changes come after Benilde-St. Margaret's sophomore hockey player Jack Joblonski was paralyzed from crashing headfirst into the boards after a check from behind.

"Hockey is a great game, and when it is played the way it should be played, it should be a safe game," said Craig Perry, Minnesota State High School League associate director who oversees hockey.  "The advisory committee's recommendations and our Board's support of the action continue our efforts to protect the kids on the ice, efforts that have been in place for a number of years."

Hockey Day Minnesota: Hill-Murray Pioneers

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour

As a young 11-year old boy growing-up in Pennsylvania I loved the Philadelphia Flyers as they evolved into the Stanley Cup champion Broad Street Bullies.

Learning the great game imported from the north was fun.  At one point, I even thought hockey was only played in Canada until it was time for the players to move on to the NHL.  I didn't stop to think that the game was being played in the Lower 48 by high schoolers.

Then there was the little miracle in Lake Placid, and I was suddenly aware of the passion for the game in Massachusetts and Minnesota.

I guess that's why it was so much fun to talk high school hockey on the show today.  157 schools play hockey in the state of 1,000 lakes.

Bill Lechner, who is the head hockey coach at Hill-Murray School in St. Paul, joined Trish and myself to talk about his school's success, plus hockey day in Minnesota yesterday.

The Pioneers are one of the top team's in the state.  H-M has three state championship banners hanging in its rink, plus two others as an independent school before private schools were integrated into the state athletic association tournament.

Hill-Murray has had six Pioneers, who have gone on to the NHL...three have been Olympians.  Alum Steve Janaszak, who was the back-up goaltender to Jim Craig, was a member of the 1980 Miracle on Ice team.

On Saturday, over 4,000 high school hockey fans watched Lechner's team beat Moorhead 3-2 in a game that was played outside as part of Hockey Day in Minnesota.  Click here to read how the state's #1 AA team improved to 19-3-1.

Hockey Day in Minnesota, created by the NHL's Minnesota Wild, just celebrated its fifth anniversary.  It began with Wayzata High School facing Roseau in the morning at Moorhead, followed by the H-M/Moorhead.  It then moved to a game between the University in Minnesota and Denver.  The day was capped-off with a game between the Wild and St. Louis.

To learn more about Hill-Murray, click here to go to the Pioneers website.