OHL cameras, tablets to help get right calls
There will be an additional eye in the sky and in the penalty box this Ontario Hockey League season.
Overhead cameras at each blue line, and video tablets in the penalty box, will be mandatory at all OHL barns in a bid to get more calls correct on the ice.
The changes were made after the league’s board of governors gathered for their annual meeting in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
On-ice officials will automatically review major and match penalties on a video tablet to verify that the infraction was called on the right player or to reduce the original call to a double minor, minor or no penalty at all.
The devices will not be used to dish out penalties that were not called or to increase the severity of infractions.
The tablets can also be used to judge offside, after a goal has been scored.
In addition, coaches can now challenge a goal or no-goal call when goaltender interference is involved. But bench bosses can only use their challenge if they have a timeout. If the original call isn’t overturned, the team loses its timeout. If the challenge is successful, the team keeps its timeout and can make another challenge later in the game.
The board has also created the Jim Gregory Award to honour the top general manager each season. The winner will be picked by all 20 GMs and a panel of media. Gregory was a longtime GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, among other things, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007.
The goalie of the year award will now be named in Jim Rutherford’s honour. Rutherford was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame this past June, has won a trio of Stanley Cups and once worked for OHL clubs in Windsor and Detroit.
Meanwhile, Saginaw Spirit president and governor, Craig Goslin was named the new chair of the OHL’s board of governors.