The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) has approved a recommendation to stiffen penalties for checking from behind, boarding and contact to the head, effective immediately. The penalties for the three infractions have been significantly increased in an effort to thwart players from making dangerous hits on the ice.

According to a press release from the MSHSL, the goal is “to continue the League’s efforts to reduce & remove dangerous contact that has led to severe injuries to players.”

Checking from behind penalties will now become a five-minute major plus a 10-minute misconduct. Checking from behind penalties formerly called for a two-minute minor plus a 10-minute misconduct. The existing rule also states that any check from behind that is deemed "flagrant or causes the player to crash headfirst in the boards or goal frame" will continue to be a game disqualification.

Boarding now becomes an automatic five-minute major instead of the option of either a two-minute minor or five-minute major. The existing rule also states that any check from behind that "causes the player to crash headfirst in the boards" will continue to be a game disqualification.

For both checking from behind and boarding, officials have option of assessing a game disqualification for flagrant checks. The disqualified played would miss the next scheduled game.

Contact to the head penalties will now become an automatic five-minute major instead of the option of either a two-minute minor or 5-minute major. Officials still have the options of assessing a game DQ if warranted.

“Hockey is a great game, and when played the way it should be played, it should be a safe game,” said Craig Perry, MSHSL associate director who oversees hockey. "[These actions] continue our efforts to protect kids on the ice, efforts that have been in place for a number of years.”

The MSHSL got permission from the National Federation of State High School Associations to alter the three penalties on an experimental basis for the remainder of the current season.

An education module is now available on www.mshsl.org, detailing rules changes and improper/proper body contact.