PWHL rulebook released: Unique point system, body checking and shorthanded goals

With just hours before the inaugural season is set to begin, the Professional Women’s Hockey League has released its rulebook, with some very interesting rule changes compared to the men’s game.

3-2-1-0 Point System

Arguably one of the biggest differences will be how points are awarded for wins and losses.

Similar to what the Premier Hockey Federation had done in recent years, teams will be awarded three points for regulation wins, and two for victories that come in overtime and shootouts.

Like the NHL, one point will be handed to a team that loses in extra time, with a team that loses in regulation receiving no points.

This rule is also being used throughout college hockey and the International Ice Hockey Federation. It gives more merit to winning within 60 minutes, contrary to teams holding on for 3-on-3 overtime or the skills comp…I mean shootout.

The tiebreakers are fairly traditional, with whoever has the better winning percentage being the first tiebreaker, followed by regulation wins, then total wins, and so on.

Shorthanded Goals

One of the more unique rule additions is what happens when a shorthanded goal is scored.

While a penalty has traditionally continued after a team on a penalty, that will not be the case in the PWHL.

According to Rule 16, when a goal is scored by a team on the penalty kill, whichever penalty has the least amount of time remaining will be terminated.

In layman’s terms, you score a shorty, and you go back to even strength.

This will give an emphasis on team’s playing aggressive while down a player, which will lead to more scoring chances, both for the team on the “power kill” and the squad with a the player advantage.

This rule is also being tried out in the Champions Hockey League in Europe this season.

Body Checking

A very aggressive move sees the league allowing body checking. For most of the history of women’s hockey, body contact has been allowed, but not body checking.

However, this has been changing in recent years. The SDHL over in Sweden has allowed players to hit one another, within reason of course, over the last two seasons.

Per Rule 52.1, body checking is allowed when a player’s clear intention is to play the puck, or attempt to gain possession. However, pinning or pushing into the boards to eliminate an opposing player is not allowed.

These rules, and more, are set to come to the forefront in the PWHL’s inaugural game this afternoon, as Toronto hosts New York at the Mattamy Athletic Centre at 12:30 p.m. ET.

To watch the first-ever contest, and games this whole season, checkout the recent broadcasting rights deal the league signed.