NHL Players Find Loophole To “Helmet Rule”
The NHL enacted several new rules for the 2013-14 season in response to growing safety concerns. These rules include the new goalie pad regulations, jersey tuck rule and one that affects those notorious hockey fights: under Rule 46.6, players are prevented from removing their own helmets when engaging in a fight.
Brett Gallant of the New York Islanders and Krys Barch of the New Jersey Devils found a way around this rule on Thursday night as both purposely took off each other’s helmets before starting their fight. (Yahoo Sports, Krys Barch, Brett Gallant find rule loophole, remove each other’s helmets before fight, September 19, 2013)
According to the NHL, Rule 46.6 states:
Helmets – No player may remove his helmet prior to engaging in a fight. If he should do so, he shall be assessed a two minute minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Helmets that come off in the course of and resulting from the altercation will not result in a penalty to either player. Yahoo Sports
According to Tom Gulitti, Barch said “He was like, ‘You can take my helmet off. I was like, ‘All right. Let’s just take them both off.’ And he was like, ‘I can’t take the two (minute penalty).’ And I was like, ‘OK, this is getting pretty embarrassing.’ We’re all men. I was like, ‘This doesn’t even feel natural.’ I want to fight off emotion, not be sitting there and having everything planned.”
Players now face a two-minute penalty for removing their helmet before a fight. One bout could equal seven penalty minutes for a player. Now that this loophole has been discovered, it won’t be long before there’s yet another rule ensuring this situation never happens again.
“The problem with this kind of behavior is that players are forgetting why these rules were put there in the first place – their own safety. And perhaps, to protect the NHL from a lawsuit similar to the one recently brought by players in the NFL. Truthfully, concussions and other injuries are a serious problem in hockey. Players lose control and don’t realize the long-term effects years of fighting have on their health,” says Frank N. Darras, insurance attorney to the pros.
While NHL spokesman Frank Brown said the league had no comment after the NFL reached a $765 million settlement with former players related to concussions, it’s no surprise they are enacting new rules to protect their players – and themselves.
About DarrasLaw – America’s Top Disability Firm
DarrasLaw, its attorneys, including founder Frank N. Darras, the nation’s top disability insurance attorney, have received numerous honors and awards from peers, validating the claim that we are America’s top disability firm. Lawdragon has singled out Frank N. Darras for five years in a row as one of the Top 500 Lawyers in America. Since its inception, Super Lawyers has honored him by naming him to its list for his work with disability insurance policyholders. The American Association of Justice lists him as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in California. Best Lawyers in America has profiled DarrasLaw and the firm’s accomplishments on behalf of the disadvantaged and disabled.
At DarrasLaw our compassion goes hand-in-hand with our legal expertise. We take pride not only in the results we achieve, but the care our team provides along the way. We hire only the top disability injury attorneys and staff, including our in-house nurse, for their compassion as much as their expertise and knowledge. Hiring the cream of the crop has been critical to maintaining our position as America’s top disability firm.
Our national reach plays a role too. People from all 50 states turn to us for help with individual disability insurance matters.
Nationwide, we review more than 2,500 claims a month, representing disabled and injured people across the nation, from the blue-collar worker to professional athletes. In any given year, we handle more cases than many firms handle in their lifetime. We have recovered nearly $1 billion in wrongfully denied insurance benefits. Although DarrasLaw does not handle Social Security Disability Insurance cases, we are happy to provide excellent referrals to those who need help.
Watch more helpful videos by subscribing to our YouTube page, DarrasLaw.
Darras is available for interviews. Contact robin@mcdavidpr.com.