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Hockey Penalties Toughened for 2014-15

December 4, 2014

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Seasons are underway for teams participating in 12 winter sports for which the Michigan High School Athletic Association sponsors postseason tournaments, with stronger penalties for excessive contact in ice hockey highlighting rules changes taking effect with the beginning of competition.

Eight sports including ice hockey began play during the final two weeks of November, with the remaining four sports beginning competition over the next 10 days – Lower Peninsula Boys Swimming and Diving on Dec. 6, Boys Basketball on December 8 and Boys and Girls Skiing on Dec. 13. Upper Peninsula Girls and Boys Bowling teams began competition on Nov. 29, and Lower Peninsula teams may begin Dec. 6.

Changes to ice hockey penalties resulting from opponents being forced into the boards continue a focus on improving safety by establishing different levels of severity based on the flagrance and violence of the offending act. 

Any excessive contact – including checking, cross-checking, elbowing, charging or tripping – that causes an opponent to be thrown violently into the boards will receive a 5-minute major penalty; previously this boarding infraction resulted only in a 2-minute minor penalty unless the contact was flagrant. If the flagrant or violent check causes a player to crash headfirst into the boards, a 5-minute major will be assessed as well as either a 10-minute misconduct or game disqualification depending on the severity of the offending check. Players disqualified from ice hockey games are not allowed to play in the next two games as well. 

A 5-minute major penalty also will be assessed to any player who pushes, charges, cross-checks or body-checks an opponent from behind in open ice. Previously, this excessive contact came with a 2-minute minor penalty and 10-minute misconduct. 

A handful of notable rules changes also go into effect for girls and boys basketball:

  • Intentional fouls were redefined to include excessive contact with any opposing player – not just the shooter – while the ball is live or until an airborne shooter returns to the floor. All excessive contact committed by any player will be ruled intentional.

  • Also, additions to the definition of personal foul were added to eliminate excessive contact on ball handlers outside of the lane area. The following additions constitute a foul when committed against the ball handler/dribbler: placing two hands (fronts or backs of hands) on the player, placing an extended arm bar (forearm away from the body) on the player, placing and keeping a hand on the player, and contacting the player more than once with the same hand or alternating hands.

  • The rule for players releasing to the lane on a free throw attempt was changed to its previous version; a player occupying a marked lane space again may enter the lane on the release of the ball by the free throw shooter. Players behind the free throw line extended and 3-point arc behind the free throw line must wait until the free throw attempt touches the ring or backboard or has ended (touches the floor) before entering the lane. This was the rule prior to the 1994-95 season.

  • Players may wear arm sleeves, knee sleeves, lower leg sleeves and tights, but all sleeves and tights must be black, white, beige or the predominant color of the team’s uniform. All team members wearing sleeves or tights must wear the same color. Knee braces do not count as part of this uniform regulation.

    • A significant change for wrestling affects team tournaments stretching multiple days, including the MHSAA Finals, for which weigh-ins are conducted each day. An athlete must weigh in at the same weight both days in order to continue competing after the first day of the tournament. Previously, an athlete could compete at whatever weight he or she weighed in at on the first day and then the new weight, if different, on the second day. Beginning this season, that wrestler may not compete the subsequent days of the team event if he or she weighs in at a different weight after the first day. 

    The 2014-15 Winter campaign culminates with postseason tournaments beginning with the Upper Peninsula Girls and Boys Swimming & Diving Finals on Feb. 21, and wraps up with the Boys Basketball Finals on March 28. Here is a complete list of winter tournament dates: 

    Boys Basketball
    Districts – March 9, 11 & 13
    Regionals – March 16 & 18
    Quarterfinals – March 24
    Semifinals – March 26-27
    Finals – March 28 

    Girls Basketball
    Districts – March 2, 4 & 6
    Regionals – March 10 & 12
    Quarterfinals – March 17
    Semifinals – March 19-20
    Finals – March 21

    Bowling
    Team Regionals – Feb. 27
    Singles Regionals – Feb. 28
    Team Finals – March 6
    Singles Finals – March 7 

    Girls Competitive Cheer
    Districts – Feb. 20-21
    Regionals – Feb. 28
    Finals: March 6-7 

    Girls Gymnastics
    Regionals – March 7
    Team Finals – March 13
    Individual Finals – March 14 

    Ice Hockey
    Pre-Regionals – March 2-6
    Regional Finals – March 7
    Quarterfinals – March 10-11
    Semifinals – March 12-13
    Finals – March 14 

    Skiing
    Regionals – Feb. 9-13
    Finals – Feb. 23 

    Swimming & Diving
    U.P. Girls & Boys Finals – Feb. 21
    L.P. Boys Diving Regionals – March 5
    L.P. Boys Finals – March 13-14 

    Wrestling
    Team Districts – Feb. 11-12
    Individual Districts – Feb. 14
    Team Regionals – Feb. 18
    Individual Regionals – Feb. 21
    Team Quarterfinals – Feb. 27
    Team Semifinals & Finals – Feb. 28
    Individual Finals – March 5-7

    Second Half by MHSAA

    2014 Week 9 Football Playoff Listing

    October 21, 2014

    By Geoff Kimmerly
    Second Half editor

    Following is a list of Michigan High School Athletic Association football playing schools with at least four wins, displaying their win-loss records and playoff averages through the eighth week of the season.

    Schools on this list are in enrollment order for 11-player teams, with 8-player teams ordered by playoff average. An asterisk (*) beside a record indicates a team has eight or fewer games scheduled. A caret (^) beside a school’s name indicates a team is one win away from playoff qualification.

    Those schools with 11-player teams with six or more wins playing nine-game schedules, or five or more wins playing eight games or fewer, will qualify for the MHSAA Football Playoffs beginning Oct. 31. Schools with 5-4, 4-3 or 4-4 records may qualify if the number of potential qualifiers by win total does not reach the 256 mark. Schools with six or more wins playing nine-game schedules or five or more wins playing eight games or fewer may be subtracted from the field based on playoff average if the number of potential qualifiers exceeds the 256 mark.

    Once the 256 qualifying schools are determined, they will be divided by enrollment groups into eight equal divisions of 32 schools, and then drawn into regions of eight teams each and districts of four teams each. Those schools with 8-player teams will be ranked by playoff average at season’s end, and the top 16 programs will be drawn into regions of eight teams each for the playoff in that division, which also begins Oct. 31.

    To review a list of all football playoff schools, individual school playoff point details and to report errors, visit the Football page of the MHSAA Website.

    The announcement of the qualifiers and first-round pairings for both the 11 and 8-player playoffs will take place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 26 on the Selection Sunday Show on FOX Sports Detroit. The playoff qualifiers and pairings will be posted to the MHSAA Website following the Selection Sunday Show.

    11-Player Playoff Listing 

    1. Macomb Dakota, 2814, 6-2, 84.500
    2. Sterling Heights Stevenson, 2767, 6-2, 83.875
    3. Clarkston, 2742, 8-0, 111.000
    4. Utica Eisenhower ^, 2712, 5-3, 75.500
    5. Grand Blanc ^, 2668, 5-3, 63.875
    6. Howell, 2595, 4-4, 57.750
    7. East Kentwood, 2592, 7-1, 93.500
    8. Rockford, 2555, 6-2, 88.375
    9. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley ^, 2538, 5-3, 69.750
    10. Lake Orion, 2459, 4-4, 50.750
    11. Dearborn Fordson, 2411, 8-0, 108.000
    12. Northville ^, 2298, 5-3, 63.000
    13. Holland West Ottawa ^, 2293, 5-3, 72.500
    14. Canton, 2289, 6-2, 85.375
    15. Detroit Cass Tech, 2277, 8-0, 106.000
    16. Brighton, 2133, 4-4, 52.125
    17. Plymouth, 2116, 6-2, 77.250
    18. Lapeer, 2112, 8-0, 101.000
    19. Utica Ford, 2090, 4-4, 47.125
    20. Hartland, 2007, 6-2, 84.125
    21. Monroe, 1992, 6-2, 81.625
    22. West Bloomfield, 1929, 7-1, 93.875
    23. Dearborn ^, 1876, 5-3, 71.375
    24. Westland John Glenn ^, 1872, 5-3, 60.875
    25. Warren Mott, 1870, 4-4, 58.250
    26. Oxford, 1864, 6-2, 78.625
    27. Ann Arbor Pioneer, 1857, 4-4, 48.250
    28. Livonia Stevenson, 1848, 6-2, 76.125
    29. Saline, 1844, 7-1, 92.083
    30. Grandville, 1820, 4-4, 56.750
    31. Walled Lake Central, 1815, 6-2, 83.250
    32. Romeo ^, 1770, 5-3, 66.625
    33. Hudsonville ^, 1759, 5-3, 67.875
    34. Waterford Mott ^, 1738, 5-3, 69.750
    35. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, 1711, 4-4, 50.625
    36. Livonia Churchill, 1696, 6-2, 79.250
    37. Grand Ledge ^, 1689, 5-3, 61.875
    38. Fraser ^, 1684, 5-3, 61.625
    39. Grosse Pointe South, 1674, 4-4, 57.750
    40. Traverse City West, 1658, 4-4, 54.625
    41. Rochester Adams, 1614, 4-4, 49.375
    42. Walled Lake Northern, 1613, 4-4, 54.250
    43. Waterford Kettering, 1610, 4-4, 49.250
    44. Temperance Bedford, 1600, 4-4, 54.125
    45. Warren Cousino ^, 1588, 5-3, 67.250
    46. Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 1568, 6-2, 77.375
    47. Warren DeLaSalle ^, 1562, 5-3, 59.100
    48. Davison, 1531, 4-4, 47.000
    49. Detroit Western International, 1521, 4-4, 41.125
    50. Detroit Martin Luther King, 1507, 8-0, 109.143
    51. Walled Lake Western, 1502, 7-1, 97.500
    52. Traverse City Central, 1490, 6-2, 79.875
    53. Oak Park, 1486, 6-2, 79.500
    54. Brownstown Woodhaven, 1484, 8-0, 107.000
    55. East Detroit, 1422, 4-4, 45.750
    56. Ypsilanti Lincoln, 1422, 6-2, 74.875
    57. Caledonia, 1417, 6-2, 86.875
    58. Midland, 1400, 4-4, 48.375
    59. Southfield-Lathrup, 1388, 4-4, 49.250
    60. Portage Central *, 1384, 6-1, 86.911
    61. Detroit Pershing, 1379, 4-4, 40.518
    62. Southgate Anderson ^, 1374, 5-3, 59.000
    63. Lansing Everett ^, 1364, 5-3, 63.125
    64. Dearborn Edsel Ford, 1356, 4-4, 51.250
    65. Wyandotte Roosevelt, 1351, 6-2, 77.625
    66. Detroit East English ^, 1345, 5-3, 62.768
    67. Portage Northern ^, 1345, 5-3, 69.571
    68. Port Huron, 1336, 6-2, 80.375
    69. Grosse Pointe North ^, 1310, 5-3, 66.625
    70. Ypsilanti Community ^, 1300, 5-3, 59.500
    71. Birmingham Brother Rice, 1298, 8-0, 109.000
    72. Swartz Creek ^, 1285, 5-3, 61.875
    73. Battle Creek Lakeview *, 1278, 6-1, 90.071
    74. Muskegon Mona Shores, 1274, 7-1, 95.625
    75. Okemos ^, 1273, 5-3, 66.750
    76. Bay City Central, 1271, 4-4, 51.750
    77. Birmingham Groves, 1270, 6-2, 76.375
    78. Berkley, 1265, 6-2, 75.125
    79. Flushing, 1260, 6-2, 79.250
    80. Midland Dow, 1255, 8-0, 101.000
    81. South Lyon, 1254, 7-1, 94.250
    82. Southfield, 1239, 6-2, 78.500
    83. Farmington Hills Harrison, 1212, 7-1, 94.625
    84. Mattawan ^, 1184, 5-3, 64.929
    85. Fenton, 1181, 8-0, 107.000
    86. Farmington, 1178, 7-1, 94.750
    87. Grand Rapids Northview, 1177, 6-2, 76.375
    88. Warren Woods Tower, 1175, 6-2, 76.500
    89. Muskegon, 1157, 8-0, 105.000
    90. St. Clair Shores Lake Shore, 1153, 4-4, 48.375
    91. Lowell, 1145, 7-1, 85.625
    92. Detroit Renaissance ^, 1144, 5-3, 58.893
    93. Greenville, 1130, 4-4, 43.125
    94. Gibraltar Carlson, 1129, 4-4, 45.750
    95. Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills, 1125, 4-4, 49.750
    96. Battle Creek Central, 1124, 4-4, 49.339
    97. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, 1113, 6-2, 78.375
    98. Holland, 1109, 4-4, 46.000
    99. Detroit Cody ^, 1096, 5-3, 58.893
    100. Marquette, 1090, 7-1, 81.292
    101. St. Johns, 1088, 7-1, 90.875
    102. Byron Center, 1085, 6-2, 74.500
    103. Allen Park, 1069, 7-1, 88.875
    104. Richland Gull Lake, 1064, 4-4, 46.964
    105. Auburn Hills Avondale ^, 1056, 5-3, 58.000
    106. Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 1054, 7-1, 85.875
    107. Mt. Pleasant ^, 1050, 5-3, 59.125
    108. Mason ^, 1032, 5-3, 61.125
    109. St. Joseph, 1028, 4-4, 50.214
    110. Redford Thurston ^, 1024, 5-3, 62.875
    111. East Grand Rapids ^, 986, 5-3, 69.250
    112. Petoskey, 965, 6-2, 77.375
    113. Trenton ^, 955, 5-3, 60.250
    114. Romulus, 950, 6-2, 65.500
    115. Riverview ^, 935, 5-3, 55.250
    116. DeWitt, 930, 8-0, 107.000
    117. Gaylord ^, 927, 5-3, 59.875
    118. Linden, 921, 6-2, 74.500
    119. Detroit Mumford ^, 919, 5-3, 61.125
    120. Middleville Thornapple Kellogg, 914, 4-4, 46.000
    121. Cedar Springs, 910, 7-1, 87.500
    122. Grand Rapids Christian ^, 895, 5-3, 65.125
    123. Fruitport, 890, 4-4, 48.625
    124. Stevensville Lakeshore, 887, 6-2, 80.071
    125. Sault Ste. Marie, 886, 4-4, 46.750
    126. Niles ^, 885, 5-3, 60.589
    127. Coldwater, 876, 7-1, 73.875
    128. Haslett, 874, 4-4, 55.750
    129. Tecumseh ^, 869, 5-3, 62.125
    130. New Boston Huron, 867, 7-1, 78.875
    131. Warren Fitzgerald ^, 857, 5-3, 55.625
    132. Zeeland West, 850, 8-0, 95.000
    133. Dearborn Divine Child, 848, 6-2, 66.857
    134. Bay City John Glenn, 847, 6-2, 59.500
    135. Battle Creek Harper Creek ^, 845, 5-3, 53.250
    136. St. Clair, 844, 6-2, 76.375
    137. Edwardsburg, 839, 7-1, 84.625
    138. Chelsea, 838, 6-2, 75.125
    139. Detroit Old Redford ^, 837, 5-3, 47.889
    140. Charlotte, 836, 4-4, 41.500
    141. Milan, 828, 4-4, 40.750
    142. Plainwell, 812, 7-1, 77.750
    143. Ada Forest Hills Eastern, 808, 4-4, 46.750
    144. Marysville ^, 806, 5-3, 62.250
    145. Spring Lake ^, 802, 5-3, 56.625
    146. Detroit Denby, 800, 4-4, 54.375
    147. Ionia, 796, 4-4, 46.375
    148. Vicksburg, 794, 6-2, 68.250
    149. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood ^, 790, 5-3, 44.750
    150. Eaton Rapids ^, 773, 5-3, 55.000
    151. Cadillac, 747, 8-0, 103.000
    152. Goodrich, 737, 7-1, 76.875
    153. Ferndale, 723, 4-4, 47.500
    154. Three Rivers ^, 722, 5-3, 62.000
    155. Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 717, 7-1, 79.786
    156. Yale, 716, 6-2, 61.625
    157. Comstock Park, 703, 4-4, 46.875
    158. Hudsonville Unity Christian, 693, 4-4, 46.000
    159. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy, 691, 6-2, 67.875
    160. Detroit Country Day, 690, 4-4, 46.500
    161. Allendale, 689, 4-4, 46.250
    162. Muskegon Orchard View ^, 662, 5-3, 50.750
    163. Williamston, 659, 6-2, 69.250
    164. Paw Paw ^, 657, 5-3, 53.875
    165. Grand Rapids Catholic Central ^, 655, 5-3, 60.000
    166. Lansing Sexton, 652, 8-0, 111.000
    167. Whitehall, 644, 6-2, 59.500
    168. Grosse Ile, 640, 6-2, 67.625
    169. Kalamazoo Hackett ^, 635, 5-3, 45.536
    170. Detroit Collegiate Prep, 634, 4-4, 42.250
    171. Richmond, 630, 7-1, 77.875
    172. Imlay City, 629, 4-4, 36.500
    173. Grand Rapids South Christian, 623, 6-2, 74.125
    174. Wyoming Kelloggsville ^, 610, 5-3, 51.750
    175. Wyoming Godwin Heights ^, 609, 5-3, 44.625
    176. Saginaw Swan Valley, 602, 8-0, 89.000
    177. Clawson ^, 589, 5-3, 49.125
    178. North Muskegon, 577, 4-4, 36.250
    179. Birch Run, 575, 7-1, 75.750
    180. Essexville Garber ^, 574, 5-3, 51.250
    181. Remus Chippewa Hills, 567, 6-2, 70.250
    182. Flint Powers Catholic, 553, 6-2, 68.500
    183. Marine City, 553, 8-0, 96.000
    184. Freeland, 549, 7-1, 74.875
    185. Kingsford, 546, 4-4, 45.667
    186. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 545, 6-2, 56.786
    187. Stanton Central Montcalm ^, 539, 5-3, 55.750
    188. Portland, 538, 4-4, 48.875
    189. Menominee, 532, 8-0, 91.730
    190. Detroit University Prep, 530, 6-2, 60.264
    191. River Rouge, 530, 7-1, 73.143
    192. Frankenmuth, 528, 7-1, 75.750
    193. Gladwin ^, 528, 5-3, 47.000
    194. Ida, 527, 6-2, 58.500
    195. Hopkins, 522, 7-1, 74.804
    196. Grayling, 517, 4-4, 41.643
    197. Lansing Catholic, 515, 8-0, 94.000
    198. Almont, 512, 8-0, 85.889
    199. Carrollton, 511, 4-4, 37.250
    200. Newaygo, 506, 7-1, 73.625
    201. Olivet, 505, 6-2, 64.125
    202. Berrien Springs ^, 501, 5-3, 53.500
    203. Muskegon Oakridge, 501, 7-1, 72.875
    204. Onsted ^, 499, 5-3, 41.125
    205. Ovid-Elsie ^, 487, 5-3, 53.000
    206. Chesaning, 480, 4-4, 41.375
    207. Detroit Central Collegiate ^, 479, 5-3, 52.018
    208. Manistee, 479, 4-4, 40.375
    209. Stockbridge ^, 462, 5-3, 50.625
    210. Reed City, 461, 7-1, 77.750
    211. Clare, 445, 6-2, 65.625