I just got this from the NHL:
NHL AND NHLPA SELECT GOALIE EQUIPMENT WORKING GROUP
TORONTO/NEW YORK (April 29, 2008) – The National Hockey League
Players’ Association (NHLPA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) today
announced the formation of the Goalie Equipment Working Group, which
consists of five players and four General Managers.
The NHL representatives include Doug Risebrough of Minnesota, Garth Snow of
the New York Islanders, Jim Rutherford of Carolina and Brett Hull of Dallas
(co-GM). The NHLPA’s Executive Board voted to select three goalies and two
skaters. Martin Brodeur of New Jersey, Rick DiPietro of the New York
Islanders, Ryan Miller of Buffalo, Dany Heatley of Ottawa and Mike
Cammalleri of Los Angeles will represent the NHLPA.
The Goalie Equipment Working Group will meet on June 11, 2008 in Toronto to
examine the configuration and dimensions of goaltender equipment with
respect to safety and performance. If the working group decides alterations
to the rules governing goaltender equipment are warranted, and will not
jeopardize the safety of the goalies, these recommendations will be
forwarded to the Competition Committee for consideration.
“The NHLPA’s membership supports reviewing modifications to goaltender
equipment provided the safety and protection of goalies is not compromised,”
said NHLPA Executive Director Paul Kelly. “These five players, together with
the general managers, will each bring a unique perspective to the goalie
working group, and we anticipate that following the meeting there will be
recommendations for the Competition Committee to review.”
“As we discussed with the Players' Association, player safety and
competitive fairness are paramount whenever you're contemplating any change
to the game," said NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations
Colin Campbell. "By assembling this great group of former and current
players to review goalie equipment, I'm confident we'll have the right
recommendations to move forward both from a competitive and protective
level."
At some point along the way there was a fundamental shift in the way
goaltending equipment was viewed and it's purpose went from keeping goalies safe
to keeping pucks out of the net. Those are two very, very different things and
I'm all for making equipment smaller as long as safety isn't compromised. Back
before the All-Star Game I had a long, long talk with Todd McFarlane via phone
and one of the issues he expounded on the size of goaltending equipment. He
figured that with all of the advances in modern technology and in sports
equipment that there was no reason for goaltending equipment to be getting
bigger in the name of safety. He was very confident that if a manufacturer was
motivated they could easily make smaller equipment that was just as safe.
The committee has an interesting make-up. I have a lot of respect for Doug
Risebrough and Jim Rutherford as GM'. Brett Hull has not trouble backing changes
that make the game more exciting and Garth Snow is a former goalie who was known
for wearing ridiculously oversized shoulder pads. On the player side Heatley and
Cammalleri ought to be in favor of more scoring. Brodeur is very vocal about
goalie causes, but he wears some of the smallest gear in the league. That leaves
Ryan Miller and Rick DiPietro as the up-and-coming keepers. My only question is
why the committee has two representatives from the Islanders.
