MACHA Goalies,

Just so you're prepared, here is the info brought down from the ACHA pertaining to goalie equipment. You can be almost certain that someone, a referee, etc. will be measuring your equipment by October 31. They will fill out an ACHA form and fax it to the ACHA. It you have illegal equipment then you're probably hosed. Your name will be posted on the ACHA website. SO - BE READY!!

Here's what is on the ACHA website.
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Goalie Certification Form
2008-09-30

Please use the following document and complete in full before submitting to : D2 Commissioner Fax @ 877-224-2612 Document will be submitted after completed by Certifier and sent directly to ACHA.

All,

With the new standard for goalie equipment size, the ACHA is requiring that all teams goalies have their equipment measured this season. See the attached for what measurements this entails.

*******Certification Document********

The deadline for having the certification done is October 31.
Non-compliance will result in immediate suspension of benefits from the ACHA.

You can schedule this with your local affiliate league, referee scheduler, any ACHA referee.

The Certifying Official will keep the completed document IN FULL and fax into the ACHA at 877-224-2612
Names will be posted once confirmed on ACHA D2 site,

Try to arrage when scheduling a seamstress tape measure available, otherwise we may have to reschedule if the measurements cannot be completed. It will take ~10 minutes to complete each goaltender.

Each goalie will sign off on the form, as well as the referee that certifies the measurements.

Again, the official or referee will keep the completed form and have it faxed in to me.

In addition, all teams will have their goalie equipment measured before any ACHA Regional or National Tournament.
Having issues finding help in certification send me a note.

Thanks,
Mike Radakovich
ACHA Division 2 Commissioner
[email protected]

Thigh Boards have been deemed illegal in NCAA and ACHA play as well.

Anybody know the consequences of having illegal equipment? Will you get a penalty? Kicked out of the game? Not allowed to play with illegal equipment?

If you have not been cleared by the ACHA by the deadline and you show up with illegal pads you still may end up being able to play the game. But once the scoresheet is handed in your team will forfeit the game. The refs aren't supposed to be checking for this so it is somewhat an honor system with a few checks and balances.

Before our 2nd game vs. RMC-Peoria, the refs measured up our goalies and filled out the ACHA measurement form and faxed it to the D2 Commissioner.

Who's to say goalies won't have one set of pads measured, then switch to an illegal set for the game? I'm sure quite a few goalies bought new equipment to meet the new requirements, and still have their old stuff.

Why buy a $1000+ in equipment and not use it?

Who's to say a team doesn't just register a player with the ACHA and then have someone else dress with the other kids number and name listed on the scoresheet? Everyteam has their old, good veteran, graduated players from last season around even though they have new, legal players this year.

If teams really want to try to beat this system and cheat with illegal goalie pads then i guess everyone should call them out. It seems that many team are angered with the new rule changes and want to try to keep using illegal pads. If people want to get to this point, i for one will call out any goalie with illegal pads. They are not hard to notice if they are too big. I didn't spend all this money on new pads just so other goalies or teams can cheat with illegal pads. If teams want to try to get around the rule I just say "ZERO TOLERANCE" on the issue. Any coaches or players notice then call it out to the Ref. It is would be a cheap play, but if this is how people want it thats how it is going to be. I guess we can start checking everyone's stick blades and such also. If we want to be nit pickers about this issue than i guess we can be. I don't want it to be that way, but if people are going to try to use illegal pads i will not stand for it

Is there any reason why each Arena cant have a binder of what all of the MACHA goalies wear? Considering the form you fax to the ACHA will have the Brands/Colors/Specs of the goalies hands and leg equipment, if every league had a binder or a database refs could just check in warm-ups.

Kich,

I like what you are saying but maybe have a form that you get back from the ACHA that each goalie and coach must have at each game. If the other team thinks the goalie has illegal pads and it is mentioned during warm ups and then varified through this form. The form should list what the pads are color, make, all that. If a goalie gets new pads then he needs to make sure he gets them certified. In a few years this will probably not even be a problem.

The form has spots where the ref lists the make/model/colors/specs of the pads; when we played RMC-Peoria, 2 of the 3 officials had the goalies go into an extra locker room, and they brought the form (which can be downloaded via the ACHA site) and measured up all of the goalies from each team. On of our netminders recently bought a new glove, and will have to get it certified as soon as he gets it.

Maybe the ACHA can put each faxed file for a goalie on an FTP, and a league official could download, print out or fax/email the forms to the rinks or other teams in the conference (Or just have them viewable online).

Many pad manufacturers are now only producing the NHL spec'd equipment, at least they have been doing so for about a year now. So the 12 inch pads, and gigantor gloves should be in the process of being phased out.

rinks arent gonna do it. if i managed one i wouldn't.

To the brilliant powers that be at ACHA, do you really think goalie gear is sitting on shelves in the size and colors needed? Really?

Do you really think a 3 month grace period to allow the goalies to order the stuff they need is a bad idea? Really?

Not sure when the rule was announced as we're new to the league, but even if it was announced prior to the start of the season, do you really think parents are gonna shell out $1,000+ before they know if their kid is even on the team? Really?

If you're curious as to who's dad this is, look for the goalie with the orange blocker, purple catch and yellow pads. Gimme a break folks. Really.

With credits to SNL Weekend Update.

I believe this was announced at the beginning of last season that the rule would go into effect starting this season. I could be wrong but vaguely remember something about it.

If the NCAA is doing something that we aren't because it's new you can expect it to come up at ACHA meetings. For instance, next season they may only use the five faceoff locations that have circles. 2 in each zone and the one at center ice and that is it.

This ruling was announced back in 2007. I know its ridiculous but there has been well over a year to get new pads. As a student and goalie who his forced to pay for his hockey dues himself which is over a 1000 here at my school the last thing i wanted to do was shell out another $1000 for new 11' pads that I would be using for only a single season because I am a senior. It sucks, we've all complained about it but its the rules.

I know for a fact that because I busted my ass to make the extra money to buy my new set of "legal" equipment and god help me if I'm going to come out on the ice to play a game against an opposing goalie that has just chosen not to buy the new legal pads. The league stated that the rule would be put into effect this season and I am actually happy and thankful that the league is standing behind their word and enforcing this and not letting people blow it off.

Could not say it any better.

Totally agree, all of us goalies are in the same boat, some worse than others being seniors and all. And yes, the rule was announced at the beginning of the 2007 season. Blatant Ignorance of the rule is not an option.

Gentlemen, your points are well stated and reasonable, however, put yourself in an incoming freshman's position. 1. You don't know if you're on the team for the first two weeks and 2. then you've got two weeks before you play your first game. As goalies, you know this stuff isn't sitting on the shelves in your make, size and color. Maybe some grace period for freshmen would have been in order, not only this year, but every year until all levels adapt the rules. Just makes no sense to have to scramble to make such large purchases and end up with piecemeal gear.

My problem with the rule was the way the ACHA handled the announcement. They made the decision before the start of last year but did not post any of the info on the website. They told the coaches about the changes but if the coaches failed to tell players or recruits about the new rules there wass no way for them to find out the rule for themselves.

I heard rumors about the pro spec switch midway through last year but couldn't find anything on the ACHA site and didn't find out about the change for sure until late April. I ordered my pads through Vaughn 2 weeks after I found out about the rule and I didn't get my pads until the week of our first games. Would have been nice for the ACHA to make the announcement public so players could get the info on their own.