Inside the Empire

CIVIL WAR HOCKEY SHOWCASE - U Albany, known for putting together the biggest most competitive showcases in Division 3, will once again not disappoint.  The Great Danes with their Empire brethren will host the boys from the Sunshine State the weekend of October 14,15, and 16.  U Albany, Farmingdale and Southern Connecticut will take on Central Florida, South Florida and Florida Atlantic.  The weekend will see the defending Empire Champions Southern Connecticut take on the Knights from Central Florida, who boasts the second longest streak of National Championship tournament appearances, for the first time.  Farmingdale, a 4 time National Tournament fixture will take on Florida Atlantic, coming off their first ever National Tournament bid as well.  The tournament will also take place during the Empire's annual Empire Fights Cancer drive so each team will wear the pink jerseys for a game that weekend.

The "Officials" Perspective

Head Check Rules Proposed for All Levels of Hockey - A group of more than 250 doctors, researchers and officials has called on hockey organizations — from youth groups on up to the NHL — to ban hits to the head. Representatives from the United States, Canada and Europe attending the two-day "Ice Hockey Summit: Action on Concussion" conference at the Mayo Clinic's Sports Medicine Center emerged from the Rochester, Minn., facility Wednesday with the recommendation.

The proposed new rule would set a stiffer head-checking standard in the NHL and its minor leagues in an effort to reduce the 75 reported concussions that occur on average each season in the NHL.  Read More