At the USA Hockey Annual Congress last week in Colorado Springs, Colo., the national governing body issued a new 'Declaration of Safety, Fair Play and Respect' for the sport heading into the upcoming 2019-2020 season.

The declaration, which can be read in its entirety by clicking on the link below, starts with the following:

"USA Hockey is committed to creating a safe and fair environment for all participants. Respect for the game, the opponents, coaches and officials is a critical part of the environment that is created and it covers several different aspects of sportsmanship and fair play. This initiative will encourage a change in culture as to what is considered to be acceptable/unacceptable body checking and competitive contact at all levels of play.

The following “points of emphasis” is not designed to replace our current rules/definitions, but instead are intended clarify and update the existing rules/definitions to emphasize the key points to more clearly outline what is deemed acceptable and unacceptable behavior. USA Hockey will also provide video examples of these actions deemed “acceptable” and “unacceptable” to further illustrate expected behavior. Please review the materials thoroughly so you can play a positive role in making our game safer."