Emergency goalie protocol talk on tap for NHL GMs meeting

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer
Emergency goaltender protocol is expected to be high on the agenda when NHL general managers gather for their annual March meeting. The recent appearance of 42-year-old Zamboni driver David Ayres in a regular-season game with playoff implications sparked new debate. GMs have discussed about emergency goalies and what should happen for the past several years. It's unclear if anything will change. No major rule changes are expected to be approved at the meeting. But offside reviews, icing and player safety are among the topics that are expected to come up. There may also be talk of in-arena medical care that was effective when Jay Bouwmeester collapsed on the bench.