THE FASTEST GAME ON EARTH? IHL RULE CHANGES TO SPEED UP GAME

          The IHL Board of Governors announced five rule changes
     designed to shorten the length of games and provide more
     offensive opportunities.  IHL Commissioner Bob Ufer: "These
     innovations are important first steps to speed up our games
     and get the puck in the net a little more often."  With the
     exception of moving the blue lines one foot closer to center
     ice, the four other rules will be reviewed by the Board of
     Governors at the end of the preseason for initial approval
     for the '97-98 season.  The approval process includes "input
     and review" by the NHL, which provides referees for the IHL
     (IHL).  In Cleveland, Amy Rosewater wrote that the changes,
     if approved, "likely would not go into effect" until mid-
     November, and that IHL execs hope to speed up games that
     averaged close to 2:40 last year (PLAIN-DEALER, 9/10).