Hybrid icing will be in effect for the start of the NHL regular season after it was approved by the players, according to an ESPN.com report on Monday.

The NHLPA gave the go-ahead for the rule change that makes icing a race to an imaginary line across the faceoff dots instead of the puck, which was given a trial run during the preseason.

The goal is to prevent serious injuries, such as the one that sidelined Joni Pitlanen for the entire season.