Faceoffs

(a) All face-offs shall be conducted at the designated face-off spots as dictated by reason for the stoppage of play or on an imaginary line parallel to the side boards and extending from one end zone spot to the other end zone spot, or at the centre face-off spot. The Referee or the Linesman will drop the puck on the ice between the sticks of the players "facing-off". Players facing -off shall stand squarely facing their opponents end of the rink, approximately one stick length apart, with the blade of their sticks touching the ice.

When the face-off takes place at any of the End or Neutral Zone face-off spots, the players taking part shall place the blade of the stick touching the ice in contact with the designated white area.

The player of the attacking team in his attacking half of the rink shall place his stick on the ice first, followed immediately by the player of the defending team.

When the face-off takes place at any of the end zone face-off spots, both players taking part shall take their position so that they stand squarely facing their opponent's end of the rink, and clear of the ice markings.

No other players shall be allowed to enter the face-off circle or come within 4,5 m. of the players facing-off and must stand "on-side" on all face-offs.

If a violation of this sub-section of this rule occurs, the Referee or Linesman shall re-face the puck, UNLESS the non-offending team gained possession of the puck in which case the face-off will be considered valid and play shall be permitted to continue.

(b) If a player facing off fails to take his proper position immediately when directed by the official, the official may order him replaced for that face-off by any team-mate on the ice.

No substitution of players shall be permitted until the face-off has been completed and play has been resumed, except when a penalty is imposed that will affect the on ice strength of either team.

(c) In the conduct of any face-off anywhere on the playing surface no player facing-off shall make any physical contact with his opponent's body by means of his own body or by his stick, except in the course of playing the puck after the face-off has been completed.

For violation of this rule the Referee shall impose a Minor Penalty or penalties on the player(s) whose action(s) caused the physical contact.

Note: "Conduct of any face-off" commences when the Referee designates the place of the face-off and he (or the Linesman) takes his position to drop the puck.

d) Where a player has been removed from the face-off by an official, and another player of the same team delays taking up his proper position after a warning by the official, a Bench Minor Penalty shall be assessed that team.

For end zone face-offs at the face-off circles, where a player not taking the face-off enters the circle or is in the circle before the puck is dropped, shall result in the player who is about to take the face-off being removed without a warning and replaced by any other player of that team on the ice. A second violation by a team during the same face-off shall result in a Minor Penalty for "face-off violation" to the player who commits the second violation by his team.

(e) When an infringement of a rule has been committed or a stoppage of play has been caused by any player of the attacking side in the Attacking Zone, the ensuing face-off shall be made in the Neutral Zone at the nearest face-off spot.

Note: This includes stoppage of play caused by a player of the attacking side shooting the puck on the back of the defending team's goal without any intervening action by the defending team.

(f) When an infringement of a rule has been committed by players of both teams the ensuing face-off will be made at the place where the puck was when the play was stopped.

(g) When stoppage occurs between the end face-off spots and the near end of the rink, the puck shall be faced-off at the end face-off spot, on the side where the stoppage occurs, unless otherwise expressly provided by these rules.

(h) When a goal is illegally stored as a result of a puck being deflected directly off of or by an official, the resulting face-off shall be made at the end face-off spot in the defending zone.

(i) When the game is stopped for any reason not specifically covered in the official rules, the puck shall be faced-off where it was last played as covered by section (a) of this rule.

(j) The whistle shall not be blown by the official to start play. Playing time shall commence from the instant the puck is faced-off and shall stop when the whistle is blown.

(k) Following a stoppage of play, should one or both defence men, who are playing near their attacking blue line or any player coming from the bench of the attacking team enter into the attacking zone beyond the outer edge of the corner face-off circle, the ensuing face-off shall take place at the nearest face-off spot in the Neutral Zone near the blue line of the defending team.

Scoring

Passing

From September 1, 1998 onwards, the puck may be passed by a player to a teammate anywhere in the rink provided no offside has occurred at the blue line. In a recent move to increase scoring chances, two-line passes are also no longer a factor in the NHL.

Icing the Puck

(a) For the purpose of this rule, the center line will divide the ice into halves. Should any player of a team, equal or superior in numerical strength to the opposing team, shoot, bat, or deflect the puck from his own half of the ice, beyond the goal line of the opposing team, play shall be stopped and the puck faced-off at the end face-off spot of the offending team nearest to where they last touched the puck, unless on the play the puck shall have entered the goal of the opposing team, in which case the goal shall be allowed.

For the purpose of this rule, the point of last contact with the puck by the team in possession shall be used to determine whether or not icing has occurred.

Note 1: If during the period of a delayed whistle due to a foul by a player of the side NOT in possession, the side in possession "ices" the puck, then the face-off following the stoppage of play shall take place in the Neutral Zone near the Defending Blue Line of the team "icing" the puck.

Note 2: When a team is "short-handed" as the result of a penalty and the penalty is about to expire, "icing the puck" shall not be called if the team is below the numerical strength of the opposing team at the instant the puck is shot. The action of the penalized player remaining in the penalty box will not alter the ruling.

Note 3: When the puck is shot and rebounds from the body or stick or an opponent in his own half of the ice so as to cross the goal line of the player shooting, it shall not be considered as "icing"

Note 4: Notwithstanding the provisions of this section concerning "batting" the puck in respect to the "icing the puck" rule, the provisions of the final paragraph of Rule 614 (e), Handling the Puck with the Hands, apply and no goal can be scored by batting the puck with the hand into the opponent's goal whether attended or not.

Note 5: If while the Linesman has signalled a slow whistle for a clean interception under Rule 624(d), Offside, the player intercepting shoots or bats the puck beyond the opponent's goal line in such a manner as to constitute "icing the puck' the Linesman's "slow whistle" shall be waived the instant the puck crosses the blue line and "icing" shall be called in the usual manner

(b) If the puck was so shot by a player of a side below the numerical strength of the opposing team, play shall continue and icing shall not be called.

(c) If, however, the puck shall go beyond the goal line in the opposite half of the ice directly from either of the players participating in a face-off, it shall not be considered a violation of this rule.

(d) If, in the opinion of the Linesman, a player of the opposing team except the goalkeeper, is able to play the puck before it passes his goal line, but has not done so, icing shall not be called and play shall continue.

Note: The purpose of this section is to enforce continuous action and both Referee and Linesman should interpret and apply the rule to produce this result.

(e) If the puck shall touch any part of a player of the opposing side, or his skates or his stick or if it passes through any part of the goal crease before it shall have reached the goal line, or shall have touched the goalkeeper, or his skates or his stick, before crossing the goal line, it shall not be considered as "icing the puck" and play shall continue.

(f) If the Linesman shall have erred in calling an "icing the puck" infraction (regardless of whether either team is short-handed) the puck shall be faced-off on the center ice face-off spot.

Offsides

(a) Players of an attacking team may not precede the puck into the Attacking Zone.

Handling the Puck with Hands

(a) A player, except the goalkeeper, shall not close his hand on the puck.

(b) A goalkeeper shall not:

1. Hold the puck in his hand(s) for longer than three (3) seconds or in any manner which in the opinion of the Referee causes a stoppage of play or

2. Throw the puck forward towards his opponents goal which is first played by a team-mate or

3. Deliberately drop the puck into his pads or onto the goal net.

Note: The object of this rule is to keep the puck in play continuously and any action by the goalkeeper which causes an unnecessary stoppage must be penalized.

(c) For a violation of this rule, the offending player shall be assessed a Minor Penalty.

(d) A defending player, other than the goalkeeper, shall not pick up the puck from the ice with his hands. For a violation of this rule, the player shall be assessed a Minor Penalty. However, if the puck was in the goal crease at the time of the violation, a Penalty Shot shall be awarded the opposing team.

(e) A player shall be permitted to stop or "bat" a puck in the air with the open hand, or push it along the ice with his hand, and the play shall not be stopped unless in the opinion of the Referee the player has deliberately directed the puck to a team-mate in the Neutral or Attacking Zone in which case the play shall be stopped and the puck faced-off at the spot where the offence occurred. If this violation is committed in the Attacking Zone, the face-off shall take place at the nearest Neutral Zone face-off spot. Play shall not be stopped for any hand pass by a player in his own defending zone provided the hand pass is completed before the player and
puck leave the zone.

Note: The object of this rule is to ensure continuous action and the Referee should NOT stop play unless he is satisfied that the directing of the puck to a team-mate was in fast DELIBERATE AND INTENTIONAL.

The face-off will take place at the point of least advantage to the team committing the infraction.

The goal shall be disallowed if the puck was batted with the hand by an attacking player and deflected off of any player or his stick, goalkeeper or official into the goal.

Kicking the Puck

Kicking the puck shall be permitted in all zones, but a goal may not be scored by the kick of an attacking player. If an attacking player kicks the puck and it is deflected into the goal by any player or off his stick, goalkeeper or official, the goal shall not be allowed.

Puck Out of Play

(a) When the puck goes outside the playing area at either end, or either side of the rink or strikes any obstacles above the playing surface other than the boards, glass or wire it shall be faced off at the place from where it was shot or deflected, unless otherwise expressly provided in these rules.

(b) When the puck becomes lodged in the netting on the outside of either goal so as to make it unplayable, or if it is frozen against the goal between opposing players intentionally or otherwise, the Referee shall stop the play and face-off the puck at the nearest End-Zone face-off spots unless, in the opinion of the Referee, the stoppage was caused by a player of the attacking team, in which case the resulting face-off shall be conducted in the Neutral Zone.

Note: This includes the stoppage of play caused by a player of the attacking team shooting the puck on to the back of the defending team's goal without any intervening action by a defending player.

The defending team and/or the attacking team may play the puck off the net at any time. However, should the puck remain on the net for longer than three seconds, play shall be stopped and the face-off shall take place at the nearest end-zone face-off spot except when the stoppage is caused by the attacking team, in which case the face-off shall take place on a face-off spot in the Neutral Zone.

(c) A Minor Penalty shall be imposed on a goalkeeper who deliberately drops the puck on the goal netting to cause a stoppage of play.

(d) If the puck comes to rest on top of the boards surrounding the playing area, it shall be considered to be "in play" and may be played legally by hand or stick.

Periods/Game Duration

(a) The game shall consist of three twenty-minute periods of actual play with a rest intermission between periods. Play shall be resumed promptly following each intermission upon the expiration of fifteen minutes from the completion of play in the preceding period. A preliminary warning shall be given by the Game Timekeeper to the officials and to both teams three minutes prior to the resumption of play in each period and the final warning shall be given in sufficient time to enable the teams to resume play promptly. In games played in outside or uncovered rinks, teams shall change ends at the mid-way period of the third period and overtime period. Goalkeepers shall not be permitted to go to the player's bench, except to be replaced or during a time-out. For a violation of this rule, a Minor Penalty shall be assessed.

Note: For the purpose of keeping the spectators informed as to the time remaining during intermissions, the Game Timekeeper will use the electric clock to indicate the fifteen-minute intermission.

(b) The team scoring the greatest number of goals during the three twenty-minute periods shall be the winner and shall be credited with two points in the standings.

If at the end of the three regular twenty minute periods the score of both teams will be equal, the game will be called a tie with one point for each team. The games where a winner must be declared will be prolonged by a ten minute sudden victory overtime period. If no goal is scored, the game winning penalty shots shall apply.

(c) In the intervals between periods, the ice surface shall be flooded unless mutually agreed to by the teams to the contrary.

(d) If any unusual delay occurs within five minutes of the end of the first or second periods, the Referee may order the next regular intermission to be taken immediately and the balance of play with the teams defending the same goals after which the teams will change ends and resume play of the ensuing period without delay.

(e) Each team shall be permitted to take one time-out of thirty seconds duration either during the course of regular time or during over-time and which must be taken during a normal stoppage of play and must be requested before the completion of the player change procedure. Any player designated by the Coach will indicate to the Referee who will report the time-out to the Game Timekeeper who shall be responsible for signalling the termination of the time-out.

Note: All players including goalkeepers on the ice at the time of the time-out will be allowed to go to their respective benches. Each team may take their time-out during the same stoppage of play The team taking the second time-out during the same stoppage must notify the Referee before the completion of the first time-out.

Start of Game and Periods

(a) The game shall be commenced at the time scheduled by a "face-off" at the center face-off spot and shall be renewed promptly at the conclusion of each intermission in the same manner.

(b) Home teams shall have the choice of player's bench and of the uniform colours and shall start the game defending the goal nearest to its own player's bench. The teams shall change ends for each succeeding regular or overtime period.

Teams would not change ends when the ice is not cleaned prior to over-time or the game winning shots.

(c) During the pre-game warm-up (which shall not exceed twenty minutes in duration) and before the commencement of play in any period, each team shall confine its activity to its own end of the rink so as to leave clear an area nine meters wide across the center of the Neutral Zone.

Note: Players shall not be permitted to come on the ice during a stoppage of play or at the end of the first and second periods for the purpose of warming-up. The Referee will report any violation of this rule to the proper authorities for disciplinary action.

(d) Twenty minutes before the time scheduled for the start of the game, both teams shall vacate the ice and proceed to their dressing rooms while the ice is being flooded. Both teams shall be signalled by the Game Timekeeper to return to the ice together in time for the scheduled start of the game.