This week’s features:

QUESTION: We have a Dr. who we rostered as a coach to be the teams “medical trainer”. Would he be included in the (4) coaches on the bench or are we allowed to have (4) coaches + (1) medical trainer? (5) total?

ANSWER: USA Hockey Rule 201(b) states that a team may have up to four Team Officials which includes coaches and medical trainers.

QUESTION: At the final buzzer, players from both teams are leaving their benches to congratulate/console their respective goalies. An altercation breaks out near the goal where play ended and the players from both benches skate towards the altercation. Some players get involved in pushing, shoving, etc. Should any of the players be assessed a 629(a) penalty for leaving the bench?

ANSWER: Assuming the players were in the act of leaving the bench when the altercation occurred, Rule 629(a) would not apply to your situation. However, any infractions that these players commit should definitely be penalized.

QUESTION: A player on the ice punches/slashes a player who has left the ice after being ordered off by a referee. Ordered player was headed to the dressing room with under 5 minutes remaining in the game when opposition player slashed the back of his legs after he stepped through the gate. Player then sucker punched the other player when he turned around after the slash. Player who left the ice returns What penalties and are both players subject to suspension?

ANSWER: These infractions should be penalized under Rule 634 (Slashing) and Rule 615 (Fighting).

QUESTION: Are officials required to wear a HECC Certified Helmet and does that include wearing ear guards, as required of players?

ANSWER: Rule 501(c) in the USA Hockey Playing Rules states,

“Each official is required to wear a black hockey helmet, with chin strap properly fastened, and a half-shield visor properly attached to their helmets.”

The helmet does not have to be HECC approved.

QUESTION: A substitute player whose teammate is already standing on the bench plays the puck while seated on the top of the boards (has not yet made contact with the ice). Both skates are dangling in the playing area. Should this have been penalized as interference seeing he hadn't made contact with the ice yet (rule 625(a)9); or, because both feet were in the playing area the play was good?

ANSWER: A player must be standing on the ice to participate in play. This situation should be penalized for interference.

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This week’s features: Curfews, Sled Hockey rules, and When to start the game clock.

QUESTION: What type of offsides will all sled hockey games be played under?

ANSWER: The USA Hockey Sled Hockey Playing Rules can be found at the Rulebook and Resources page in the Officials section of USAHockey.com. Currently, all Sled Hockey games use delayed "tag-up" offsides.

QUESTION: A Referee notified the coaches that the third period would be shortened to 6 minutes from 15 minutes due to the games being behind (ice time) by 20 minutes. The rink manager wanted to keep the 3rd period to the usual 15 minutes but was overruled by the referee who shorted the period to six minutes. The question is does a USA hockey referee have the authority to shorten a game?

ANSWER: Game Officials might be forced to modify period lengths due to short ice time, however if the Rink Manager is willing to allow the game to be played to completion then the game should be completed. These situations should be managed between the teams, the officials and rink management with the best interest of the game in mind

Furthermore, guidelines for these situations should to be outlined by your local league and local officials association for future reference.

QUESTION: Two players receive coincidental 2-minute minors. One of the players also receives a 10-minute misconduct. At the first whistle following the expiration of the minor penalty both players are let out of the penalty box. Eight minutes later, the same player scores a goal. What is the ruling? Is the goal allowed? Does the player have to server all ten minutes or the remain two minutes?

ANSWER: In the case where two opponent’s each receive a minor penalty and one player receives an additional misconduct, they both immediately enter the penalty bench. Since the two minors are coincidental and cancel each other out, play remains at 5 vs. 5. Player A (single minor) would leave the penalty bench at the first whistle after two minutes elapsed, and Player B (minor plus misconduct) would leave the penalty bench at the first whistle after twelve minutes elapsed.
 
If Player B leaves early due to “Timekeeper Error” and scores a goal, the goal shall be allowed. However, they must return to the penalty bench and serve all unserved penalty time.

QUESTION: When does the clock start on a face-off? When the ref drops the puck, when the puck hits the ice, or when a player's stick hits the puck?

ANSWER: Play shall begin as soon as the puck is dropped, and no player is required to play the puck once it hits the ice. Therefore, the clock shall start as soon as the official drops the duck (“dropping the puck” and “hitting the ice” is a split-second difference so there’s no distinction).

QUESTION: Is there a way to submit a post game complaint about a player's behavior on ice? My son was badly slashed by an opponent during today's game.

ANSWER: We encourage you to contact your league or hockey association with this problem. At the very least they can track the behavior of teams and players and as reports pile up they can address the problem with the team.

Furthermore, we suggest filing your complaint through your team due to the credibility it will carry, rather than risk being dismissed as an email from a grumpy player or parent who didn’t agree with how a game situation was handled.

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This week’s features: Offsides, Dislodged goals and Goalkeeper Sticks...

QUESTION: During a game, the team benches straddle the blue line. During a delayed offsides, and attacking team player is offside, and gets off the ice inside the end-zone. The replacement player gets on the ice also inside the end-zone. Still offside? Or on-sides?

ANSWER: If the puck enters an end-zone with attacking players offside, and one player changes at the bench inside the end-zone (both retiring and new player are still in the attacking zone) then the play would remain off-side. All attacking players must be simultaneously clear of the attacking zone to nullify the delayed offsides.

QUESTION: Can a player use a goalie stick?

ANSWER: Regular skaters may not use a Goalkeeper Stick due to the fact that it does not conform to the legal measurements for a Players’ Stick.

QUESTION: Can a youth hockey player use a visor instead of a cage?

ANSWER: Half-shield Visors are not permitted to be worn at any level of Youth Hockey (8U through 18U, including High School) regardless of the age of the player.

QUESTION: If stoppage of play is near center ice face off spot. Is the face off at the center ice face-off spot?

ANSWER: Since most face-offs are determined by what caused the stoppage of play, we cannot completely answer this question. However, if your question is whether the center ice spot can be considered for a location of a Last Play Face-off, then yes this is the case.

QUESTION: I saw a game where a goaltender slid to the post and a puck was in his equipment somewhere. When his body hit the post, the net was dislodged. After hitting the post, the puck fell out of his equipment and rolled into the net. A goal was awarded. Is that the correct call?

ANSWER: Rule 610(e) in the USA Hockey Playing Rules states,

“Play shall be stopped immediately when the goal frame has been displaced from its normal position.”

Therefore, play should be stopped as soon as the net is dislodged, and you cannot have a goal occur after a whistle.

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This week’s features: Membership registration, rule exams & extra crests 

QUESTION: Do I have to advance a level each season?

ANSWER: No, once an official advances to Level 2, they are no longer required to advance any higher. With that said, an official who is 16 years-old or older, and has two seasons of complete registration, must advance from Level 1 to Level 2.

QUESTION: Are there any changes to registration requirements for 2021-22?

ANSWER: No, the same core requirements for registration are still in place. You can learn more about the various steps here.

QUESTION: Will the classroom seminars be online or in-person this season?

ANSWER: Both. With the success of online virtual classroom seminars during the 2021-22 Season, the District Referees-in-Chief have decided to continue this option to returning advanced officials.

However, all new Level 1 officials are strongly encouraged to attend a local in-person classroom seminar. This ensures them the opportunity to meet local administrators, game assignors and teammate officials.

QUESTION: Will the Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 Closed Book Exams remain online this season?

ANSWER: Yes, all Open Book and Closed Book exams will be hosted online in the eLearning system. The only change to the Closed Book Exam will be shortening the time-limit to 90 minutes.

QUESTION: How do I get an extra referee crest for my sweater?

ANSWER: Extra or replacement sweater crests may be purchased from the USA Hockey National Office for $5.00 (check or money order only). Please contact officiatingexam@usahockey.org for more information.

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