QUESTION: A player was escorted off the ice with one minute left in the game, but he was only given a minor penalty for Roughing. I thought you only escorted a kid off the ice for a game misconduct. Can you escort them off the ice for a minor penalty if there is less than two minutes left in the game?

ANSWER: Occasionally, game officials or coaches will send penalized players directly to the dressing room late in a game if the player’s penalty time outlasts the time remaining in the game. Especially, if they feel the player will become a “target” to opponents after the game, or if they feel the player might continue his poor behavior after the game.

QUESTION: Team A and Team B have non coincidental minor penalties and are playing 4 on 4. Team B has a delayed penalty and team A scores. What happens to the delayed penalty?

ANSWER: If while both teams are playing at even-strength, the non-offending team scores during a delayed (minor) penalty, the delayed minor penalty is recorded (on the scoresheet) but not served. Both minors currently being served are not affected. Play resumes 4 v. 4.

QUESTION: During the course of play, the goalkeeper loses a glove just before an imminent scoring chance, and the potential for injury is present. Two questions: a) The glove comes off on its own, because of goalie movement. Can the official use discretion to end play? Is it mandated? b) The glove comes off due to contact with an opposing player. Can the official use discretion to end play? Is it mandated? The result of play is a goal on a goalie without a glove.

ANSWER: Situation #1 under Rule 304 in the USA Hockey Playing Rules states:

“What action should the referee take when the goalkeeper loses one of his gloves during play?

Keeping safety as the primary consideration, the referee should stop play whenever the goalkeeper loses a glove and is in a vulnerable position UNLESS there is an imminent scoring opportunity in which play should be allowed to continue until the imminent scoring opportunity has passed. Rule References 304(a & e).

If the Referee judges the goalkeeper has deliberately removed any equipment during play he should assess the offending goalkeeper a ‘Delay of Game’ minor penalty.”

QUESTION: I have safe sport and registered with USA hockey as an ice manager volunteer. Am I able to be on the bench with a coach to open doors.

ANSWER: Rule 201 in the USA Hockey Playing Rules states,

“Each team shall designate on the scoresheet a Head Coach prior to the start of the game. The Head Coach shall be in control of and responsible for the actions of all team personnel, including players.

A team may have up to four Team Officials on the players’ bench. Only players in uniform and properly rostered Team Officials may occupy the players’ bench."

We recommend reaching out to your Youth Hockey Association and District Registrar for more information regarding your membership and what needs to be done to be able to be on the bench.

QUESTION: In a youth game a player is assessed the following penalties: a major for slashing, a minor for roughing and a minor for unsportsmanlike behavior, a total of nine minutes. The penalties were all called at the early part of a 12-minute period. How many players are placed in the penalty box?

ANSWER: If one player is assessed nine minutes in penalties (a major plus two minors) all at one time, the offending player is removed from the game due to the automatic game misconduct that is assessed with the major penalty. His/her substitute enters the penalty bench, nine minutes are added to the penalty clock, and the teams play 5 v. 4 for the next nine minutes (assuming no other penalties are assessed or goals are scored during the next nine minutes).

The USA Hockey Playing Rules are now available as a mobile device app! Check your Apple, Android, or Windows app store to download this playing rule app free of charge.

Check out the USA Hockey mobile-friendly online rulebook application! Enter usahockeyrulebook.com into your mobile device’s web browser to gain instant access to the USA Hockey Playing Rules (must have mobile or internet service).

The USA Hockey Playing Rules Casebook and other educational material can be found under the OFFICIALS tab at USAHockey.com.

QUESTION: The goalie makes contact with an attacking player standing outside the crease, preventing the goalie from making a save. Should a minor penalty for interference be assessed and/or a potential goal be disallowed? (In this situation, the goalie initiates the contact.)

ANSWER: A player cannot be penalized for interference with the goalkeeper if the goalkeeper initiated the contact. Assuming the attacking player was positioned outside the goal crease, that player has every right to the space they occupy, and the goalkeeper is not entitled to initiate any physical contact with him/her.

QUESTION: In Team B's end-zone. Team A forward passes the puck back to the defenseman at the blue line who wasn't there. Puck goes down the ice. Team B forward just coming off the bench is on the ice prior to the puck entering his attacking zone and plays the puck. What is the call?

ANSWER: Rule 603.b in the USA Hockey Playing Rules states,

“Off-sides shall be waived if a player legally carries or passes the puck back into his own Defending Zone while a player of the opposing team is in the Defending Zone.”

QUESTION: With the opposing goalkeeper in net, a Team A player is fouled from behind (warranting a penalty shot) and a delayed penalty is signaled. The Team A player loses possession of the puck as a result from being fouled from behind and the puck goes into the corner. Before Team B gains possession, the Team B goalkeeper throws his stick at the puck in the corner. Since, by rule, both actions call for a penalty shot (or optional minor), can two penalty shots be awarded to team A in this instance?

ANSWER: Since the “spirit and intent” of a penalty shot is to replace a lost scoring opportunity, only one penalty shot can be awarded in this situation. The other offense would be assessed a minor penalty.

QUESTION: Can 10U players ice the puck to kill a penalty and not have it called as an infraction?

ANSWER: Rule 624.b in the USA Hockey Playing Rules states:

"Icing shall be nullified if any of the following conditions have been met:
 (For Adults [male and female] and High School classifications only) The offending team is shorthanded (below the on-ice numerical strength of their opponent) when the puck is shot. The determination is made at the time the penalty expires and if the puck was shot prior to the penalty time expiration, regardless as to the position of the penalized player, no icing shall be called."

These two age groups (Adult & High School) do not include Youth (10U) players.

QUESTION: Can a rostered Tier I player play for a Tier II team for a tournament?

ANSWER: Unfortunately, we cannot answer this question since it does not specifically regard the USA Hockey Playing Rules.

We encourage you to contact your District or State Registrar (through your local hockey association) with this question. Registrars are responsible for tracking all team rosters and player eligibility in their respective areas.

The USA Hockey Playing Rules are now available as a mobile device app! Check your Apple, Android, or Windows app store to download this playing rule app free of charge.

Check out the USA Hockey mobile-friendly online rulebook application! Enter usahockeyrulebook.com into your mobile device’s web browser to gain instant access to the USA Hockey Playing Rules (must have mobile or internet service).

The USA Hockey Playing Rules Casebook and other educational material can be found under the OFFICIALS tab at USAHockey.com.

QUESTION: If a goalkeeper who is standing with his skate against the inside of the post ("hugging the post") uses his stick to freeze the puck between his stick, his skate blade, and the post, should a penalty be assessed?

ANSWER: In general, a goalkeeper is only allowed to cover the puck while in the “act of playing goal”. The determination as to whether a Delay of Game penalty must be assessed will be based on the location of the puck in relation to the goal-post and whether there are attacking players near the puck. A puck that is right next to the post or located a few inches behind the post would not likely qualify for a Delay of Game penalty. However, if the puck is located several inches behind the post, one could argue there is no immediate scoring opportunity and therefore the goalkeeper should be penalized if he/she covers the puck.

Additionally, a goalkeeper cannot cover a puck if there are no attacking players near the puck, regardless of where the puck is located.

QUESTION: If the puck is sitting on the top or back of the goal netting and the goalkeeper covers it with his glove while part of his body is in the crease, should a penalty be assessed?

ANSWER: Rule 631.b in the USA Hockey Playing Rules states:

"Play shall be stopped immediately if the puck comes to rest in the netting on top of the goal frame.

Play shall be stopped and deemed unplayable if the puck becomes lodged in the netting outside of either goal and neither team is able to dislodge the puck within three seconds."

However, a minor penalty for delay of game should be assessed to a goalkeeper who freezes the puck while located on the back-netting of the goal. This action is not considered in the "act of playing goal".

QUESTION: Does contact have to be made for a Charging penalty to be called? The player takes more than two strides and covers a good distance but his opponent falls before the check, and the player completely misses the hit, falling into the boards himself.

ANSWER: Under the USA Hockey Playing Rules interpretations, contact must be made for a Charging infraction to occur. This is different than other infractions (Spearing, Kicking, etc.).

QUESTION: If an offensive player’s stick is in motion to flip the puck into the net and an opponent’s stick comes between the offensive players stick and the puck, is it still a goal when the puck goes in the net even though it was flipped in by both sticks?

ANSWER: Rule 617(b) in the USA Hockey Playing Rules states,

“A goal shall be legally scored if:

-  The puck has been propelled into the goal by the stick of an attacking player provided it was done in accordance with Rule 621 High Sticks.
-  The puck enters the goal as a result of any action by the defending team.”

QUESTION: Question is on a scoresheet, a team lists 3 goalies, makes no scratches. Game ends. What's the ruling? I know rule 201 only allows 2 goalies & 18 skaters. For full clarity, the team only dressed 1 goalie.

ANSWER: Rule 201(a) in the USA Hockey Playing Rules states,

“A team must start a game with a minimum of six players. Any time that a team has been reduced to less than four players, the game shall be declared a forfeit.

A maximum of 20 players, in which not more than 18 are skaters, shall be permitted to play in the game.”

A team may list three goalkeepers on their game roster provided they do not have more than 20 total participants.

The USA Hockey Playing Rules are now available as a mobile device app! Check your Apple, Android, or Windows app store to download this playing rule app free of charge.

Check out the USA Hockey mobile-friendly online rulebook application! Enter usahockeyrulebook.com into your mobile device’s web browser to gain instant access to the USA Hockey Playing Rules (must have mobile or internet service).

The USA Hockey Playing Rules Casebook and other educational material can be found under the OFFICIALS tab at USAHockey.com.