RULE

TITLE

DESCRIPTION

103 (c)

Goal Posts and Nets

The rules now state that if the goal posts becomes dislodged and can be replaced without affecting play, the referees shall allow play to continue.  If replacing it would affect play, the referee shall stop play immediately.

205 (b)

Change of Players

When a goalkeeper has prematurely been replaced and the offending team is in their defending half of the rink, the face-off will be at the nearest end zone face-off spot of that team, instead of the center face-off spot.  If the offending team is in their attacking half, the face-off will remain at the center face-off spot.

205 (c)

Change of Players

If there is less then 2-minutes or anytime in overtime and a team “Deliberately” places too many players on the surface a penalty shot will be assessed instead of a minor penalty.

305 (b)

Dangerous Equipment

The penalty for playing with part or all of the palm of the glove removed is now a misconduct penalty instead of a minor penalty.

402 (c)

Minor Penalties

A penalty will not terminate as the result of a goal being scored on a penalty shot or awarded goal.

501 (d)

Appointment of Officials

Referees are no longer required to wear elbow pads or shin and knee protection, it is only recommended that they do.  Additionally, it is strongly recommended that referees wear a half shield.

601 (i.3)

Abusive Conduct

A Team Official that enters the playing surface during play or an altercation will now be assessed a game misconduct.  Prior to this only a minor penalty under rule 625 – Leaving Player or Penalty Benches was permitted.  The minor penalty is still in place for coming on the surface during stoppages of play when an altercation is not in place.

609 (a)

Delay of Game

Any goalkeeper or player, while in the defending zone that shoots the puck outside of the playing area (non-deflected) shall be assessed a minor penalty.  It does not matter if it was intentional or accidental.  However, if the puck leaves an area that is not protected by screen or glass (i.e. players bench), no penalty shall be assessed.

609 (b)

Delay of Game

If the goal post is deliberately displaced by a defending player and the referee feels the puck would have entered the goal had the goal post not been displaced, a goal shall be awarded.

611 (a)

Face-offs

Inline hockey will now implement the “fast face-off”.  At the conclusion of the line change, the referee dropping the puck shall blow their whistle.  Both teams shall have 5 seconds to take their place for the face-off or their center shall be ejected from the face-off and replaced by another player.

611 (f)

Face-offs

Face-offs will now take place at the imaginary line connecting the end zone face-off spots along the sides of the rink as opposed to only at the face-off spots.

616 (c)

Handling Puck with Hands

If the puck hits a piece of equipment in front of the goal while the goalkeeper is off the surface, a goal shall be awarded in lieu of the penalty shot.

616 (f)

Handling Puck with Hands

No territorial advantage can be gained by a team illegally batting the puck with their hand.

622 (b)

Interference by Spectators

Any player that physically interferes with a spectator after the game, the game misconduct penalty assessed to that player shall also include a one game suspension.

624 (a)

Kicking Puck

For a goal to be disallowed for kicking the puck, intent to redirect the puck must be present.

625 (a – j)

Leaving Player or Penalty Bench

A player that leaves the player’s or penalty bench during an altercation shall now be assessed a Major plus Game Misconduct penalty.  Additionally, this rule has been reworded and reordered to be more consistent with the ice hockey rulebook.  These changes do not affect the interpretation of the rule.

632 (a)

Refusing to Start Play

If a team has no coach and the team refuses to start play and after the initial warning and bench minor penalty has been assessed, the team continues to refuse to start play, the captain of that team shall be assessed the Match penalty.

636 (a)

Throwing Stick

If the goal is unattended and an attacking player has no defending player to pass and has a chance to score on an “open goal”, if a player throws a stick, thereby preventing an obvious goal, a goal shall be awarded in lieu of the penalty shot.

639 (b)

Tripping

For a penalty shot to be awarded for “fouled from behind” the player does not have to be fouled directly from behind, but could have been fouled diagonally from behind as well.