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Rule 26. Penalties Penalties shall be actual playing time and shall be divided in the following classes: Class Penalties (1) Minor penalties (2) Bench minor penalties (3) Major penalties (4) Misconduct penalties (5) Match penalties (6) Penalty shot Coincident penalties are imposed on players of both teams, the penalized players of the visiting team shall take their positions on the penalty bench first in the place designated for visiting players. (NOTE) When play is not actually in progress and an offense is committed by any player, the same penalty shall apply as though play was actually in progress. Rule 27. Minor Penalties a.For a MINOR PENALTY, any player, other than a goalkeeper, shall be ruled off the ice for two minutes during which time no substitute shall be permitted. b.A BENCH MINOR PENALTY involves the removal from the ice of one player of the team against which the penalty is assessed for a period of two minutes. Any player except a goalkeeper of the team may be designated to serve the penalty by the Manager or Coach through the playing Captain and such player shall take his place on the penalty bench promptly and serve the penalty as if it was a minor penalty imposed upon him. c.If while a team is short-handed by one or more minor or bench minor penalties, the opposing team scores a goal, the first of such penalties shall automatically terminate. (NOTES) 1.Short-handed means that the team must be below the numerical strength of its opponents on the ice at the time the goal is scored. The minor or bench minor penalty which terminates automatically is the one which causes the team scored against to be short-handed. Thus coincident minor penalties to both teams do NOT cause either side to be short-handed. This rule shall also apply when a goal is scored on a penalty shot, or when an awarded goal is given. When the minor penalties of two players of the same team terminate at the same time, the Captain of that team shall designate to the Referee which of such players will return to the ice first and the Referee will instruct the Penalty Timekeeper accordingly. When a player receives a major penalty and a minor penalty at the same time, the major penalty shall be served first by the penalized player, except under Rule 28(c) in which case the minor penalty will be recorded and served first. 2.This applies to the case where BOTH penalties are imposed on the SAME player. See also Note to Rule 33 d.When ONE minor penalty is assessed to ONE player of EACH team at the same stoppage in play, these penalties will be served without substitution provided there are no other penalties in effect and visible on the penalty clocks. Unless paragraph one of this Rule is applicable, when coincident minor penalties or coincident minor penalties of equal duration are imposed against players of both teams, the penalized players shall all take their places on the penalty benches and such penalized players shall not leave the penalty bench until the first stoppage of play following the expiry of their respective penalties. Immediate substitution shall be made for an equal number of minor penalties OR coincident minor penalties of equal duration to each team so penalized and the penalties of the players for which substitutions have been made shall not be taken into account for the purpose of the Delayed Penalty Rule Rule 33. Rule 28. Major Penalties a.For the first MAJOR PENALTY in any one game, the offender, except the goalkeeper, shall be ruled off the ice for five minutes during which time no substitute shall be permitted. An automatic fine of one hundred dollars ($100) shall also be added when a major penalty is imposed for any foul causing injury to the face or head of an opponent by means of a stick. b.For the third major penalty in the same game to the same player, or for a major for butt-ending, cross-checking, high-sticking, slashing or spearing, he shall be ruled off the ice for the balance of the game, but a substitute shall be permitted to replace the player so suspended after five minutes have elapsed. (Major penalty plus game misconduct penalty with automatic fine of two hundred dollars ($200).) (NOTE) In accordance with Rule 58(c) a goalkeeper shall not be assessed a game misconduct penalty when he is being assessed a major penalty for highsticking. c.When coincident major penalties or coincident penalties of equal duration, including a major penalty, are imposed against players of both teams, the penalized players shall all take their places on the penalty benches and such penalized players shall not leave the penalty benches until the first stoppage of play following the expiry of their respective penalties. Immediate substitutions shall be made for an equal number of major penalties, or coincident penalties of equal duration including a major penalty to each team so penalized, and the penalties of the players for which substitutions have been made shall not be taken into account for the purpose of the delayed penalty rule, Rule 33. Where it is required to determine which of the penalized players shall be designated to serve the delayed penalty under Rule 33 - Delayed Penalities, the penalized team shall have the right to make such designation not in conflict with Rule 27 - Minor Penalties. Rule 29. Misconduct Penalties a.In the event of MISCONDUCT penalties to any players except the goalkeeper, the players shall be ruled off the ice for a period of ten minutes each. A substitute player is permitted to immediately replace a player serving a misconduct penalty. A player whose misconduct penalty has expired shall remain in the penalty box until the next stoppage of play. When a player receives a minor penalty and a misconduct penalty at the same time, the penalizedteam shall immediately put a substitute player on the penalty bench and he shall serve the minor penalty without change. When a player receives a major penalty and a misconduct penalty at the same time, the penalized team shall place a substitute player on the penalty bench before the major penalty expires and no replacement for the penalized player shall be permitted to enter the game except from the penalty bench. Any violation of this provision shall be treated as an illegal substitution under Rule 18 calling for a bench minor penalty. b.A misconduct penalty imposed on any player at any time shall be accompanied with an automatic fine of one hundred dollars ($100). c.A GAME MISCONDUCT penalty involves the suspension of a player for the balance of the game but a substitute is permitted to replace immediately the player so removed. A player incurring a game misconduct penalty shall incur an automatic fine of two hundred dollars ($200) and the case shall be reported to the Commissioner who shall have full power to impose such further penalties by way of suspension or fine on the penalized player or any other player involved in the altercation. d.The Referee may impose a GROSS MISCONDUCT penalty on any player, Manager, Coach or Trainer who is guilty of gross misconduct of any kind. Any person incurring a gross misconduct penalty shall be suspended for the balance of the game and shall incur an automatic fine of two hundred dollars ($200) and the case shall be referred to the Commissioner of the League for further disciplinary action. (NOTE) For all game misconduct and gross misconduct penalties regardless of when imposed, a total of ten minutes shall be charged in the records against the offending player. e.In regular League games, any player who incurs a total of three game misconduct penalties shall be suspended automatically for the next League game of his team. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty, the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game. For each suspension of a player, his club shall be fined one thousand dollars ($1000). In playoff games, any player who incurs a total of two game misconduct penalties shall be suspended automatically for the next playoff game of his team. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty during the playoffs, the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game. For each suspension of a player during playoffs, his club shall be fined one thousand dollars ($1000). f.In regular League games, any player who incurs a total of two game misconduct penalties for stick related infractions penalized under Rule 28(b) shall be suspended automatically for the next League game of his team. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty, the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game. In playoff games any player who incurs a total of two game misconduct penalties for stick related infractions penalized under Rule 28(b) shall be suspended automatically for the next Playoff game of his team. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty during the playoffs the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game. Prior to the commencement of each Stanley Cup Finals, a player will have his current stick-related, boarding and checking from behind misconducts removed from his current play-off record. They will remain part of his historical record. (NOTES) 1.Any game misconduct penalty for which a player has been assessed an automatic suspension or supplementary discipline in the form of game suspension(s) by the Commissioner shall NOT be taken into account when calculating the total number of offenses under this subsection. 2.When a player has played in 41 consecutive regular league games without being assessed a stick-related major and a game misconduct according to Rule 28(b) - Major Penalties or Rule 29(f) - Misconduct Penalties, he will have the previous game misconduct penalties removed from his current record. They will remain part of his historical record. 3.When a player has played in 41 consecutive regular league games without being assessed a boarding and/or a checking from behind major and a game misconduct according to Rule 45(c)(d)(e) - Board Checking and Checking From Behind he will have the previous game misconduct penalties removed from his current record. They will remain part of his historical record. 4.A player's total games played will cover a two year time period from the date of the first game misconduct penalty for each category of foul. 5.The automatic suspensions incurred under this subsection in respect to League games shall have no effect with respect to violations during Playoff games. Rule 30. Match Penalties A MATCH penalty involves the suspension of a player for the balance of the game and the offender shall be ordered to the dressing room immediately. A substitute player is permitted to replace the penalized player after five minutes playing time has elapsed when the penalty is imposed under Rule 44 - Attempt to Injure or Rule 49 - Deliberate Injury of Opponents. (NOTES) 1.Regulations regarding additional penalties and substitutes are specifically covered in individual Rules 44, 49 and 64. Any additional penalty shall be served by a player to be designated by the Manager or Coach of the offending team through the playing Captain, such player to take his place in the penalty box immediately. For all match penalties, regardless of when imposed, or prescribed additional penalties, a total of ten minutes shall be charged in the records against the offending player. 2.When coincident match penalties have been imposed under Rule 44, Rule 49 or Rule 64 to a player on both teams, Rule 28(c) covering coincident major penalties will be applicable with respect to player substitution. 3.The Referee is required to report all match penalties and the surrounding circumstances to the Commissioner of the League immediately following the game in which they occur. Rule 31. Penalty Shot a.Any infraction of the rules which calls for a PENALTY SHOT shall be taken as follows: The Referee shall ask to announce over the public address system the name of the player designated by him or selected by the team entitled to take the shot (as appropriate) and shall then place the puck on the center face-off spot and the player taking the shot will, on the instruction of the Referee, play the puck from there and shall attempt to score on the goalkeeper. The player taking the shot may carry the puck in any part of the neutral zone or his own defending zone but once the puck has crossed the attacking blue line it must be kept in motion towards the opponent's goal line and once it is shot, the play shall be considered complete. No goal can be scored on a rebound of any kind (an exception being the puck off the goal post, then the goalkeeper and then directly into the goal), and any time the puck crosses the goal line, the shot shall be considered complete. Only a player designated as a goalkeeper or alternate goalkeeper may defend against the penalty shot. b.The goalkeeper must remain in his crease until the player taking the penalty shot has touched the puck and in the event of violation of this rule or any foul committed by a goalkeeper, the Referee shall allow the shot to be taken and if the shot fails, he shall permit the penalty shot to be taken over again. The goalkeeper may attempt to stop the shot in any manner except by throwing his stick or any object, in which case a goal shall be awarded. (NOTE) See Rule 81 c.In cases where a penalty shot has been awarded under Rule 50(c), deliberately displacing goal post during course of a breakaway; under Rule 62(d), interference; under Rule 66(m), illegal entry into the game; under Rule 81(a), for throwing a stick; and under Rule 84(b), fouling from behind, the Referee shall designate the player who has been fouled as the player who shall take the penalty shot. In cases where a penalty shot has been awarded under Rule 18(b), deliberate illegal substitution with insufficient playing time remaining; under Rule 50(d), deliberately displacing goal post; under Rule 53(c), falling on the puck in the crease; under Rule 57(d), picking up the puck from the crease area, the penalty shot shall be taken by a player selected by the Captain of the non-offending team from the players on the ice at the time when the foul was committed. Such selection shall be reported to the Referee and cannot be changed. If by reason of injury, the player designated by the Referee to take the penalty shot is unable to do so within a reasonable time, the shot may be taken by a player selected by the Captain of the non-offending team from the players on the ice when the foul was committed. Such selection shall be reported to the Referee and cannot be changed. d.Should the player in respect to whom a penalty shot has been awarded himself commit a foul in connection with the same play or circumstances, either before or after the penalty shot has been awarded, be designated to take the shot, he shall first be permitted to do so before being sent to the penalty bench to serve the penalty except when such penalty is for a game misconduct, gross misconduct or match penalty in which case the penalty shot shall be taken by a player selected by the Captain of the non-offending team from the players on the ice at the time when the foul was committed. If at the time a penalty shot is awarded, the goalkeeper of the penalized team has been removed from the ice to substitute another player, the goalkeeper shall be permitted to return to the ice before the penalty shot is taken. e.While the penalty shot is being taken, players of both sides shall withdraw to the sides of the rink and in front of their own player's bench. f.If, while the penalty shot is being taken, any player of the opposing team shall have by some action interfered with or distracted the player taking the shot and, because of such action, the shot should have failed, a second attempt shall be permitted and the Referee shall impose a misconduct penalty on the player so interfering or distracting. g.If a goal is scored from a penalty shot, the puck shall be faced-off at center ice. If a goal is not scored, the puck shall be faced-off at either of the end face-off spots in the zone in which the penalty shot was tried. h.Should a goal be scored from a penalty shot, a further penalty to the offending player shall not be applied unless the offense for which the penalty shot was awarded was such as to incur a major or match penalty or misconduct penalty, in which case the penalty prescribed for the particular offense shall be imposed. If the offense for which the penalty shot was awarded was such as would normally incur a minor penalty, then regardless of whether the penalty shot results in a goal or not, no further minor penalty shall be served. i.If the foul upon which the penalty shot is based occurs during actual playing time, the penalty shot shall be awarded and taken immediately in the usual manner notwithstanding any delay occasioned by a slow whistle by the Referee to permit the play to be completed, which delay results in the expiry of the regular playing time in any period. The time required for the taking of a penalty shot shall not be included in the regular playing time or overtime. Rule 32. Goalkeeper's Penalties a.A goalkeeper shall not be sent to the penalty bench for an offense which incurs a minor penalty, but instead, the minor penalty shall be served by another member of his team who was on the ice when the offense was committed, said player to be designated by the Manager or Coach of the offending team through the playing Captain and such substitute shall not be changed. (NOTE) A penalized player may not serve a goalkeeper's penalty. b.A goalkeeper shall not be sent to the penalty bench for an offense which incurs a major penalty, but instead, the major penalty shall be served by another member of his team who was on the ice when the offense was committed, said player to be designated by the Manager or Coach of the offending team through the playing Captain and such substitute shall not be changed. c.Should a goalkeeper incur three major penalties in one game penalized under Rule 28(b) - Major Penalties, he shall be ruled off the ice for the balance of the playing time and his place shall be taken by a member of his own club, or by a regular substitute goalkeeper who is available. Such player will be allowed the goalkeeper's equipment. (Major penalty plus game misconduct penalty and automatic fine of two hundred dollars ($200).) d.Should a goalkeeper on the ice incur a misconduct penalty, this penalty shall be served by another member of his team who was on the ice when the offense was committed, said player to be designated by the Manager or Coach of the offending team through the Captain and, in addition, the goalkeeper shall be fined one hundred dollars ($100). e.Should a goalkeeper incur a game misconduct penalty, his place will then be taken by a member of his own club, or by a regular substitute goalkeeper who is available, and such player will be allowed the goalkeeper's full equipment. In addition, the goalkeeper shall be fined two hundred dollars ($200). f.Should a goalkeeper incur a match penalty, his place will then be taken by a member of his own club, or by a substitute goalkeeper who is available, and such player will be allowed the goalkeeper's full equipment. However, any additional penalties as specifically called for by the individual rules covering match penalties will apply, and the offending team shall be penalized accordingly, such additional penalties to be served by other members of the team on the ice when the offenses were committed, said players to be designated by the Manager or Coach of the offending team through the Captain. (NOTE) See Rules 44, 49 and 64. g.Should a goalkeeper incur a match penalty, the case shall be investigated promptly by the Commissioner who shall have full power to fine or suspend the penalized goalkeeper or any other players in the altercation. h.A minor penalty shall be imposed on a goalkeeper who leaves the immediate vicinity of his crease during an altercation. In addition, he shall be subject to a fine of two hundred dollars ($200) and this incident shall be reported to the Commissioner for such further disciplinary action as may be required. (NOTE) All penalties imposed on a goalkeeper, regardless of who serves the penalty or any substitution, shall be charged in the records against the goalkeeper. i.If a goalkeeper participates in the play in any manner when he is beyond the center red line, a minor penalty shall be imposed upon him. Rule 33. Delayed Penalties a.If a third player of any team shall be penalized while two players of the same team are serving penalties, the penalty time of the third player shall not commence until the penalty time of one of the two players already penalized has elapsed. Nevertheless, the third player penalized must at once proceed to the penalty bench but may be replaced by a substitute until such time as the penalty time of the penalized player shall commence. b.When any team shall have three players serving penalties at the same time and because of the delayed penalty rule, a substitute for the third offender is on the ice, none of the three penalized players on the penalty bench may return to the ice until play has stopped. When play has been stopped, the player whose full penalty has expired may return to the play. Provided however that the Penalty Timekeeper shall permit the return to the ice in the order of expiry of their penalties, of a player or players when, by reason of the expiration of their penalties, the penalized team is entitled to have more than four players on the ice. c.In the case of delayed penalties, the Referee shall instruct the Penalty Timekeeper that penalized players whose penalties have expired shall only be allowed to return to the ice when there is a stoppage of play. When the penalties of two players of the same team will expire at the same time, the Captain of that team will designate to the Referee which of such players will return to the ice first and the Referee will instruct the Penalty Timekeeper accordingly. When a major and a minor penalty are imposed at the same time on players of the same team, the Penalty Timekeeper shall record the minor as being the first of such penalties. (NOTE) This applies to the case where the two penalties are imposed on DIFFERENT players of the same team. See also Note to Rule 27. Rule 34. Calling of Penalties a.Should an infraction of the rules which would call for a minor, major, misconduct, game misconduct or match penalty be committed by a player of the side in possession of the puck, the Referee shall immediately blow his whistle and penalize the offending player. The resulting face-off shall be made at the place where the play was stopped unless the stoppage occurs in the attacking zone of the player penalized in which case the face-off shall be made at the nearest face-off spot in the neutral zone. b.Should an infraction of the rules which would call for a minor, major, misconduct, game misconduct or match penalty be committed by a player of the team not in possession of the puck, the Referee will blow his whistle and impose the penalty on the offending player upon completion of the play by the team in possession of the puck. (NOTE) There shall be no signal given by the Referee for a misconduct or game misconduct penalty under this section. The resulting face-off shall be made at the place where the play was stopped, unless 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, shoots the puck so that it goes out of bounds or is unplayable, then the face-off following the stoppage shall take place in the neutral zone near the defending blue line of the team shooting the puck. If the penalty to be imposed is a minor penalty and a goal is scored on the play by the non-offending side, the minor penalty shall not be imposed but major and match penalties shall be imposed in the normal manner regardless of whether or not a goal is scored. When the penalty to be imposed is applicable under Rule 58(c)(1) - High Sticks or Rule 79(c) - Spearing and Butt-Ending, and a goal is scored, two minutes of the appropriate penalty will be assessed to the offending player. (This will be announced as a double minor for the appropriate foul and the player will serve two minutes only.) (NOTES) 1."Completion of the play by the team in possession" in this rule means that the puck must have come into the possession and control of an opposing player or has been "frozen". This does not mean a rebound off the goalkeeper, the goal or the boards, or any accidental contact with the body or equipment of an opposing player. 2.If after the Referee has signalled a penalty but before the whistle has been blown, the puck shall enter the goal of the non-offending team as the direct result of a player of that team, the goal shall be allowed and the penalty signalled shall be imposed in the normal manner. 3.If when a team is "short-handed" by reason of one or more minor or bench minor penalties, the Referee signals a further minor penalty or penalties against the "short-handed" team and a goal is scored by the non-offending side before the whistle is blown, then the goal shall be allowed. The penalty or penalties signalled shall be assessed and the first of the minor penalties already being served shall automatically terminate under Rule 27(c) - Minor Penalties. c.Should the same offending player commit other fouls on the same play, either before or after the Referee has blown his whistle, the offending player shall serve such penalties consecutively. Rule 34A. Supplementary Discipline In addition to the automatic fines and suspensions imposed under these rules, the Commissioner may, at his discretion, investigate any incident that occurs in connection with any exhibition, League or playoff game and may assess additional fines and/or suspensions for any offense committed during the course of a game or any aftermath thereof by a player, Trainer, Manager, Coach or club executive, whether or not such offense has been penalized by the Referee. (NOTE) If an investigation is requested by a club or by the League on its own initiative, it must be initiated within seventy-two (72) hours following the completion of the game in which the incident occurred. Rule 34B. Suspensions Arising from Exhibition Games Whenever suspensions are imposed as a result of infractions occurring during exhibition games, the Commissioner shall exercise his discretion in scheduling the suspensions to ensure that no team shall be short more players in any regular League game than it would have been had the infractions occurred in regular League games.