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Rule 35. Appointment of Officials a.The Commissioner shall appoint a Referee, two Linesmen, Game Timekeeper, Penalty Timekeeper, Official Scorer and two Goal Judges for each game. b.The Commissioner shall forward to all clubs a list of Referees, Linesmen, and Off-ice Officials, all of whom must be treated with proper respect at all times during the season by all players and officials of clubs. Rule 36. Referee a.The REFEREE shall have general supervision of the game and shall have full control of all game officials and players during the game, including stoppages; and in case of any dispute, his decision shall be final. The Referee shall remain on the ice at the conclusion of each period until all players have proceeded to their dressing rooms. b.All Referees and Linesmen shall be dressed in black trousers and official sweaters. They shall be equipped with approved whistles and metal tape measures with minimum length of six feet. c.The Referee shall order the teams on the ice at the appointed time for the beginning of a game and at the commencement of each period. If for any reason, there is more than fifteen minutes' delay in the commencement of the game or any undue delay in resuming play after the fifteen-minute intervals between periods, the Referee shall state in his report to the Commissioner the cause of the delay and the club or clubs which were at fault. d.It shall be his duty to see to it that all players are properly dressed, and that the approved regulation equipment is in use at all times during the game. e.The Referee shall, before starting the game, see that the appointed Game Timekeeper, Penalty Timekeeper, Official Scorer and Goal Judges are in their respective places and satisfy himself that the timing and signalling equipment are in order. f.It shall be his duty to impose such penalties as are prescribed by the rules for infractions thereof and he shall give the final decision in matters of disputed goals. The Referee may consult with the Linesmen, Goal Judge or Video Goal Judge before making his decision. g.The Referee shall announce to the Official Scorer or Penalty Timekeeper all goals legally scored as well as penalties, and for what infractions such penalties are imposed. The Referee shall cause to be announced over the public address system the reason for not allowing a goal every time the goal signal light is turned on in the course of play. This shall be done at the first stoppage of play regardless of any standard signal given by the Referee when the goal signal light was put on in error. The Referee shall report to the Official Scorer the name or number of the goal scorer but he shall not give any information or advice with respect to assist. (NOTE) The name of the scorer and any player entitled to an assist will be announced on the public address system. In the event that the Referee disallows a goal for any violation of the rules, he shall report the reason for disallowance to the Official Scorer who shall announce the Referee's decision correctly over the public address system. The infraction of the rules for which each penalty has been imposed will be announced correctly, as reported by the Referee, over the public address system. Where players of both teams are penalized on the same play, the penalty to the visiting player will be announced first. Where a penalty is imposed by the Referee which calls for a mandatory or automatic fine, only the time portion of the penalty will be reported by the Referee to the Official Scorer and announced on the public address system, and the fine will be collected through the League office. h.The Referee shall see to it that players of opposing teams are separated on the penalty bench to prevent feuding. i.He shall not halt the game for any infractions of the rules concerning off-side play at the blue line or center line, or any violation of Rule 61 - Icing the Puck. Determining infractions of these rules is the duty of the Linesmen unless, by virtue of some accident, the Linesman is prevented from doing so in which case the duties of the Linesman shall be assumed by the Referee until play is stopped. j.Should a Referee accidentally leave the ice or receive an injury which incapacitates him from discharging his duties while play is in progress, the game shall be automatically stopped. k.If, through misadventure or sickness, the Referee and Linesmen appointed are prevented from appearing, the Managers or Coaches of the two clubs shall agree on a Referee and Linesman. If they are unable to agree, they shall appoint a player from each side who shall act as Referee and Linesman; the player of the home club acting as Referee and the player of the visiting club as Linesman. l.If the regularly appointed officials appear during the progress of the game, they shall at once replace the temporary officials. m.Should a Linesman appointed be unable to act at the last minute or through sickness or accident be unable to finish the game, the Referee shall have the power to appoint another in his stead, if he deems it necessary, or if required to do so by the Manager or Coach of either of the competing teams. n.If, owing to illness or accident, the Referee is unable to continue to officiate, one of the Linesmen shall perform the duties of the Referee during the balance of the game, the Linesman to be selected by the Referee. In the event that an NHL Supervisor is in attendance at a game where a spare official is present, he shall have the authority to substitute the injured Referee with the spare official. o.The Referee shall check club rosters and all players in uniform before signing reports of the game. p.The Referee shall report to Commissioner promptly and in detail the circumstances of any of the following incidents: 1.When a stick or part thereof is thrown outside the playing area Rule 81(C) - Throwing Stick; 2.Every obscene gesture made by any person involved in the playing or conduct of the game whether as a participant or as an official of either team or of the League, which gesture he has personally observed or which has been brought to his attention by any game official Rule 68(a) - Obscene or Profane Language or Gestures; 3.When any player, Trainer, Coach or club executive becomes involved in an altercation with a spectator Rule 63(b) - Interference by/with Spectators; 4.Every infraction under Rule 28(b) - Major Penalties, Major and Game Misconducts. q.In the event of failure by a club to comply with a provision of the League constitution, by-laws, resolutions, rules or regulations affecting the playing of a game, the Referee shall, if so directed by the Commissioner or his designee, refuse to permit the game to proceed until the offending club comes into compliance with such provision. Should the offending club persist in its refusal to come into compliance, the Referee shall, with the prior approval of the Commissioner or his designee, declare the game forfeited and the non-offending club the winner. Should the Referee declare the game forfeited because both clubs have refused to comply with such a provision, the visiting club shall be declared the winner. If the game is declared forfeited prior to its having commenced, the score shall be recorded as 1-0 and no player shall be credited with any personal statistics. If the game was in progress at the time it is declared forfeited, the score shall be recorded as zero for the loser and 1, or such greater number of goals that had been scored by it, for the winner; however, the players on both clubs shall be credited with all personal statistics earned up to the time the forfeit was declared. Rule 37. Linesman a.The duty of the LINESMAN is to determine any infractions of the rules concerning off-side play at the blue line or center line, or any violation of Rule 61 - Icing the Puck. He shall stop the play when the puck goes outside the playing area, when it is interfered with by any ineligible person, when it is struck above the height of the shoulder and when the goal post has been displaced from its normal position. He shall stop the play for off-sides occurring on face-offs and for premature entry into face-off circles. He shall stop the play when he has observed that a goal has been scored which has not been observed by the Referee. He shall stop the play when there has been a premature substitution for a goalkeeper under Rule 18(a) - Change of Players; for injured players under Rule 19(f) - Injured Players; for a player batting the puck forward to a teammate under Rule 57(e) - Handling Puck with Hands; the calling of a double-minor penalty for accidental high sticks, under Rule 58(c) - High Sticks; interference by spectators under Rule 63(a) - Interference by/with Spectators; the calling of a double-minor penalty to a player who attempts to poke, jab, spear or butt-end an opponent, under Rule 79(c) - Spearing and Butt-ending; and the calling of a penalty under Rule 81(a) - Throwing Stick, for deliberately throwing a stick in the defensive zone. b.He shall face-off the puck at all times, except at the start of the game, at the beginning of each period and after a goal has been scored. The Referee may call upon a Linesman to conduct a face-off at any time. c.He shall, when requested to do so by the Referee, give his version of any incident that may have taken place during the playing of the game. d.He shall not stop the play to impose any penalty except when a major penalty is warranted to a player on the ice when a serious incident has been observed by him but not by the Referee and/or when he observes any violation of Rules 18(a) and (c), change of players (too many men on the ice); Rule 42(k), articles thrown on the ice from vicinity of players' or penalty bench; Rule 42(l), interference with game officials by player, Coach, Trainer or club executive; Rule 46(c), stick thrown on ice from players' bench and Rule 50(c), delaying the game by deliberately displacing the post from its normal position. He shall report such violation to the Referee who shall impose a bench minor penalty against the offending team. In addition, when assessing a major penalty to a player, he may, at his discretion, assess a minor penalty to a player of the opposing team that he deems instigated the incident for which the major penalty was assessed. He shall report immediately to the Referee his version of the circumstances with regard to interference on a goaltender when a goal is scored. He shall report immediately to the Referee his version of any infraction of the rules constituting a major or match foul or game misconduct or any conduct calling for a bench minor penalty or misconduct penalty under these rules. Rule 38. Goal Judge a.There shall be one GOAL JUDGE at each goal. They shall not be members of either club engaged in a game, nor shall they be replaced during its progress, unless after the commencement of the game it becomes apparent that either Goal Judge, on account of partisanship or any other cause, is guilty of giving unjust decisions, when the Referee may appoint another Goal Judge to act in his stead. b.Goal Judges shall be stationed behind the goals during the progress of play, in properly protected areas, if possible, so that there can be no interference with their activities. They shall not change goals during the game. c.In the event of a goal being claimed, the Goal Judge of that goal shall decide whether or not the puck has passed between the goal posts and entirely over the goal line. Rule 39. Penalty Timekeeper a.The PENALTY TIMEKEEPER shall keep, on the official forms provided, a correct record of all penalties imposed by the officials including the names of the players penalized, the infractions penalized, the duration of each penalty and the time at which each penalty was imposed. He shall report in the Penalty Record each penalty shot awarded, the name of the player taking the shot and the result of the shot. b.The Penalty Timekeeper shall check and ensure that the time served by all penalized players is correct. He shall be responsible for the correct posting of penalties on the scoreboard at all times and shall promptly call to the attention of the Referee any discrepancy between the time recorded on the clock and the official correct time and he shall be responsible for making any adjustments ordered by the Referee. He shall upon request, give a penalized player correct information as to the unexpired time of his penalty. (NOTE) 1.The infraction of the rules for which each penalty has been imposed will be announced twice over the public address system as reported by the Referee. Where players of both teams are penalized on the same play, the penalty to the visiting player will be announced first. 2.Misconduct penalties and coincident major penalties should not be recorded on the timing device but such penalized players should be alerted and released at the first stoppage of play following the expiration of their penalties. c.Upon the completion of each game, the Penalty Timekeeper shall complete and sign four copies of the Penalty Record to be distributed as quickly as possible to the following persons: 1.One copy to the Official Scorer for transmission to the League Commissioner; 2.One copy to the visiting Coach or Manager; 3.One copy to the home Coach or Manager; 4.One copy to the home team Public Relations Department. d.The Officiating Department shall be entitled to inspect, collect and forward to League headquarters the actual work sheets used by the Penalty Timekeeper in any game. Rule 40. Official Scorer a.Before the start of the game, the OFFICIAL SCORER shall obtain from the Manager or Coach of both teams a list of all eligible players and the starting line-up of each team which information shall be made known to the opposing Manager or Coach before the start of play, either personally or through the Referee. The Official Scorer shall secure the names of the Captain and Alternate Captains from the Manager or Coach at the time the line-ups are collected and will indicate those nominated by placing the letter "C" or "A" opposite their names on the Referee's Report of Match. All this information shall be presented to the Referee for his signature at the completion of the game. b.The Official Scorer shall keep a record of the goals scored, the scorers, and players to whom assists have been credited and shall indicate those players on the lists who have actually taken part in the game. He shall also record the time of entry into the game of any substitute goalkeeper. He shall record on the Official Score Sheet a notation where a goal is scored when the goalkeeper has been removed from the ice. c.The Official Scorer shall award the points for goals and assists and his decision shall be final. The awards of points for goals and assists shall be announced twice over the public address system and all changes in such awards shall also be announced in the same manner. No requests for changes in any award of points shall be considered unless they are made at or before the conclusion of actual play in the game by the team Captain. d.At the conclusion of the game, the Official Scorer shall complete and sign four copies of the Official Score Sheet for distribution as quickly as possible to the following persons: 1.One copy to the Official Scorer to be transmitted to the League Commissioner; 2.One copy to the visiting Coach or Manager; 3.One copy to the home Coach or Manager; 4.One copy to the home team Public Relations Department. e.The Official Scorer shall also prepare the Official Report of Match for signature by the Referee and forward it to the League Commissioner together with the Official Score Sheet and the Penalty Record. f.The Official Scorer should be in an elevated position, well away from the players' benches, with house telephone communication to the public address announcer. Rule 41. Game Timekeeper a.The GAME TIMEKEEPER shall record the time of starting and finishing of each period in the game. During the game the game timekeeper will start the clock with the drop of the puck and stop the clock upon hearing the Official's whistle or the scoring of a goal. b.The Game Timekeeper shall signal the Referee and the competing teams for the start of the game and each succeeding period and the Referee shall start the play promptly in accordance with Rule 82 - Time of Match. For the purpose of keeping the spectators informed as to the time remaining during intermissions, the Game Timekeeper will use the electric clock to record the length of intermissions. The clock will not start for the intermission until all players and officials have left the ice. To assist in assuring the prompt return to the ice of the teams and the officials, the Game Timekeeper shall give preliminary warnings five and two minutes prior to the resumption of play in each period. c.If the rink is not equipped with an automatic signalling device or, if such device fails to function, the Game Timekeeper shall signal the end of each period by blowing a whistle. d.He shall cause to be announced on the public address system at the nineteenth minute in each period that there is one minute remaining to be played in the period. e.In the event of any dispute regarding time, the matter shall be referred to the Referee for adjustment and his decision shall be final. f.The Game Timekeeper is required to synchronize his timing device with the Television Producer of the originating broadcast. Rule 41A. Statistician a.There shall be appointed for duty at every game played in the League a STATISTICIAN and such assistants or alternates as may be deemed necessary. b.The duty of the Statistician(s) is to correctly record on official League forms all of the required data concerning the performances of the individual players and teams. c.These records shall be compiled and recorded in strict conformity with the instructions printed on the forms supplied and shall be completed as to totals where required and with such accuracy as to ensure that the data supplied is "in balance". d.At the conclusion of each game, the Statistician shall sign and distribute four copies of the final and correct Statistician's Report to each of the following persons: 1.One copy to the Official Scorer for transmission to the League Commissioner; 2.One copy to the visiting Coach or Manager; 3.One copy to the home Coach or Manager; 4.One copy to the home team Public Relations Department. Rule 42. Abuse of Officials and other Misconduct (NOTE) In the enforcement of this rule, the Referee has, in many instances, the option of imposing a misconduct penalty or a bench minor penalty. In principle, the Referee is directed to impose a bench minor penalty in respect to the violations which occur on or in the immediate vicinity of the players' bench but off the playing surface and in all cases affecting non-playing personnel or players. A misconduct penalty should be imposed for violations which occur on the playing surface or in the penalty bench area and where the penalized player is readily identifiable. a.A misconduct penalty shall be imposed on any player who uses obscene, profane or abusive language to any person or who intentionally knocks or shoots the puck out of the reach of an official who is retrieving it or who deliberately throws any equipment out of the playing area. b.A minor penalty shall be assessed to any player who challenges or disputes the rulings of any official during a game. If the player persists in such challenge or dispute, he shall be assessed a misconduct penalty and any further dispute will result in a game misconduct penalty being assessed to the offending player. In the event that a teammate of a penalized player challenges or disputes the ruling of the official in assessing the penalty, a misconduct penalty shall be imposed. (NOTE) Any player who leaves the penalty bench prior to the expiration of his penalty, for the purpose of challenging or disputing an Official's call shall be assessed the appropriate penalties. Such player shall be automatically suspended for the next three regular League and/or Playoff games of his club. See also Rule 66 - Leaving Players' or Penalty Bench. c.A misconduct penalty shall be imposed on any player or players who bang the boards with their sticks or other objects at any time, showing disrespect for an Official's decision. In the event that the Coach, Trainer, Manager or club executive commits an infraction under this rule, a bench minor penalty shall be imposed. d.Where 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. e.Any player who, following a fight or other altercation in which he has been involved is broken up and for which he is penalized, fails to proceed directly and immediately to the penalty bench, or who causes any delay by retrieving his equipment (gloves, sticks, etc. shall be delivered to him at the penalty bench by teammates), shall incur an automatic fine of one hundred dollars ($100) in addition to all other penalties or fines incurred. f.Any player who persists in continuing or attempting to continue a fight or altercation after he has been ordered by the Referee to stop, or who resists a Linesman in the discharge of his duties shall, at the discretion of the Referee, incur a misconduct or game misconduct penalty in addition to any penalties imposed. g.A misconduct penalty shall be imposed on any player who, after warning by the Referee, persists in any course of conduct (including threatening or abusive language or gestures or similar actions) designed to incite an opponent into incurring a penalty. If, after the assessment of a misconduct penalty, a player persists in any course of conduct for which he was previously assessed a misconduct penalty, he shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty. h.A bench minor penalty shall be imposed against the offending team if any player, club executive, Manager, Coach or Trainer uses obscene, profane or abusive language or gesture to any person or uses the name of any official coupled with any vociferous remarks. i.In the case of any club executive, Manager, Coach or Trainer being guilty of such misconduct, he is to be removed from the bench by order of the Referee and his case reported to the Commissioner for further action. (Refer to Rule 68(c) - Obscene or Profane Language or Gestures. j.If any club executive, Manager, Coach or Trainer is removed from the bench by order of the Referee, he must not sit near the bench of his club nor in any way direct or attempt to direct the play of his club. When a Coach has been removed from the bench, he shall be assessed a Game Misconduct penalty. k.A bench minor penalty shall be imposed against the offending team if any player, Trainer, Coach, Manager or club executive in the vicinity of the players' bench or penalty bench throws anything on the ice during the progress of the game or during stoppage of play. (NOTE) The penalty provided under this rule is in addition to any penalty imposed under Rule 46(c) - Broken Stick. l.A bench minor penalty shall be imposed against the offending team if any player, Trainer, Coach, Manager or club executive interferes in any manner with any game official including Referee, Linesmen, Timekeepers or Goal Judges in the performance of their duties. The Referee may assess further penalties under Rule 67 - (Abuse of Officials) if he deems them to be warranted. m.A misconduct penalty shall be imposed on any player or players who, except for the purpose of taking their positions on the penalty bench, enter or remain in the Referee's crease while he is reporting to or consulting with any game official including Linesmen, Timekeeper, Penalty Timekeeper, Official Scorer or Announcer. n.A minor penalty shall be imposed on any player who is guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct including, but not limited to hair-pulling, biting, grabbing hold of face mask, etc. (NOTE) If warranted the Referee may apply Rule 29(d) - Gross Misconduct. o.A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who attempts to draw a penalty by his actions ("diving").