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Rule 55. Goals and Assists (NOTE) It is the responsibility of the Official Scorer to award goals and assists, and his decision in this respect is final notwithstanding the report of the Referee or any other game official. Such awards shall be made or withheld strictly in accordance with the provisions of this rule. Therefore, it is essential that the Official Scorer be thoroughly familiar with every aspect of this rule, be alert to observe all actions which could affect the making of an award and, above all, the awards must be made or withheld with absolute impartiality. In case of an obvious error in awarding a goal or an assist which has been announced, it should be corrected promptly but changes should not be made in the official scoring summary after the Referee has signed the Game Report. a.A goal shall be scored when the puck shall have been put between the goal posts by the stick of a player of the attacking side, from in front and below the cross bar, and entirely across a red line, the width of the diameter of the goal posts drawn on the ice from one goal post to the other with the goal frame in its proper position. b.A goal shall be scored if the puck is put into the goal in any way by a player of the defending side. The player of the attacking side who last played the puck shall be credited with the goal but no assist shall be awarded. c.A goal cannot be scored by an attacking player who bats or kicks the puck directly into the net. A goal cannot be scored where an attacking player bats or kicks the puck and it is deflected off any player or goalkeeper into the net. d.If the puck shall have been deflected into the goal from the shot of an attacking player by striking any part of the person of a player of the same side, a goal shall be allowed. The player who deflected the puck shall be credited with the goal. The goal shall not be allowed if the puck has been kicked, whether intended or not. In addition, the goal shall not be allowed if the puck has been thrown or otherwise deliberately directed into the goal by any means other than a stick. e.If a goal is scored as a result of being deflected directly into the net off an official, the goal shall not be allowed. Refer to Rule 76 - Puck Striking Official. f.Should a player legally propel a puck into the goal crease of the opponent club and the puck should become loose and available to another player of the attacking side, a goal scored on the play shall be legal. g.Any goal scored, other than as covered by the official rules, shall not be allowed. h.A "goal" shall be credited in the scoring records to a player who shall have propelled the puck into the opponent's goal. Each goal shall count one point in the player's record. i.When a player scores a goal, an "assist" shall be credited to the player or players taking part in the play immediately preceding the goal, but no more than two assists can be given on any goal. Each assist shall count one point in the player's record. j.Only one point can be credited to any one player on a goal. Rule 56. Gross Misconduct Refer to Rule 29 - Misconduct Penalty Rule 57. Handling Puck with Hands a.If a player, except a goalkeeper, closes his hand on the puck, the play shall be stopped and a minor penalty shall be imposed on him. A goalkeeper who holds the puck with his hands for longer than three seconds shall be given a minor penalty unless he is actually being checked by an opponent. b.A goalkeeper must not deliberately hold the puck in any manner which, in the opinion of the Referee, causes a stoppage of play, nor throw the puck forward towards the opponent's net, nor deliberately drop the puck into his pads or onto the goal net, nor deliberately pile up snow or obstacles at or near his net, that in the opinion of the Referee, would tend to prevent the scoring of a goal. (NOTE) The object of this entire rule is to keep the puck in play continuously and any action taken by the goalkeeper which causes an unnecessary stoppage must be penalized without warning. c.The penalty for infringement of this rule by the goalkeeper shall be a minor penalty. (NOTE) In the case of the puck thrown forward by the goalkeeper being taken by an opponent, the Referee shall allow the resulting play to be completed, and if goal is scored by the non-offending team, it shall be allowed and no penalty given; but if a goal is not scored, play shall be stopped and a minor penalty shall be imposed against the goalkeeper. d.A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player,except the goalkeeper, who, while play is in progress, picks up the puck off the ice with his hand. If a player, except a goalkeeper, while play is in progress, picks up the puck with his hand from the ice in the goal crease area, the play shall be stopped immediately and a penalty shot shall be awarded to the non-offending team. e.A player shall be permitted to stop or "bat" a puck in the air with his open hand, or push it along the ice with his hand, and the play shall not be stopped unless, in the opinion of the Referee, he has deliberately directed the puck to a teammate in any zone other than the defensive zone, in which case the play shall be stopped and the puck faced-off at the spot where the offense occurred. Play will not be stopped for any hand pass by players in their own defensive zone. (NOTE) The object of this rule is to ensure continuous action and the Referee should NOT stop play unless he is satisfied that the directing of the puck to a teammate was, in fact, DELIBERATE. A goal cannot be scored by an attacking player who bats the puck with his hand directly into the net. A goal cannot be scored by an attacking player who bats the puck and it is deflected into the net off any player or goalkeeper. Rule 58. High Sticks a.The carrying of sticks above the normal height of the WAIST of the opponent is prohibited and a minor, double-minor or major penalty may be imposed on a player violating this rule, at the discretion of the Referee. b.A goal scored by an attacking player who strikes the puck with his stick which is carried above the height of the crossbar of the goal frame shall not be allowed. A goal scored by a defending player who strikes the puck with his stick which is carried above the height of the crossbar of the goal frame shall be allowed. c.When a player carries or holds any part of his stick above the normal height of the WAIST of the opponent so that injury results the Referee shall: 1.assess a double-minor penalty when it is deemed to be accidental in nature by the officials; 2.assess a major and game-misconduct when the high stick is deemed to be careless by the officials. Refer to Rule 29(f) and Rule 28(b). When a major penalty is imposed under this rule for a foul resulting in injury to an opponent, an automatic fine of one hundred dollars ($100) shall also be imposed. Also, when a major penalty is imposed under this rule, the player, excluding goalkeepers, shall receive automatically a game misconduct penalty. d.Batting the puck above the normal height of the shoulders with the stick is prohibited. When a puck is struck with a high stick and subsequently comes into the possession of a teammate, there shall be a whistle. If a territorial advantage has been gained by the offending team, the ensueing face-off will be where the high stick occurred. If a territorial disadvantage occurs to the offending team, the ensueing face-off will be where the puck is touched. Play continues following a high-sticked puck if: 1.the puck has been batted to an opponent in which case the play shall continue; 2.a player of the defending side shall bat the puck into his own goal in which case the goal shall be allowed. (NOTE) When a player bats the puck to an opponent under sub-section 1, the Referee shall give the "washout" signal immediately. Otherwise, he will stop the play. e.When either team is below the numerical strength of its opponent and a player of the team of greater numerical strength causes a stoppage of play by striking the puck with his stick above the height of his shoulder, the resulting face-off shall be made at one of the end face-off spots adjacent to the goal of the team causing the stoppage. Rule 59. Holding an Opponent a.A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who holds an opponent with hands or stick or in any other way. b.A minor penalty shall be assessed to a player who uses his hand to hold an opponent's stick. Rule 60. Hooking a.A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who impedes or seeks to impede the progress of an opponent by hooking with his stick. b.A major penalty shall be be imposed on any player who injures an opponent by hooking. When a major penalty is imposed under this rule for a foul resulting in injury to the face or head of an opponent, an automatic fine of one hundred dollars ($100) shall also be imposed. (NOTE) When a player is checking another in such a way that there is only stick-to-stick contact, such action is neither hooking or holding. Rule 61. Icing the Puck a.For the purpose of this rule, the center red line will divide the ice into halves. Should any player of a team, equal or superior in numerical strength to the opposing team, shoot, bat or deflect the puck from his own half of the ice beyond the goal line of the opposing team, play shall be stopped and the puck faced-off at the end face-off spot of the offending team, unless on the play, the puck shall have entered the net of the opposing team, in which case the goal shall be allowed. For the purpose of this rule, the point of last contact with the puck by the team in possession shall be used to determine whether icing has occurred or not. (NOTES) 1.If during the period of a delayed whistle due to a foul by a player of the side NOT in possession, the side inpossession ices the puck, then the face-off following the stoppage of play shall take place in the neutral zone near the defending blue line of the team icing the puck. 2.When a team is short-handed as the result of a penalty and the penalty is about to expire, the decision as to whether there has been an "icing" shall be determined at the instant the penalty expires. The action of the penalized player remaining in the penalty box will not alter the ruling. 3.For the purpose of interpretation of the rule, icing the puck is completed the instant the puck is touched first by a defending player (other than the goalkeeper) after it has crossed the goal line and if in the action of so touching the puck, it is knocked or deflected into the net, it is NO goal. 4.When the puck is shot and rebounds from the body or stick of an opponent in his own half of the ice so as to cross the goal line of the player shooting, it shall not be considered as icing. 5.Notwithstanding the provisions of the section concerning batting the puck in respect to the icing the puck rule, the provisions of the final paragraph of Rule 57(e) apply and NO goal can be scored by batting the puck with the hand into the opponent's goal whether intended or not. 6.If while the Linesman has signalled a slow whistle for a clean interception under Rule 71(c), the player intercepting shoots or bats the puck beyond the opponent's goal line in such a manner as to constitute icing the puck, the Linesman slow whistle shall be considered exhausted the instant the puck crosses the blue line and icing shall be called in the usual manner. b.If a player of the side shooting the puck down the ice who is on-side and eligible to play the puck does so before it is touched by an opposing player, the play shall continue and it shall not be considered a violation of this rule. c.If the puck was so shot by a player of a side below the numerical strength of the opposing team, play shall continue and the face-off shall not take place. (NOTE) If the team returns to full strength following a shot by one of its players, play shall continue and the face-off shall not take place. d.If, however, the puck shall go beyond the goal line in the opposite half of the ice directly from either of the players while facing-off, it shall not be considered a violation of this rule. e.If, in the opinion of the Linesman, a player of the opposing team except the goalkeeper is able to play the puck before it passes his goal line, but has not done so, the face-off shall not be allowed and play shall continue. If, in the opinion of the Referee, the defending side intentionally abstains from playing the puck promptly when they are in a position to do so, he shall stop the play and order the resulting face-off on the adjacent corner face-off spot nearest the goal of the team at fault. (NOTE) The purpose of this section is to enforce continuous action and both Referee and Linesmen should interpret and apply the rule to produce this result. f.If the puck touches any part of a player of the opposing side, including his skates or his stick, or if it passes through any part of the goal crease before it reaches the opposing team's goal line, or if it touches any part of the opposing team's goalkeeper, including his skates or his stick, at any time before or after crossing the goal line, it shall not be considered. (NOTE) If a goalkeeper takes any action to dislodge the puck from the back of the net, icing shall be washed out. g.If a goalkeeper has been removed from the playing surface for an extra player (teams at equal or superior in numerical strength), the icing rule shall be in effect if the puck passes through or touches any part of the goal crease before it crosses the goal line. h.If the Linesman shall have erred in calling an icing the puck infraction (regardless of whether either team is short-handed), the puck shall be faced-off on the center ice face-off spot. Rule 62. Interference (NOTE) A strict standard of interference must be adhered to in all areas of the rink, WITH EMPHASIS ON INTERFERENCE IN THE NEUTRAL ZONE. a.A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who interferes with or impedes the progress of an opponent who is not in possession of the puck. b.A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who restrains an opponent who is attempting to forecheck. c.A minor penalty shall be imposed on an attacking player who deliberately checks a defensive player who is not in possession of the puck. d.A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who deliberately knocks a stick out of an opponent's hand, or who prevents a player who has dropped his stick or any other piece of equipment from regaining possession of it. e.A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who knocks or shoots any abandoned or broken stick or illegal puck or other debris towards an opposing puck carrier in a manner that could cause him to be distracted. (See also Rule 81(a) - Throwing Stick.) f.A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player on the players' bench or penalty bench who, by means of his stick or body, interferes with the movements of the puck or any opponent on the ice during the progress of the play. g.If, when the goalkeeper has been removed from the ice, any member of his team (including the goalkeeper) not legally on the ice, including the Manager, Coach, or Trainer interferes by means of his body, stick, or any other object with the movements of the puck or an opposing player, the Referee shall immediately award a goal to the non-offending team. h.When a player in control of the puck on his opponents side of the center red line and having no other to pass than the goalkeeper is interfered with by a stick or any part thereof or any other object thrown or shot by any member of the defending team including Manager, Coach, or Trainer, a penalty shot shall be awarded to the non-offending team. NOTE 1 Body Position: Body position shall be determined as the player skating in front of or beside his opponent, traveling in the same direction. A player who is behind an opponent, who does not have the puck, may not use his stick or body in order to restrain hisopponent, but must skate in order to gain or reestablish his proper position in order to make a check. A player is allowed the ice he is standing on (body position) and is not required to move in order to let an opponent proceed. A player may block the path of an opponent provided he is doing so by skating in the same direction. Moving laterally, and without establishing body position, then making contact with the non-puck carrier is not permitted and will be penalized as interference. A player is always entitled to use his body position to lengthen an opponent's path to the puck, provided his stick is not utilized; his free hand is not used and he does not take advantage of his body position to deliver an otherwise illegal check. NOTE 2 Possession of the Puck: The last player to touch the puck, other than the goalkeeper, shall be considered the player in possession. The player deemed in possession of the puck may be checked legally, provided the check is rendered immediately, following his loss of possession. NOTE 3 Restrain: The actions of a player who does not have body position, but instead uses illegal means (e.g. hook with stick; hold with hands) to impede an opponent who is not in possession of the puck. Illegal means are acts which allow a player to establish, maintain, or restore body position, other than by skating. NOTE 4 Pick: A pick is the action of a player who checks an opponent who is not in possession of the puck and is unaware of the impending check/hit. A player who is aware of an impending hit, not deemed to be a legal battle for the puck, may not be interfered with by a player delivering a pick. A player delivering a pick is one who moves into an opponent's path without initially having body position, thereby taking him out of play. NOTE 5 Free Hand: A free hand is the one that is not evident holding the player's own stick. Free hand use isa permitted to fend off an opponent or his stick, but may not be used to hold an opponent's stick or body. NOTE 6 Stick: Any reference made to the use of the stick implies any portion of the stick. It is generally accepted that the blade or end of the shaft are used in stick restraining tactics. Rule 63. Interference by/with Spectators a.In the event of a player being held or interfered with by a spectator, the Referee or Linesman shall blow the whistle and play shall be stopped unless the team of the player interfered with is in possession of the puck at this time when the play shall be allowed to be completed before blowing the whistle and the puck shall be faced-off at the spot where last played at time of stoppage. b.Any player who physically interferes with the spectators shall automatically incur a gross misconduct penalty and the Referee shall report all such infractions to the Commissioner who shall have full power to impose such further penalty as he shall deem appropriate. c.In the event that objects are thrown on the ice which interfere with the progress of the game, the Referee shall blow the whistle and stop the play and the puck shall be faced-off at the spot play is stopped. (NOTE) The Referee shall report to the Commissioner for disciplinary action all cases in which a player becomes involved in an altercation with a spectator. Rule 64. Kicking a Player A match penalty shall be imposed on any player who kicks or attempts to kick another player. Whether or not an injury occurs, the Referee may, at his own discretion, impose a five minute time penalty under this rule. Refer to Rule 44 - Attempt to Injure or Rule 49 - Deliberate Injury of an Opponent.