Rule 1.9 – Players’ Bench

Each rink will have seats or a bench for the use of each team, to be known as the Players’ Bench. Each Players’ Bench will accommodate at least 14 players and will be placed directly alongside the ice in the neutral zone, as near as possible to the centre of the rink and convenient to the dressing rooms. Whenever possible, a walking space of 91.44 cm (3 ft.) should be left open behind the Players’ Bench (new rinks).
The gates to the Players’ Bench should be constructed to open away from the ice surface.
Only players in uniform and a maximum of five team officials will be permitted to occupy the Players’ Bench. These individuals will be registered and entered on the Official Game Report. A maximum of five team officials may be recorded on the Official Game Report.
During a game, authorized team officials will be restricted to the use of the area of their Players’ Bench. The penalty for a violation of this rule is a Bench Minor penalty under Rule 11.1 (a) – Unsportsmanlike Conduct.
The Home Team will have the choice of ends to start the game and must take the Players’ Bench that corresponds to their choice of ends. They must make this choice prior to the warm-up and then warm-up in that end. If the benches are on opposite sides of the rink, the home team may choose either bench.

Teams will alternate ends of the ice to start each period but neither team is permitted to change their Players’ Bench.