Rule 2.4 – Injured Players

1. When a player, other than a goaltender, is injured or required to leave the ice during a game, they must be replaced by a substitute, and play will continue.

2. When a player is injured so that they cannot continue play or go to their bench, the play will not be stopped until the injured player’s team has secured possession and control of the puck. If the injured player’s team is in possession of the puck at the time of the injury, the play will be stopped immediately unless their team is in scoring position, at which time the Referee will allow the play to be completed.

   Note 1: Where there is suspicion that a player has sustained serious injury, any On-Ice Official may stop play immediately.

   Note 2: Where play has been stopped due to an injured player, excluding the goaltender, the injured player will leave the ice and may not return to the ice until the play has resumed. If the player refuses to leave the ice, they will be penalized under Rule 10.1 (a) – Delay of Game. When the Referee stops play due to a suspected injury and then notices that there is no injury, this rule still applies. This is a judgement call and the player must leave the ice until play resumes.

3. If a goaltender goes to the Players’ Bench due to an injury and an alternate goaltender is dressed, they must be replaced by the alternate goaltender, so that play may resume immediately. No warm-up will be permitted for the alternate goaltender.

   In cases where an alternate goaltender is not dressed, the injured goaltender will be allowed 10 minutes to recuperate. If a replacement is necessary for the injured goaltender, an additional five minutes will be allowed, for a total of 15 minutes. Once the additional 5 minutes is allowed, the injured goaltender must remain off the ice until the next stoppage of play. For a violation of this rule, the goaltender will be penalized under Rule 10.1 (a) – Delay of Game.

4. A player replacing the goaltender will be subject to the rules governing goaltenders and be allowed the goaltender’s full equipment. They must also conform to the following:

   1. At minimum, the player replacing the goaltender must use a helmet, proper facial protection, and a goaltender’s stick (See Rule 3.3 – Sticks and Rule 3.6 – Protective Equipment). In divisions of U13 and above, goaltender’s leg pads are mandatory.
   2. In divisions of U13 and below, after a player has been designated as a goaltender, they may return to a non-goaltender position. In divisions above U13, the player must remain as a goaltender once they have been designated as such.

   Note 1: The only exception to this rule is when a team is awarded a Penalty Shot and the opposing team does not have a goaltender dressed. In this instance, a player may be designated as a goaltender for the purposes of defending the Penalty Shot, without having to wear the equipment mandated above.

5. When a goaltender or player is seriously injured, the Referee may permit players to leave the ice, but must be ready to resume play immediately, when notified by the Referee.

6. A penalized player who must serve a time penalty and who has been injured may go to the dressing room, if they are replaced on the Penalty Bench by a substitute who was on the ice at the time of the infraction. A penalized player who does not have to serve a time penalty and who has been injured may go to the dressing room without having to be replaced by a substitute on the Penalty Bench.

   If the penalized player recovers from their injury and returns to the Players’ Bench prior to the expiration of their penalty, they must replace the substitute in the Penalty Bench at the first opportunity. If the penalized player participates in the play before the expiration of their penalty, they will be penalized under Rule 10.4 – Leaving the Players’ or Penalty Bench.