Rule 3.2 – Lost or Broken Sticks

Rule 3.2 – Lost or Broken Sticks

  1. A player whose stick has been broken must drop all pieces of the broken stick to the ice immediately. That player may continue to participate in the game without a stick.

    Note 1: When a player discards any piece(s) of a broken stick by tossing them to the side of the playing surface (not over the boards) in such a way that they do not interfere with play or opposing players, no penalty will be assessed.

  2. A player who has lost or broken their stick may only receive another stick at their own Players’ Bench or be handed one from a teammate on the ice. They may not receive a stick thrown on the ice from any part of the rink, nor can they receive a stick handed to them from the Penalty Bench.

  3. A goaltender who breaks or loses their stick may use a player’s stick that has been handed to them until the next stoppage of play. In this case the players’ stick will not be considered illegal equipment. At the next stoppage of play, the goaltender must receive a regular goaltender’s stick. A goaltender may not continue to play with a broken stick of any kind.

  4. Any violation of this rule will be penalized as per Rule 10.6 – Illegal Equipment.

INTERPRETATIONS 

Interpretation 1

Rule 3.2 (c) 

QUESTION:

A goaltender breaks their stick. A player of the same team gets a stick at the Players’ Bench and in the act of taking the stick to the goaltender, the player slides the stick along the ice to the goaltender. Is that considered legal? 

ANSWER:

No. A player may carry a new stick back to the goaltender, allowing the goaltender may receive a new goaltender’s stick without proceeding to the Players’ Bench. However, after receiving a new goaltender’s stick from the bench, the player may not throw or slide the stick along the ice but must carry the stick back to the goaltender and hand it to them. A player who slides or throws a stick to the goaltender is to be assessed a Minor penalty under Rule 10.5 (a) – Throwing or Shooting Stick or Object. A Penalty Shot may be awarded under this rule, if the player throws the stick at the puck or puck carrier in their defending zone. If the goaltender picks up the stick, they will be assessed a Minor penalty under Rule 10.6 (a) – Illegal Equipment. No penalty is to be assessed against the goaltender in this situation if they do not pick up the stick. If the player interferes with an opposing player or the puck while carrying the extra stick, they will be assessed a Minor penalty for Rule 10.6 (a) – Illegal Equipment.