Rule 3.5 – Goaltender’s Equipment

Rule 3.5 – Goaltender’s Equipment

  1. With the exception of skates and stick, all equipment worn by the goaltender must be constructed solely for the purpose of protection of the head or body, and must not include any garment or contrivance which would give the goaltender undue assistance in keeping goal. Abdominal aprons extending down the thighs on the outside of the pants are prohibited.

  2. Goaltender’s pads will not exceed 27.94 cm (11 in.) in width and 96.52 cm (38 in.) in length as measured on the goaltender and will not be altered in any way. The minimum length of the boot of the pad is to be no less than 17.78 cm (7 in.). The boot is the bottom of the pad that sits over the top of the skate. The boot channel of the goaltender’s pad must be flat or concave in appearance.

    Note 1: Puck foil (a plastic piece attached to the bottom of goaltender’s pads designed to stop the puck) is considered to be illegal equipment.

  3. Protective padding attached to the back of, or forming part of, the goaltender’s blocker glove will not exceed 20.3 cm (8 in.) in width nor 38.1 cm (15 in.) in length. Any measurement exceeding 20.3 cm (8 in.) measured anywhere across the full length of the wrist area, or more than 38.1 cm (15 in.) anywhere on the length constitutes an illegal blocker glove.

    The base of the goaltender’s catching glove will be restricted to a maximum of 20.32 cm (8 in.) in width, which is to include any attachments added to that glove. The distance from the heel of the glove along the pocket and following the contour of the glove to the top of the ‘T’ trap must not exceed 46 cm (18 in.). The heel is considered to be the point at which the straight vertical line of the cuff meets the glove. Any measurement exceeding 20.32 cm (8 in.) measured anywhere across the full length of the wrist area. The maximum circumference of the legal goaltender’s catching glove cannot exceed 114.3 cm (45 in.) (see Appendix B for diagram). The lacing or webbing or other material joining the thumb and index finger of a goaltender’s glove, or any cage, pocket or pouch created by this material, must not exceed the minimum amount of material necessary to fill the gap between the thumb and the index finger when they are fully extended and spread. Any other pocket, pouch or contrivance added to the glove by a manufacturer or otherwise is not acceptable and makes the glove illegal.

    Note 1: The binding and/or stitching at the edges of both goaltender’s gloves will not be included in the measurement of either the length or width.

    Note 2: When a request for a measurement of a goaltender’s glove has been made the team will state the glove that is to be measured and whether it is to be the length or width of the glove.

  4. The goaltender’s chest and arm pads must conform to the following rules:

    1. No raised ridges are allowed on the front edges or sides of the chest pad, the inside or outside of the arms, or across the shoulders.
    2. Layering at the elbow is permitted to add protection but not to add stopping area. This layering, both across the front and down the sides to protect the point of the elbow, will not exceed 17.78 cm (7 in.).
    3. Shoulder cap protectors must follow the contour of the shoulder cap without becoming a projection/extension beyond or above the shoulder or shoulder cap. This contoured padding must not be more than 2.54 cm (1 in.) in thickness beyond the top ridge of the shoulder and shoulder cap.
    4. On each side, the shoulder clavicle protectors are not to exceed 17.78 cm (7 in.) in width. Their maximum thickness is to be 2.54 cm (1 in.). This protection is not to extend or project above or beyond the shoulder or shoulder cap nor extend beyond the armpit. No insert is allowed between the shoulder clavicle protector and the chest pad that would elevate the shoulder clavicle protector.
    5. If when the goaltender assumes the normal crouch position, the shoulder and/or shoulder cap protection is pushed above the contour of the shoulder, the chest pad will be considered illegal.
  5. Any violation of this rule will be penalized as per Rule 10.6 – Illegal Equipment.

INTERPRETATIONS 

Interpretation 1

Rule 3.5 (b) 

If a measurement of the goaltender’s pads is required during the course of the game, this measurement should be carried out by the Referee in the Referee’s crease. Both pads are to be measured. The measurement may take place anywhere across the width of the pads. The measurement is made with the pads on the goaltender and they are allowed four (4) hits on each pad to bring them into alignment. The measurement is to be taken with the goaltender in the standing position and the pads not contacting any fixed object. This measurement is taken by extending a tape measure at right angles from the outer edge of each pad at its widest point. The measurement may be taken anywhere throughout the length of the goaltender’s pad. 

Interpretation 2

Rule 3.5 (c) 

With reference to measurements of the goaltender’s blocker or catching glove:

The measurement of the goaltender’s blocker or catching glove will be carried out by the Referee at the Referee’s crease. The binding and/or stitching at the edges will not be included in the measurement of width nor length. The measurement to be made must be specified, whether it is the width or the length to be measured. Keep in mind, only one measurement per stoppage. 

The blocker is measured with it being removed and it will include the distance of the curvature. The measurement will be a direct line from the one edge, measured at right angles to the opposite edge. This measurement may be anywhere between the two edges and should include the widest point, following any curvature of the blocker. 

The catching glove is measured with it being removed. The glove is allowed to retain the shape that it has developed when being worn by the goaltender and will not be flattened. The length measurement will not include the depth within the webbing or pocket, it will be a direct line from the bottom edge, measured at right angles to the top edge, which is a line to the furthest point of the mitt from the base of the glove. The width measurement is made at right angles to the opposite edge across the cuff area only.