Rule 4.1 – Penalties

 

Rule 4.1 – Penalties

Penalties will be served in actual playing time, and are divided into the following classes:

  1. Minor Penalties 
  2. Bench Minor Penalties 
  3. Major Penalties 
  4. Misconduct Penalties 
  5. Game Ejection
  6. Game Misconduct Penalties 
  7. Gross Misconduct Penalties 
  8. Match Penalties 
  9. Penalty Shot 

  1. Any player or team official may be assessed penalties at any time before, during, or after a game, when an offense is committed on the ice or off the ice before entering the dressing rooms. Any altercations occurring off the ice, prior to the beginning of the warm-up or following the conclusion of the game, must be reported to the appropriate Member or league by the Referee. A player who is assessed any penalty in the pre-game warm-up will automatically have their name placed on the Official Game Report and be counted as one of the eligible players.

  2. Where the rules state that the Coach will designate a player to serve a penalty, the designated player must have been on the ice at the time of the infraction. This will be judged based upon which players were on the ice when the play was stopped. If the Coach refuses to name a player, the Referee will name any player of the offending team to serve the penalty.

INTERPRETATIONS

Interpretation 1

Rule 4.1 (a)

When an infraction to the rules occurs before or after the game, and is observed by the Referee, a Linesperson or the appointed Stand-by Official, the penalties as prescribed by the rules will be assessed. When an infraction to the rules occurs after the players and team officials have entered their dressing rooms following a game and such infraction is observed by the Referee, a Linesperson or the appointed Stand-by Official, a report of such infraction(s) will be made to the appropriate Member or league. 

Interpretation 2

Rule 4.1 (a)

An incident occurs off the ice surface and is not witnessed by any On-Ice Official or appointed Stand-By Official, but is reported to the Referee. What action should be taken?

RULING:

No penalties may be assessed, as the incident was not witnessed by the Referee, the Linesperson or the Stand-By Official. If the incident was reported to the Referee by a League Official, a Team Official or an Off-Ice Official, the Referee will report that information to the appropriate Member or league immediately following the game. If the incident was reported to the Referee by any other person (i.e. fan, media), no further action should be taken.