Rule 4.11 – Penalty Shots

A Penalty Shot is a non-time penalty, which is awarded to the non-offending team, in lieu of a Minor Penalty.

The coach/captain of the non-offending team may designate any eligible player, other than a goaltender, to take the Penalty Shot. In the event that the coach/captain declines to select a player, the Referee will designate a player. For the purposes of this rule, any player serving a penalty or who has been removed from the game at the time the Penalty Shot is awarded will be deemed ineligible.

1. A penalty shot will be awarded for the following acts:
   1. When a player is fouled while on a breakaway, and the situation meets the following five criteria:
      • The puck carrier is in the Neutral or Attacking Zone.
      • The puck carrier has possession and control of the puck.
      • The puck carrier has no other opposing players to pass (other than the goaltender).
      • The puck carrier is tripped or fouled from behind, or fouled by the goaltender.
      • The puck carrier must be denied a reasonable scoring opportunity.
   2. If during the last two minutes of regular playing time or at any time in overtime, a team is penalized for deliberate illegal substitution. (Rule 10.1 – Delay of Game).
   3. When a goaltender or any other defending player deliberately removes their helmet or facial protector during the course of a breakaway in the neutral or attacking zone. When a defending player deliberately participates in the play without a helmet or facial protector during the course of a breakaway in the neutral or attacking zone. When a goaltender in their defending zone deliberately removes their helmet or facial protector, blocker or trapper during the last two minutes of regular playing time, or any time in overtime. (violations of Rule 3.6 (b) & (c) – Protective Equipment, as well as Rule 10.1 (a) – Delay of Game).
   4. Where a goaltender deliberately piles snow or other obstacles at or near their net which, in the Referee’s opinion, prevents a goal while the offending team’s goaltender is legally on the ice. (Rule 8.3 (a) – Interference).
   5. When a defending player (except the goaltender) picks up the puck from the ice with their hand while the puck is in the goal crease. (Rule 10.2 (a)(v) – Handling or Falling on the Puck).
   6. When a player on a breakaway in the neutral or attacking zone is interfered with by a player of the opposing team who will have illegally entered the game, is deemed ineligible due to a violation of ‘illegal equipment’, or by a player or team official on the players’ or Penalty Bench. (Rule 10.4 (a)(iii) – Leaving the Players’ or Penalty Bench, as well as Rule 10.6 — Illegal Equipment).
   7. When any player of the defending team, including the goaltender, deliberately throws, shoots, or kicks their stick, or any part thereof, or any other object at the puck or puck carrier in the defending zone, or while a player is in possession and control of the puck on a breakaway in the neutral or attacking zone and such an action(s) occur(s). (Rule 10.5 (a)(ii)(iii) – Throwing or Shooting Stick or Object).
   8. When a goaltender or any other defending player, in the defending zone, deliberately dislodges the goal from its position during the last two minutes of regular playing time, or any time in overtime. (Rule 10.1 (iv) – Delay of Game).
   9. When a goaltender deliberately dislodges the goal from its position during the course of a breakaway in the neutral or attacking zone (Rule 10.1 (iv) – Delay of Game).
   10. When, in the last two minutes of regular playing time, or any time in overtime, the coach is assessed a Major penalty plus a Game Misconduct for refusing to start play, a Penalty Shot will also be awarded. (Rule 10.8 – Refusing to Start Play).
   11. If an ‘unnatural event’ causes a stoppage of play when a player is on a breakaway in the neutral or attacking zone and, in the opinion of the referee, there was sufficient playing time for the breakaway to be completed. This includes, but is not limited to, the buzzer accidentally sounding, interference by a spectator, or any other situation not otherwise covered under the rules.
2. Penalty shots will be conducted as follows:
   1. While the Penalty Shot is being taken, players of both sides will withdraw to their respective benches.
   2. If, at the time a Penalty Shot is awarded, the goaltender of the penalized team has been removed from the ice to substitute another player, the goaltender will be allowed to return to the ice before the Penalty Shot is taken.
   3. The Coach of the non-offending team may designate any eligible player, other than the goaltender, to take the shot. This player may not begin the shot until the Referee blows their whistle.
   4. During a penalty shot, the puck must be kept in motion towards the opponent’s goal line and once it is shot or the goaltender contacts the puck, the player may not touch the puck again. No goal may be scored on a rebound of any kind. Any time the puck comes to a complete stop or crosses the goal line, the shot will be considered complete.
   5. The goaltender must remain in their goal crease until the designated player touches the puck at centre ice, and in the event of a violation of this rule, the player designated or selected to take the shot will be entitled to take the shot over again.
   6. The goaltender may attempt to stop the shot in any manner except by throwing their stick or any other object, or deliberately dislodging the goal, in which case a goal will be awarded.

   Note 1: The player taking the Penalty Shot may lose control of the puck momentarily but this is legal, as long as the puck continues its motion towards the opponent’s goal line. The same applies to a ‘spin-o-rama’ move, where a player completes a 360º turn; this will be considered legal, as long as the puck continues its overall motion towards the opponent’s goal line.

   Note 2: With respect to a “rebound”, once the player has taken a shot and/or the goaltender has touched the puck, the player may not touch the puck again. However, the puck may continue with its own momentum across the goal line, in which case, the goal will be allowed.

3. If any player or team official of the opposing team interferes with or distracts the goaltender during a Penalty Shot, any goal scored will be disallowed. A second attempt will NOT be permitted and the offending player or team official will be penalized under the applicable rule for their actions.

   Should the player taking the penalty shot foul the goaltender during the play, any goal scored will be disallowed and the appropriate penalty will be assessed to the player.

   If any player or team official of the opposing team interferes with or distracts the player taking the Penalty Shot, the Referee will allow the shot to be completed. If the shot fails, a second attempt will be permitted and the offending player or team official will be penalized under the applicable rule for their actions. 

   If the goaltender fouls the player taking the Penalty Shot, the Referee will allow the shot to be completed. If the shot fails, a second attempt will be permitted and the goaltender will be penalized under the appropriate rule for their actions.

   Note 1: If the foul by the goaltender warrants a Minor penalty, the second attempt will be in lieu of that Minor penalty. If the foul warrants a Major or Match penalty, the time penalty will be assessed in addition to the second Penalty Shot attempt. 

4. If the foul, for which a Penalty Shot has been assessed, occurs during the actual playing time of a period, the Penalty Shot will be awarded, even if regular playing time expires before the referee blows their whistle to assess the Penalty Shot. The time required to take a Penalty Shot will not be included in the regular playing time or overtime.

5. Should the player designated to take a Penalty Shot commit a foul in connection with the same play or circumstances after the Penalty Shot has been awarded, they will NOT be permitted to take the Penalty Shot before being sent to the Penalty Bench to serve the penalty or removed from the game.

6. Should a goal be scored from a Penalty Shot, a further penalty to the offending player will not be applied unless the offense for which the Penalty Shot was awarded was such as to incur a Major or Match penalty, in which case the penalty prescribed for the particular offense will be assessed. If the offense for which the Penalty Shot was awarded was such as would normally incur a Minor penalty, then regardless of whether the Penalty Shot results in a goal or not, no further Minor penalty will be served. 

   Should the infraction resulting in the Penalty Shot normally result in a double Minor penalty (e.g. Spearing), then the Penalty Shot will be in lieu of one minor penalty and the second Minor penalty will be assessed, regardless of the result of a goal being scored on the Penalty Shot.

7. A measurement of the stick of the player designated to take the Penalty Shot may be requested before the shot is taken, as if it were a normal play. Should the stick prove illegal, the offending team will be denied the Penalty Shot and no further penalty will be imposed. Should the measurement prove the stick to be legal, the Penalty Shot will be taken in the normal manner and the penalty for an unsustained request for a measurement (Rule 10.1 – Delay of Game) will be assessed whether the Penalty Shot is successful or not.