Rule 6.2 – Face-off Conduct

A face-off is where an Official drops the puck between the sticks of two opposing players to start or resume play. A face-off begins when the Official(s) indicate the location and the players take their appropriate positions. The face-off is considered complete when the puck has been legally and fairly dropped, meaning the puck contacts the ice surface before contacting the stick or any part of the body of the player taking the face-off. Should be puck accidentally contact the stick or any part of the body of a player taking the face-off, the official will stop play by blowing their whistle and conduct the face-off again.

The players between whose sticks the puck is dropped are considered to be “taking” the face-off. All other players on the ice, excluding the goaltenders, are considered to be “participating” in the face-off.

1. When positioning players for end zone face-offs (other than the players taking the face-off), the attacking team must be first to take their positions; the defending team has the right to set up its defence.

   For all face-offs, the Visiting Team face-off player must place their stick down first for the face-off regardless of whether they are the attacking or defending team. For a violation of this rule, a warning will be issued to that team. A subsequent violation during the same stoppage of play may result in a Minor penalty for Rule 10.1 (a) – Delay of Game. If the Home Team player wishes to put their stick down first, they are allowed to do so, if it does not cause a problem. If there is a problem, then apply the rule strictly.

2. No goaltender may participate in a face-off.

3. In the conduct of a face-off anywhere on the playing surface, no player facing off will make any physical contact with their opponent’s body by means of their own body or by their stick, except in the course of playing the puck, after the face-off has been completed. For a violation of this rule, the Referee will assess a Minor penalty or penalties to the player(s) whose action(s) caused the physical contact.

4. When a player commits a face-off violation, the official will eject the player from the offending team who was taking the face-off. Any other player of that team, other than the goaltender, may now take the face-off. The player who encroached must be identified clearly as the player causing the violation and that player is not eligible to take the face-off. No change of players will be permitted, even if the puck has been physically dropped, unless a penalty has been assessed to make a team shorthanded.

5. A team committing a second violation of any of the provisions of (a), (b), (c), or (d) during the same face-off may be assessed a Minor penalty by the Referee under Rule 10.1 (viii) – Delay of Game.
   
   A team committing a second violation of any of the provisions of (a), (b), (c), or (d) during the same face-off, where the offending player subsequently contacts the Linesperson before the Linesperson has had reasonable time to vacate the face-off location will be assessed a Minor penalty by the Referee under Rule 10.1 (a) – Delay of Game. 

6. In the event of a “false start”, where the puck is dropped by the Official but the face-off has not occurred legally, the Official will stop play. No change of players may be made at this time, as the play did not officially start. If the game clock has begun counting down, it will be reset.