Rule 6.4 – Face-off Location – Junior A

Rule 6.4 – Face-off Location – Junior A

  1. In Junior A divisions, any stoppage of play occurring in the end-zone as the result of the puck going out of play or being unplayable will result in the ensuing face-off taking place in that end-zone, regardless of whether the defending or attacking team causes the stoppage.

    Note 1: Where a player of the defending team, excluding the goaltender, unintentionally shoots, bats, or throws the puck outside the playing surface, no penalty will be assessed but the defending team may not make a line change.

    Note 2: Notwithstanding the above, Referees must still penalize any player of either team who deliberately shoots, bats, or throws the puck outside the playing surface, as per Rule 10.1 (ii) – Delay of Game.

  2. In Junior A divisions, where a face-off is occurring in the end-zone, following the calling of an icing or a time penalty, the attacking (non-offending) team will have the authority to choose the face-off location.

    The attacking team must indicate their desired face-off location to the Referee prior to the start of the line change procedure. If they fail to do so, then the face-off will take place at the location prescribed by Rule 6.3 – Face-off Location.

INTERPRETATIONS

Interpretation 1

Rule 6.4 (a) 

This rule applies to situations in which the puck was last legally touched in the end-zone. All other situations would be determined according to Rule 6.3.

Example 1: A player of the defending team shoots the puck, which travels into the neutral zone and goes directly out of play. The face-off would remain in the defending team’s end-zone. No change would be permitted.

Example 2: A player of the defending team shoots the puck, which travels into the neutral zone, deflects off a teammate and goes out of play. The face-off would take place at the nearest neutral-zone face-off spot to where the deflection occurred that does not give the defending team a territorial advantage. A line change would be permitted.

Example 3: A player in the neutral zone shoots the puck towards the opposing team’s goal. The puck hits the goal frame and goes directly out of play, without touching a defending player. The face-off would take place at the nearest neutral-zone face-off location that does not give the offending team a territorial advantage.