Rule 10.1 – Delay of Game

Rule 10.1 Delay of Game

Delay of Game occurs when any player or team deliberately causes a stoppage of play or delays the restart of play. This includes, but is not limited to, the following actions:

A player who deliberately holds the puck against the boards or any part of the goal in any manner, unless they are being checked by an opponent.
A player who deliberately shoots, bats, or throws the puck outside the playing surface.
A player who leaves their Players’ Bench to deliver instructions to teammates and does not remain on the ice as a substitute.
A player who dislodges the goal net from its position by any deliberate action.
A goaltender who shoots or bats the puck directly out of the playing surface, with their stick.
A goaltender who deliberately drops or throws the puck onto the top or back of the goal netting causing a stoppage of play.
A team which, after a warning by the Referee, fails to place the correct number of players on the ice and commence play.
A player or team who commits a second face-off violation under Rule 6.2 – Face-off Conduct or Rule 6.5 – Face-off Violation – Junior A.
Any Captain, Alternate Captain or other player who leaves their Players’ Bench to discuss any interpretation of the rules with the Referee.
Any player who delays the game for adjustment of any equipment.
Any player who deliberately removes their protective equipment to force a stoppage of play.
Any team who makes an unsustained request for equipment measurement.
Any player who, after the play is stopped for an injury or the trainer comes to attend to them, refuses to leave the ice.
A goaltender who goes to the Players’ Bench to adjust any equipment without being replaced by the alternate goaltender.

A Minor penalty will be assessed to any player who, in the opinion of the Referee, is deliberately delaying the game.

A Bench Minor penalty will be assessed to any team who, in the opinion of the Referee, is deliberately delaying the game.

In certain circumstances, a Penalty Shot may also be awarded to the non-offending team for violations of this rule (Rule 4.11 (a)(ii)(iii)(ix) – Penalty Shots).
No Major penalty may be assessed for Delay of Game.
No Match penalty may be assessed for Delay of Game.
No Misconduct penalty may be assessed for Delay of Game.
No Game Misconduct penalty may be assessed for Delay of Game.

INTERPRETATIONS
Interpretation 1	Rule 10.1 (a) Team A is already shorthanded when another delayed penalty is signaled against Team A. Team B, wishing to have a stoppage of play, pushes the puck towards a Team A player who refuses to play the puck. The Referee will stop play but will not penalize either team, beyond the penalty that was already on delay.
Interpretation 2	Rule 10.1 (a) In cases where devices are used to hold the goals in place, officials are advised to watch closely when players and goaltenders are delaying the game by knocking the goals off their moorings. When this action is intentional, a penalty must be assessed.
Interpretation 3	Rule 10.1 (a) The intent of this rule is to eliminate unnecessary stoppages caused by the goaltender. The following guidelines should clarify the application of this rule. 1. A goaltender may freeze the puck in the goal crease when under pressure from attacking players. 2. The goaltender may come out of their crease to cut down the angle and catch the shot or, after stopping the shot, cover the puck. 3. A Minor penalty will be assessed to a goaltender who, after one warning, freezes the puck in the crease when not under pressure from attacking players. 4. When a goaltender comes out of their crease to beat an attacking player to the puck and simply jumps on the puck, causing a stoppage of play, a penalty will be assessed. No warning will be issued in this instance. 5. When a goaltender leaves their crease, they will not be allowed to freeze the puck. If they do, they will be assessed a Minor penalty. No warning will be issued.
Interpretation 4	Rule 10.1 (a) When a goal has been displaced intentionally or accidentally, the Officials will use the following criteria to determine when play should stop: If the puck is in the same end zone where the goal has been displaced, stop play immediately. If the goal has been displaced intentionally, then assess the appropriate penalty. If the goal is displaced by a player whose team is in control of the puck, stop play immediately. If a team has control of the puck in the neutral zone and is moving up the ice, and a player on the opposing team in their attacking zone displaces the goal, let play continue until the scoring play by the non-offending team has been completed. If the team in control of the puck moves the puck back into their own zone, with their goal displaced, then stop the play at once. In this case, a goal may be scored at one end of the ice, even though the net at the opposite end has been displaced.
Interpretation 5	Rule 10.1 (a) The goaltender, on the way to the Players’ Bench to be substituted by another player, intentionally knocks the net off its moorings as they leave the goal crease. The Referee has observed the situation. What should the call be? RULING: In this situation the Referee should penalize the goaltender by assessing a Minor penalty. If such action occurs in the last two minutes of regular playing time, or at any time in overtime, a Penalty Shot will be awarded against the offending team (see Rule 4.11 (a)(viii) – Penalty Shots).
Interpretation 6	Rule 10.1 (a) Clarifications as it pertains to goaltenders shooting or batting the puck directly out of play: When the goaltender shoots the puck directly out of the playing surface where there is no glass, such as at the Players’ Bench or Penalty Bench, or if the puck touches the glass or deflects off a player or official, no penalty will be assessed. In order to assess a penalty to a goaltender under this provision, both ends of the rink must be similar. If there is glass at one end only, then the rule would not apply. However, if the rink only has glass on one side of the ice, then a goaltender may be penalized, as both ends of the rink are similar and no goaltender has an advantage over the other.
Interpretation 7	Rule 10.1 (a) The goaltender has been removed and another player is laying in the goal crease. The puck is shot under them, but the player makes no attempt to cover, fall on or gather the puck into their body. However, the puck becomes frozen under their body. What is the ruling? RULING: No Penalty Shot or Minor penalty, provided that the player has made no deliberate attempt to cover the puck.
Interpretation 8	Rule 10.1 (a) A Captain comes off the Players’ Bench to question the Referee, but stays on the ice to take part in the play. Does the Referee assess the Minor penalty immediately? RULING: Not immediately. Note 1: The Referee is not permitted to discuss any interpretation of the rules with the Captain in this situation. The Captain however, must remain on the ice since the line change has been completed. The Referee should use good judgment, and warn the player appropriately that a conversation or discussion is not allowed at this particular time, and that they must now remain on the ice. If the Captain persists in questioning, or if they return to the Players’ Bench and leave the ice, a Minor penalty for Delay of Game should be assessed.
Interpretation 9	Rule 10.1 (a) The onus of maintaining equipment in proper condition will be upon the player. If adjustments are required, the player must leave the ice and play will continue uninterrupted, using a substitute.
Interpretation 10	Rule 10.1 (a) A Trainer/Safety Person may attend to an injured goaltender who is in their crease, without the goaltender having to retire from the ice and their place taken by the alternate goaltender. The Trainer/Safety Person must first receive permission from the Referee before leaving the bench and going on the ice.
Interpretation 11	Rule 10.1 (a) If a goaltender asks to go to the bench, they should be informed by the Referee that if they go, they must be replaced by the alternate goaltender. This applies for either repair of equipment or an injury. If a goaltender requests a towel to wipe their face under the mask, the Referee should give permission to have one brought to them.
Interpretation 12	Rule 10.1 (a) On a stoppage of play, the Referee notices that the goaltender is at the Players’ Bench. The Referee must then notify the team that they must replace the goaltender with the alternate goaltender. However, the team can choose to keep the original goaltender in the net and take the Minor penalty.
Interpretation 13	Rule 10.1 (a) A team requests that the pads of the opposing goaltender be measured by the Referee. The Referee, who measures the pads in the Referee’s crease, finds them to be illegal and assesses the Minor penalty under Rule 10.6 (a) – Illegal Equipment. Since the pads are illegal, the Referee is ordering the goaltender to correct the pads and they may go to the Players’ Bench to have their pads corrected. Under this condition only, the substitute does not have to replace the regular goaltender, provided the pads can be corrected without undue delay.