Rule 10.11 – Puck Out of Bounds or Unplayable

Rule 10.11 – Puck Out of Bounds or Unplayable

  1. When the puck goes outside the playing area or strikes obstacles above the playing surface (with the exception of the side boards, glass or wire netting), play shall be stopped. The resulting face-off shall be where the puck last touched a player, their skates or stick, or an official, except when otherwise stated in the rules. 

  2. A Minor penalty shall be assessed to any player who delays the game by deliberately shooting, batting or throwing the puck outside the playing surface. The resulting face-off shall be at the spot where the offense occurred, unless otherwise stated in the rules. 

  3. If the puck is shot on the back of the goal netting and comes off without any delay, or if a player or goaltender knocks the puck off the back of the goal netting without unnecessary delay, play shall continue. If the puck is frozen between opposing players or cannot be removed from the back of the net, the Referee shall stop play and the face-off shall take place at a location covered by the rules. 

    Note: Existing rules are adequate to deal with the situation regarding play in the attacking zone, but officials should be alerted to move the face-off into the neutral zone in every case where it is the action of the attacking players which has caused the stoppage, even though they may not be actually freezing the puck themselves. 

  4. A Minor penalty shall be assessed to a goaltender who deliberately drops or throws the puck on the goal netting to cause a stoppage of play. 

SITUATION 1 

QUESTION:
An attacking player shoots the puck on the back of the opponents’ net, from inside the attacking zone. 

ANSWER:
The face-off would take place at the nearest face-off spot in the neutral zone. 

QUESTION:
An attacking player anywhere in the neutral zone shoots the puck into the attacking zone and on the back of the opponents’ net. Where does the face-off take place? 

ANSWER:
The face-off would take place in the neutral zone at the point from where the puck was shot, in accordance with Rule 10.2 (h). 

Note: This interpretation also includes the situation where a team is shorthanded and a player in their defending zone shoots the puck down the ice over the opponents’ goal line, with the puck hitting the end boards and ending up on the back of the opposing goal netting. In this case, the face-off would take place in the defending zone of the team shooting the puck at the point of origin of the shot, unless otherwise covered by the rules. 

SITUATION 2 Rule 10.11 (a) 

QUESTION:
The puck is shot by an attacking player in the attacking zone, deflects off the goal post and goes out of bounds. Where does the face-off take place? 

ANSWER:
The face-off would take place in the neutral zone in accordance with Rule 10.2 (h). 

SITUATION 3 Rule 10.11 (c) 

The puck is shot from behind the net and goes under the base plate or through the goal netting to a position in front of the net. In this case play shall be stopped and the face-off shall take place at a spot in accordance with the rules. 

SITUATION 4 Rule 10.11 (c) 

If the puck becomes lodged on the back of the goal netting, players are now given an opportunity to play the puck off the netting. Quite often, the goaltender, a defender or an attacking player can do this without delay. This is an acceptable practice. However, if this is not possible given a reasonable opportunity, the Referee should stop play.