Rule 10.15 – Start of Game and Periods

The game shall commence at the time scheduled by a face-off in the centre of the rink. It shall be renewed promptly at the conclusion of each intermission in the same manner. No delay shall be permitted by reason of any ceremony, exhibition, demonstration or presentation, unless consented to reasonably in advance by the Visiting Team.
To start the game, at the beginning of each period (including any overtime periods) and following the scoring of a goal, the Referee shall conduct a face-off at the centre ice spot.
The Home Team shall have the choice of goals to defend at the start of the game. See Rule 1.9 (e).
At the beginning of each period, only the players taking part in the actual face-off shall be allowed on the ice. All other players not taking part in the face-off shall go directly to their benches. For an infraction of this rule, a Bench Minor penalty for Delay of Game shall be assessed to the offending team.

SITUATION 1 Rule 10.15 (d)

This section would not apply when teams come on the ice for their pre-game warm-up and stay on the ice for the start of the game (no ice flooding after the warm-up period). The Referee would simply blow their whistle and the players would then go to their benches. Likewise, do not apply the rule during the time lapse between the end of the third period and the start of the first overtime period, unless the teams leave the ice and go to their dressing rooms. When there is a flood between the pre-game warm-up and the actual start of the game or where a team leaves the ice prior to the start of the game, apply the rule.

SITUATION 2 Rule 10.15 (d)

Where this rule is applied at the beginning of a period, this entails that NO player change can take place before the puck is dropped to start the period. The players on the ice must be the ones starting the period, unless a penalty is assessed at that time which will make a team shorthanded.