Rule 10.5 – Throwing or Shooting Stick or Object

Players may not throw their sticks or any other object anywhere on the playing surface. A player who has lost or broken their stick may only receive a stick at their own Players’ Bench or be handed one by a teammate.

A Minor penalty will be assessed to any player who:
1. Throws or shoots a stick or any part thereof, or any other object in the neutral or attacking zone.
2. Drop-kicks the puck.
  A Penalty Shot will be awarded to the non-offending team, in lieu of a Minor Penalty, when a player:
3. Throws or shoots a stick or any part thereof, or any other object in the defending zone.
4. Throws or shoots a stick or any part thereof, or any other object at an opposing player, who is on a breakaway in the neutral or attacking zone.
Note 1: This is a delayed penalty but will be assessed regardless of whether the thrown stick or object actually makes contact with an opposing player or the puck.

If any of the above actions are committed by a team official or player on the Players’ or Penalty Benches, they must be penalized under Rule 8.4 (a) – Interference from the Bench.
A Major penalty and Game Misconduct will be assessed to any player who injures an opponent by any action described in 10.5 (a).
A Match penalty will be assessed to any player who, in the opinion of the Referee, attempts to injure or deliberately injures an opponent by throwing or shooting a stick or any part thereof, or any other object.
A Misconduct penalty will be assessed to any player who deliberately throws or shoots a stick or any part thereof, or any object outside the playing area.
A Game Misconduct penalty must be assessed any time a Major penalty is assessed under this rule, as detailed under Rule 10.5 (b).

INTERPRETATIONS
Interpretation 1	Rule 10.5 (a) A player may kick a stick that is on the ice to a teammate, as long as the kicked stick does not interfere with the play or an opposing player. If any interference occurs, they must be penalized under this rule.
Interpretation 2	Rule 10.5 (a)(i)(ii)(iii) The penalty to be assessed is determined by the location of the puck or puck carrier when the stick or object contacts either the puck or the puck carrier. However, it should be remembered that the stick may not reach the puck or puck carrier and the appropriate penalty would still be assessed. EXAMPLES: (a) If a player had possession of the puck in the neutral zone and an opposing player who is located in the defending, neutral or attacking zones throws their stick or any other object at the puck or puck carrier, the penalty to be assessed would be a Minor penalty, except when such act has been penalized by the awarding of a Penalty Shot as in example (c) below. (b) If a player has possession of the puck in their attacking zone and an opposing player who is located in the defending, neutral or attacking zones throws their stick or any object at the puck or puck carrier, a Penalty Shot would be awarded. (c) If a player has possession of the puck in the neutral zone and an opposing player who is located in the defending, neutral or attacking zones throws their stick or any other object at the puck or puck carrier, and during the time elapsed between the actual throwing of the stick and the time when the stick actually reaches the puck or puck carrier, that puck (or puck carrier) has reached the attacking zone, then a Penalty Shot will be awarded.
Interpretation 3	Rule 10.5 (a) A stick is thrown to a player on the ice by a teammate who is also on the ice. The player picks up the stick. RULING: Assess a Minor penalty to the player throwing the stick, and assess a Minor penalty under Rule 10.6 – Illegal Equipment. Note 1: If the player throwing the stick was on the Players’ or Penalty Benches, then they should be penalized with a Minor penalty and Game Misconduct penalty under Rule 8.4 (a) & (e) – Interference from the Bench.
Interpretation 4	Rule 10.5 (a) Where a stick is thrown by a defending player in the neutral zone and another stick is thrown at the puck or puck carrier by a defending player in their defending zone, a Minor penalty will be assessed and a Penalty Shot will be awarded. Should the player who was fouled score on the Penalty Shot, the Minor penalty will still be assessed for the first infraction in the neutral zone.