INTERPRETATIONS 

Interpretation 1

Rule 10.6 (a) / Rule 3.2 / Rule 10.5 (a) / Rule 8.4 (a) & (e) 

A player without a stick picks up a stick thrown to them on the ice from the Players’ Bench. This player is to be assessed a Minor penalty for Illegal Equipment. If the player or team official throwing the stick is identified by the Referee, they will be assessed a Bench Minor and Game Misconduct, under Rule 8.4 (a) & (e) – Interference from the Bench. If the player or team official throwing the stick is not identified by the Referee, a Bench Minor penalty will be assessed to the team responsible for such action, under Rule 8.4 (a) – Interference from the Bench. If the player on the ice does NOT pick up the stick, then they would not be assessed a penalty, but the action of throwing the stick on the ice from the bench would still be penalized as described above. 

Interpretation 2

Rule 10.6 (a) / Rule 3.2 (b)

A player on the Penalty Bench hands a stick to a teammate on the ice, whose stick has been broken. 

RULING:

The player receiving the stick would be assessed a Minor penalty for “Illegally Receiving a Stick”. The player on the Penalty Bench handing the stick to the player on the ice would not be assessed any penalty. 

Interpretation 3

Rule 10.6 (a) / Rule 3.2 

A goaltender has lost their stick in the corner. Can any defending player pick it up and bring it back to the goaltender, without being assessed a penalty? 

RULING:

Yes, as long as that player does not participate in the play while carrying the goaltender’s stick.

Interpretation 4

Rule 10.6 (a) / Rule 3.2 

A player carrying a goaltender’s stick to a goaltender who has lost or broken their stick, decides to become involved in the play. The player drops the goaltender’s stick and participates in the play.

RULING:

Assess the player a Minor penalty for Illegal Equipment. Once the player makes the commitment to carry the stick to the goaltender, they must follow through with that commitment. As long as they in no way participate in the play, no penalty would be assessed for carrying the stick to the goaltender, even though the player may be in the vicinity of the play. By moving the stick, they have committed an infraction.

Interpretation 5

Rule 10.6 (a) / Rule 3.2

A goaltender breaks their stick. A player of the same team gets a stick at the Players’ Bench and in the act of taking the stick to the goaltender, the player slides the stick along the ice to the goaltender. Is that considered legal? 

RULING:

No. A goaltender may receive a new goaltender’s stick without proceeding to the Players’ Bench. A player may carry a new stick back to the goaltender. After receiving a new goaltender’s stick from the bench, the player may not throw or slide the stick along the ice but must carry the stick back to the goaltender and hand it to them. A

player who slides or throws a stick to the goaltender is to be assessed a Minor penalty under Rule 10.5 (a) – Throwing or Shooting Stick or Object. A Penalty Shot may be awarded under Rule 10.5 (a) – Throwing or Shooting Stick or Object, if the player throws the stick at the puck or puck carrier in their defending zone. If the goaltender picks up the stick, they will be assessed a Minor penalty for Rule 10.6 (a) – Illegal Equipment. No penalty is to be assessed against the goaltender in the above situation if they do not pick up the stick. If the player interferes with an opposing player or the puck while carrying the extra stick, they will be assessed a Minor penalty for Rule 10.6 (a) – Illegal Equipment. 

Interpretation 6

Rule 10.6 (a) / Rule 3.3 

A goaltender loses their stick and a teammate hands the goaltender their own stick. The player, meanwhile, picks up the goaltender’s stick and plays with it. 

RULING:

Assess the player a Minor penalty for Illegal Equipment. No penalty would be assessed to the goaltender. 

Interpretation 7

Rule 10.6 (a) / Rule 3.5 

When a goaltender’s pads are measured and found to be illegal, the goaltender will be penalized, and will:

1. remove and change the pads or,

2. tape or tie the pads in a manner that they conform to the measurement required. The goaltender will be assessed another Minor penalty if the opposing team requests another measurement and the pads are again found to be illegal. If the goaltender refuses to change or adjust the pads when ordered to do so by the Referee, they will be assessed a Gross Misconduct 

Interpretation 8

Rule 10.6 (a) / Rule 3.6 

If a player loses their helmet and/or facial protector, or their chinstrap becomes undone while play is in progress, that player has two (2) options: 

1.  Replace the helmet, facial protector or chinstrap and properly fasten it before participating in the play or,

2.  Proceed to the Players’ Bench and be substituted for, in accordance with the rules. If a player participates in the play without their helmet and/or facial protector, or without their chinstrap fastened, play will be stopped immediately, regardless of which team is in possession of the puck, and the offending player will be assessed a Minor penalty for Illegal Equipment. 

Note 1: This is not a delayed penalty.

Note 2: If during the course of a game a player is checked or hit with the result that one of the side straps holding the facial protector comes undone, but the chin strap remains secure, it is not necessary to assess a penalty. The player should be notified at the first stoppage of play. 

Interpretation 9

Rule 10.6 (a) / Rule 3.6 

At any time prior to the start of a game, a Referee may notify a team of an illegal piece of equipment, advising them to correct it or change it before the initial face-off. For example, a Referee observes a player wearing a non-certified helmet or facial protector during the pre-game warm-up. The Referee may then, without assessing a penalty, notify the player or team that such equipment is not permissible. This may be done without penalty only prior to the start of the game. 

Interpretation 10

Rule 10.6 (a) / Rule 3.6 

A player loses their helmet or facial protector and due to an apparent injury, is unable to properly replace the helmet or go to the Players’ Bench. 

RULING:

Stop play immediately, regardless of which team is in possession of the puck. No penalty would be assessed to the player under this rule. This situation supersedes Rule 2.4 (b) - Injured Players - where play is allowed to continue. The injured player would still be required to leave the ice and may not return until play has resumed. If the player was on a breakaway in the neutral or attacking zone, the Referee would follow the same procedure and will award a Penalty Shot to the player deprived of a scoring opportunity. 

Interpretation 11

Rule 10.6 (a) / Rule 3.6 

A player is on a breakaway in the neutral or attacking zone and a player of the opposing team deliberately removes their helmet or facial protector in an effort to get a stoppage of play. 

RULING:

The Referee will award a Penalty Shot to the player deprived of a scoring opportunity. 

Interpretation 12

Rule 10.6 (a) / Rule 3.6 

Where a player has been assessed a Minor penalty for wearing a non-certified helmet, facial protector or throat protector, such player will not be permitted to take their place on the Penalty Bench until they have obtained a certified helmet, facial protector or throat protector, as the case may be. This entails that a substitute (player on the ice at the time of the infraction) must replace the penalized player on the Penalty Bench immediately. If the penalized player can obtain a certified helmet, facial protector or throat protector without delaying the game in any manner, they may then serve their penalty. Otherwise, a substitute will have to replace them on the Penalty Bench. A procedure similar to that explained in Rule 2.4

 - Injured Players - will then be followed. 

Interpretation 13

Rule 10.6 (c) / Rule 3.6 

Where a player is wearing the mouth guard in a manner that is careless or clearly not within intended guidelines, the team will receive one warning and any subsequent infractions by the same team will be penalized immediately. Referees are encouraged to deliver this warning to the Coach. 

Interpretation 14

Rule 10.6 (f)(i) / Rule 3.7 

Where a player has been assessed a Minor penalty under this rule for the use of dangerous equipment, it means that the player has come back on the ice after being previously warned by the Referee, as covered in the rules. If the player comes out to play again after serving the penalty (for wearing or using dangerous equipment) and is still using or wearing the same piece of equipment, they will be assessed a second Minor penalty, plus a Gross Misconduct, as per Rule 10.6 (f). 

Interpretation 15

Rule 10.6 (f)(iii)(iv) 

If neither player intentionally removes a helmet or undoes a chinstrap prior to or during a fight but the helmets come off during the fight, one of the following three situations are possible:

1. If the Referee determines the helmet(s) came of incidentally during the fight, no further penalties should be assessed.
2. 2. If a player grabs the opponent’s helmet or facial protector but does not gain an advantage or inflict punishment the Referee will assess a double Minor penalty under Rule 7.1 (a) or (b) - Attempt to Injure or Deliberate Injury.
3. If a player grabs the opponent’s helmet or facial protector and uses it to gain an advantage or to inflict punishment the Referee will assess a Match Penalty under Rule 7.1 (c) iv - Attempt to Injure or Deliberate Injury.