Rule 10.7 – Too Many Players

When a team has more than six players (including a goaltender) on the ice, or otherwise violates the provisions of Rule 6.1 (a) & (b) – Change of Players, that team will be penalized for Too Many Players.

If while making a substitution, either the player entering the game or the player leaving intentionally plays the puck with their stick skates, body or intentionally makes any physical contact with an opposing player, then the infraction of Too Many Players will be called, unless the contact warrants a more severe penalty.

If while substituting, either the player entering the play or the player leaving the ice is struck by the puck accidentally, the play should not be stopped and no penalty will be called, particularly when there has been no advantage gained.

When a goaltender leaves their goal area and proceeds to the player’s bench for the purpose of substituting any other player, they must comply with Rule 6.1 (a) & (b) – Change of Players. If the substitution is made prematurely, the official will stop the play when the offending team gains possession and control of the puck and the resulting face-off will take place at the centre face-off spot, except in cases where the offending team would gain a territorial advantage, see Rule 6.3 (c)(v) – Face-off Location.

A Bench Minor penalty will be assessed to any team who is guilty of Too Many Players on the ice.

Where a team commits “Deliberate Illegal Substitution”, purposefully placing too many players on the ice to gain a stoppage of play, in the last two minutes of regular playing time or any time in overtime, a Penalty Shot will be awarded to the non-offending team.
No Major penalty may be assessed under this rule.
No Match penalty may be assessed under this rule.
No Misconduct penalty may be assessed under this rule.
No Game Misconduct penalty may be assessed under this rule.

INTERPRETATIONS
Interpretation 1	Rule 10.7 (a) During a stoppage of play, teams are changing players. One of the officials drops the puck to start play. Immediately after the play starts, the Referee notices that one of the teams has too many players on the ice. Must the Referee assess a Minor penalty? RULING: No. If the Referee notices too many players immediately, they must stop play and correct the situation without assessing a penalty. If the Referee does not notice immediately and play continues with too many players on the ice, a Minor penalty would be assessed.
Interpretation 2	Rule 10.7 (a) A player who is about to come on the ice plays the puck with their stick. This player has either one or both skates still on the bench. RULING: Assess a Bench Minor penalty. A player must have both skates on the ice in order to participate in the play. This ruling would apply whether or not the team has the correct number of players on the ice. In the case of the player leaving the ice who plays the puck on the ice with one or both skates on the bench, the same ruling would apply.
Interpretation 3	Rule 10.7 (a) If either the goaltender coming off, or the player coming on the ice plays the puck while the other one is still on the ice, a penalty for Too Many Players on the Ice will be assessed, regardless of whether or not the goaltender is within the 3.05 m (10 ft.) area. Before either player can play the puck, the other player must be on the bench.
Interpretation 4	Rule 10.7 (a) At times there have been problems resulting from the situation whereupon the scoring of a goal (normally a critical goal), all or most of the players of that team scoring the goal leave their bench to congratulate the player who scored. After the first incidence of this situation, notify both teams that any further occurrence by either team will result in a Bench Minor penalty being assessed to that team, under Rule 10.1 – Delay of Game. Note 1: Obviously a team would be allowed to make a full change of players following the scoring of a goal. The intent of this ruling is to prevent all players from leaving the bench.