Rule 11.5 – Physical Harassment of Officials

The safety of all participants is a priority for Hockey Canada. It is understood that on-ice officials may need to physically intervene in altercations to deescalate the situation and/or protect vulnerable players. Officials should only intervene in an altercation when it is safe for them to do so, with the sole purpose of deescalating the altercation. Players that are willing participants in an altercation must be aware of the risks to their own safety and are responsible for their actions, if they compromise the safety of the intervening officials.

When on-ice officials are required to intervene in altercations, it is understood that they will need to make physical contact with players and that the on-ice officials assume a certain level of risk of incidental contact. This rule is intended to address incidents where players make contact with an official that is more than incidental. Furthermore, officials should be aware that the amount of physical intervention they use to deescalate altercations must follow the same principles of minimizing the risk for all participants involved.

For the purpose of this rule, ‘officials’ refers to referees, linespersons, and off-ice officials.

Note: If any behaviour described in Rule 11.5 includes behaviour described in Rule 11.4 – Discrimination, the individual must be penalized under Rule 11.4, in addition to any other penalties that individual might receive.

1. No Minor penalty may be assessed under this rule.

2. No Major penalty may be assessed under this rule.

3. A Match penalty will be assessed to any player or team official who:

   1. Conducts themselves in such a way that physically threatens or intimidates an Official, without making physical contact;
   2. Deliberately applies physical force to an official with a minimal to moderate degree of violence, without causing injury; or
   3. Deliberately applies physical force to an official with a high degree of violence or causes injury to an official by way of any intentional contact.

   Note 1: Where a player or team official has been assessed a Match penalty under this rule, the Referee will report the individual(s) by completing a Game Incident Report, including full details and submitting the report to the appropriate Member or League delegate.

4. No Misconduct penalty may be assessed under this rule.

5. A Game Misconduct penalty will be assessed to any player or team official who, in the course of attempting to continue or continuing to participate in a gathering or altercation, accidentally applies physical force to an official.