Rule 8.3 – Interference

Interference is when a player commits any of the following actions:

1. Interferes with or impedes the progress of an opponent, who is not in possession of the puck,
2. Delivers a “late hit” to an opponent,
3. Deliberately knocks a stick out of an opponent’s hand when they are not in possession of the puck, or
4. Prevents an opponent who has lost or dropped their stick or any other piece of equipment from regaining possession of it.

A “late hit” is defined as a hit where the opponent has released the puck and the offending player does not make immediate contact with the opposing player. Immediate contact is best described as contact occurring within a maximum distance of an arm and stick length between the puck carrier and the player delivering the check, at the instant the puck has been released.

Players of the team in possession of the puck may not run deliberate interference for the puck carrier.

1. A Minor penalty will be assessed to any player who interferes with an opposing player.

   A Minor penalty will be assessed to any player that deliberately piles snow inside their goal crease or is observed by the Referee to have deliberately placed an object in their defending zone at or near the goal.

   A Penalty Shot will be awarded to the non-offending team if, in the Referee’s opinion, this object actually prevents a goal while the offending team’s goaltender is legally on the ice. If a Penalty Shot is awarded under this rule, the Minor penalty will not be assessed. If, in the opinion of the Referee, the object actually prevents a goal after the offending team’s goaltender has been legally substituted for another player, the Referee will Award a Goal, in lieu of the Minor penalty or Penalty Shot.

   A Minor penalty will be assessed to any goaltender who:

1. except in the course of playing their position, initiates deliberate physical contact with an opposing player.
2. plays the puck with their skates over the centre red line.

2. A Major penalty and Game Misconduct penalty, at the discretion of the Referee, based on the degree of violence of the impact, may be assessed to any player who interferes with an opposing player.

   A Major penalty and Game Misconduct penalty will be assessed to any player who injures an opponent by an interference infraction that would otherwise call for a Minor penalty.

3. A Match penalty will be assessed to any player who attempts to injure or deliberately injures an opponent by interference.

4. No Misconduct penalty may be assessed for interference.

5. A Game Misconduct penalty must be assessed any time a Major penalty is assessed for interference, as detailed under Rule 8.3 (b).