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Enforcement Standards:
The following penalties are to be called by the Referee with very
strict enforcement.
Hooking
A player cannot use his/her stick against an opponent’s body (puck
carrier or non-puck carrier)
to gain a positional advantage.
Examples of Hooking include:
- tugs or pulls on the body, arms or hands of the opponent with the
stick blade or shaft which allows
for the space between the players to diminish...
- placing the stick in front of the opponent’s body and locking on –
thus impeding the opponent’s
progress or causing a loss of balance...
- stick on the hand/arm that takes away the ability for the opponent
to pass or shoot the puck with
a normal amount of force...
Tripping
A player cannot use their stick on the legs or feet of an opponent
in a manner that would cause a
loss of balance or for them to trip or fall.
Examples of Tripping include:
- placing the stick in front of the opponents legs for the purpose
of impeding progress, even if on
the ice, with no effort to legally play the puck...
- placing the stick between the legs of the opponent (can
opener/corkscrew) that causes a loss of
balance or impedes the progress of the opponent...
Holding
A player cannot wrap their arms around an opponent or use a free
hand to clutch, grab or hold
the stick, jersey or body of the opponent in a manner that impedes
their progress.
Examples of Holding include:
- wrapping one or both arms around the opponent along the boards in
a manner that pins them against
the boards and prevents them from playing the puck or skating...
- grabbing the opponent’s body, stick or sweater with one or both
hands...
- using a free arm/hand to restrain or impede the opponent’s
progress...
Interference
The use of the body to “pic” or “block” and impede the progress of
an opponent with no effort to play the puck, maintain normal foot
speed or remain in your established skating lane.
Examples of Interference include:
- intentionally playing the body of an opponent who does not have
possession or possession and control of the puck...
- using the body to establish a “pic” or “block” that prevents an
opponent from being able to chase after the puck carrier...
- reducing foot speed or changing an established skating lane for
the purpose of impeding an opponent from being able to chase a puck
carrier...
Allowed Actions by Players
- a player is entitled to the ice he/she occupies as long as they
are able to maintain their own foot speed and body position between
opponent and puck...
- players are allowed to compete for body position using their
strength and balance in front of the goal or along the boards...
Slashing
The use of the stick will be limited to only playing the puck. Any
stick contact, as a result of a slashing motion, to the hands/arms
or body of the opponent will be strictly penalized. In addition,
hard slashes to the upper portion of the stick (just below the
hands) of an opponent, with no attempt to legally play the puck,
shall also be penalized.
Other Infractions
In addition to the above mentioned enforcement standards, all other
infractions, including contact to the head, checking from behind,
cross checking, high sticking and roughing (including late avoidable
checks) shall be penalized to a strict enforcement standard.
Conclusion
All members of Hockey Canada and USA Hockey share an equal
responsibility to ensure the integrity of the game is upheld. The
onus to incorporate change is not only on the officials, but also
the Association administrators, coaches and parents, as well.
Administrators are expected to hold players, coaches, officials and
parents accountable for their actions in an effort to promote a safe
and positive environment for all participants.
Coaches are expected to teach proper skills and hold their players
accountable for illegal and dangerous actions, regardless as to
whether they are properly penalized, or not.
Parents are expected to support the decisions of the officials and
support the coaches in teaching the proper skills in a safe and
positive environment.
Officials shall enforce a strict penalty standard according to the
guidelines that have been established.
All Hockey Canada and USA Hockey members must demonstrate awareness
and support for the application, spirit and the respect of the rules
in order for continued improvement in the game of hockey.
It will take some time for many players to adjust these new rule
interpretations and a lot of Penalties will be called early in the
season, but by Christmas, most players will adjust to the new world
of hockey, just as the NHL players did during the 2005/2006 season.
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The use of the stick will be limited to only playing the puck.
