Ice Hockey. Rule book - Section 7. PLAYING RULES / PLAYER CHANGES

Rule 88. Player change during game action

1. Player changes may occur at any time during game action provided that the changing players are within 1.5 metres of the boards across the width of their players’ bench, and the changing players are not involved in game action in any way.

2. If an oncoming player leaves the 1.5 metre (5') zone and participates in game action before the departing player has at least one skate off the ice at the players’ bench, the team will be assessed a penalty for too many men.

3. If, during a player change during game action, a player coming onto the ice or coming off the ice plays the puck, makes contact with an opponent, or participates in game action (including gaining territorial or numerical advantage) while both the departing and entering players are on the ice within the 1.5 metre (5') zone, a penalty for too many men will be assessed.

4. If player changes are made during game action and the changing players are within 1.5 metres of the boards across the width of their players’ bench, and the changing players are not involved in game action in any way, no penalty for too many men will be assessed.

Rule 90. Players’ bench inside blue line / offside

1. If, during a delayed offside, an attacking player in the attacking zone leaves the ice at his players’ bench which extends into the attacking zone, he will be considered off the ice provided his replacement comes onto the ice in the neutral zone. If his replacement comes onto the ice in the attacking zone and the delayed offside is still in effect, the replacement must clear the attacking zone. If the remaining attacking players have cleared the attacking zone and the linesman has cancelled the delayed offside, the replacement will be onside.

Rule 91. Player change during stoppage

1. The changing of one or more players constitutes a player change.

2. The home team is entitled to "last change." This means the visiting coach must put his players out on the ice first, after which time the home coach must do so as per the procedure set out below. If either team does not make its changes promptly, the referee will not permit the change.

3. Failure by either team to comply, or tardiness to comply, or deliberate error in complying with this rule will result first in a warning from the referee and then a bench-minor penalty for delay of game.

4. Once player changes have been made, a team is not allowed to alter its lineup on ice until after game action has started after a legal faceoff.

5. Teams are not allowed to make player changes after a false faceoff.

6. If, after player changes are made and before a legal faceoff, one or both teams incur penalties which alter the on-ice manpower of either team, teams may make further player changes.

7. Players from the players’ bench can come onto the ice after a goal only for the purpose of making changes, and not more players than those changing can come onto the ice to celebrate.

Rule 92. Player change procedure

1. The following procedure must be followed for player changes:

1) Immediately after a stoppage of play, the referee signals to the coach of the visiting team to make his player changes;

2) The visiting team has five seconds to make its changes;

3) The referee raises his arm to indicate that the visiting team may no longer make player changes;

4) With his arm still up, the referee signals to the coach of the home team to make his player changes;

5) After five seconds, the referee drops his arm to indicate that the home team may no longer make changes;

6) As soon as the referee drops his arm, the linesman conducting the faceoff blows his whistle to indicate that both teams have no more than five seconds to line up for the faceoff;

7) At the end of the five seconds (sooner, if the facing-off skaters are ready), the linesman drops the puck. It is the responsibility of the linesman to ensure that all skaters come into proper position for the faceoff;

8) When a team attempts to make a player change after its allotted time, the referee will send the player(s) back to the bench and issue a warning to the coach. Any subsequent infraction of this procedure will result a bench-minor penalty for delay of game.

Gesture

Rule 93. Player change on icing calls

1. A team that is called for icing is not allowed to make player changes prior to the ensuing faceoff. The rule applies to those players who were on the ice the moment the puck left the player’s stick to produce the icing.

2. If a team attempts to change players after it has iced the puck, the referee will issue a warning for the first offense and then assess a bench-minor penalty for delay of game for subsequent offenses.

3. Should a team that ices the puck utilize its team timeout at this stoppage of play, it is still not allowed to make any player substitutions.

4. A team is allowed to make a player substitution in these instances only:

1) To replace a goaltender who had been substituted for an extra skater;

2) To replace an injured player;

3) If either team is assessed a penalty which alters on-ice manpower, the team icing the puck is allowed to make player changes, but the ensuing faceoff will take place in the defending zone of the team incurring the penalty;

4) To replace a player who has broken equipment (i.e., damaged cage, visor, or skate blade).

5. A skater who breaks his stick on a play that is called for icing will be allowed to go to his players’ bench to get a new one.