Basic Rules of Ice Hockey

Basics

A team must not have more than six players on the ice while play is in progress. Typically, those players are: one goaltender, two defenders, and three forwards (two wings and one center). A goaltender can be replaced by a skater during a delayed penalty or at any other time of the game, at a team's own risk. 

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A regular game consists of three 20-minute periods with 15-minute intermission after the first and second periods. Teams change ends for each period. If any game is tied at the end of regulation time, a five-minute, ten-minute, or twenty-minute sudden-death overtime period will be played. If no goal is scored in overtime, the game will be decided by a shootout. 

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Face-offs

A face-off is when a referee drops the puck into play between two opposing players. Face-offs occur at the beginning of each period and after any stoppage of play. 

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Offsides

A player of an attacking team is offsides if she precedes the puck into the offensive zone. For a violation of this rule, play is stopped and a neutral zone face-off conducted. 

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Icing

For the purpose of this rule, the center red line divides the ice rink into two halves. The point of last contact with the puck by the team in possession is used to determine whether or not icing has occurred. 

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Should a player send the puck from her own half of the ice beyond the opposing team's goal line, play is stopped and icing is called. A face-off will then take place inside the defensive zone of the offending team. 

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No icing is called:

• If the puck enters the goal for a score

• If the puck passes through the goal crease

• If the offending team is short handed at the instant the puck is shot

• If the puck touches any part of an opposing player, including the goalkeeper, before crossing the line

• If the puck is iced directly from a face-off

• If, in the opinion of a referee, any player from the other team, except the goalkeeper, is able to play the puck before it crosses the goal line

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Playing the Puck

Players are permitted to stop or bat the puck in the air with an open hand or push it along the ice by hand, unless in the opinion of the referee, the player has deliberately directed the puck to a teammate. 

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Kicking of the puck is permitted in all zones, but a goal may not be scored by the kick of an attacking player. No goal may be scored when the stick of an attacking player above the height of the cross bar contacts the puck. 

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Goals

A goal is scored:

• When the puck has been put between the goal posts below the cross bar, and entirely across the goal line by the stick of a player of the attacking side

• When the puck is put into the goal in any way by a player of the defending side, and the player of the attacking side who last played the puck is credited with the goal but no assist is awarded

• When the puck deflects directly off the skate of an attacking or defending player into the net

• When the puck is deflected into the goal from the shot of an attacking player by striking any part of the person of a player of the same side. The player who deflected the puck is credited with the goal

A goal is not allowed:

• If the puck has been kicked, thrown or otherwise deliberately directed into the goal by any means other than a stick

• If the net is off its moorings and/or the base of the net is not completely flat on the ice at the time the puck enters the net or crosses the goal line