1. The carrying of sticks above the normal height of the WAIST of the opponent is prohibited and a minor, double-minor or major penalty may be imposed on a player violating this rule, at the discretion of the Referee.

2. A goal scored by an attacking player who strikes the puck with his stick which is carried above the height of the crossbar of the goal frame shall not be allowed.

   A goal scored by a defending player who strikes the puck with his stick which is carried above the height of the crossbar of the goal frame shall be allowed.

3. When a player carries or holds any part of his stick above the normal height of the WAIST of the opponent so that injury results the Referee shall:
   
   1. assess a double-minor penalty when it is deemed to be accidental in nature by the officials;
   2. assess a major and game-misconduct when the high stick is deemed to be careless by the officials.

      Refer to Rule 29(f) and Rule 28(b). When a major penalty is imposed under this rule for a foul resulting in injury to an opponent, an automatic fine of one hundred dollars ($100) shall also be imposed. Also, when a major penalty is imposed under this rule, the player, excluding goalkeepers, shall receive automatically a game misconduct penalty.

4. Batting the puck above the normal height of the shoulders with the stick is prohibited. When a puck is struck with a high stick and subsequently comes into the possession of a teammate, there shall be a whistle. If a territorial advantage has been gained by the offending team, the ensueing face-off will be where the high stick occurred. If a territorial disadvantage occurs to the offending team, the ensueing face-off will be where the puck is touched. Play continues following a high-sticked puck if:
   1. the puck has been batted to an opponent in which case the play shall continue;
      
   2. a player of the defending side shall bat the puck into his own goal in which case the goal shall be allowed.

   (NOTE)
   When a player bats the puck to an opponent under sub-section 1, the Referee shall give the "washout" signal immediately. Otherwise, he will stop the play.

5. When either team is below the numerical strength of its opponent and a player of the team of greater numerical strength causes a stoppage of play by striking the puck with his stick above the height of his shoulder, the resulting face-off shall be made at one of the end face-off spots adjacent to the goal of the team causing the stoppage.

1. A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who holds an opponent with hands or stick or in any other way.

2. A minor penalty shall be assessed to a player who uses his hand to hold an opponent's stick.

1. A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who impedes or seeks to impede the progress of an opponent by hooking with his stick.

2. A major penalty shall be be imposed on any player who injures an opponent by hooking. When a major penalty is imposed under this rule for a foul resulting in injury to the face or head of an opponent, an automatic fine of one hundred dollars ($100) shall also be imposed.

   (NOTE) When a player is checking another in such a way that there is only stick-to-stick contact, such action is neither hooking or holding.

1. For the purpose of this rule, the center red line will divide the ice into halves. Should any player of a team, equal or superior in numerical strength to the opposing team, shoot, bat or deflect the puck from his own half of the ice beyond the goal line of the opposing team, play shall be stopped and the puck faced-off at the end face-off spot of the offending team, unless on the play, the puck shall have entered the net of the opposing team, in which case the goal shall be allowed.

   For the purpose of this rule, the point of last contact with the puck by the team in possession shall be used to determine whether icing has occurred or not.

   (NOTES)

   1. If during the period of a delayed whistle due to a foul by a player of the side NOT in possession, the side inpossession ices the puck, then the face-off following the stoppage of play shall take place in the neutral zone near the defending blue line of the team icing the puck.

   2. When a team is short-handed as the result of a penalty and the penalty is about to expire, the decision as to whether there has been an "icing" shall be determined at the instant the penalty expires. The action of the penalized player remaining in the penalty box will not alter the ruling.

   3. For the purpose of interpretation of the rule, icing the puck is completed the instant the puck is touched first by a defending player (other than the goalkeeper) after it has crossed the goal line and if in the action of so touching the puck, it is knocked or deflected into the net, it is NO goal.

   4. When the puck is shot and rebounds from the body or stick of an opponent in his own half of the ice so as to cross the goal line of the player shooting, it shall not be considered as icing.

   5. Notwithstanding the provisions of the section concerning batting the puck in respect to the icing the puck rule, the provisions of the final paragraph of Rule 57(e) apply and NO goal can be scored by batting the puck with the hand into the opponent's goal whether intended or not.

   6. If while the Linesman has signalled a slow whistle for a clean interception under Rule 71(c), the player intercepting shoots or bats the puck beyond the opponent's goal line in such a manner as to constitute icing the puck, the Linesman slow whistle shall be considered exhausted the instant the puck crosses the blue line and icing shall be called in the usual manner.

2. If a player of the side shooting the puck down the ice who is on-side and eligible to play the puck does so before it is touched by an opposing player, the play shall continue and it shall not be considered a violation of this rule.

3. If the puck was so shot by a player of a side below the numerical strength of the opposing team, play shall continue and the face-off shall not take place.

   (NOTE) If the team returns to full strength following a shot by one of its players, play shall continue and the face-off shall not take place.

4. If, however, the puck shall go beyond the goal line in the opposite half of the ice directly from either of the players while facing-off, it shall not be considered a violation of this rule.

5. If, in the opinion of the Linesman, a player of the opposing team except the goalkeeper is able to play the puck before it passes his goal line, but has not done so, the face-off shall not be allowed and play shall continue. If, in the opinion of the Referee, the defending side intentionally abstains from playing the puck promptly when they are in a position to do so, he shall stop the play and order the resulting face-off on the adjacent corner face-off spot nearest the goal of the team at fault.

   (NOTE) The purpose of this section is to enforce continuous action and both Referee and Linesmen should interpret and apply the rule to produce this result.

6. If the puck touches any part of a player of the opposing side, including his skates or his stick, or if it passes through any part of the goal crease before it reaches the opposing team's goal line, or if it touches any part of the opposing team's goalkeeper, including his skates or his stick, at any time before or after crossing the goal line, it shall not be considered.

   (NOTE) If a goalkeeper takes any action to dislodge the puck from the back of the net, icing shall be washed out.

7. If a goalkeeper has been removed from the playing surface for an extra player (teams at equal or superior in numerical strength), the icing rule shall be in effect if the puck passes through or touches any part of the goal crease before it crosses the goal line.

8. If the Linesman shall have erred in calling an icing the puck infraction (regardless of whether either team is short-handed), the puck shall be faced-off on the center ice face-off spot.

(NOTE) A strict standard of interference must be adhered to in all areas of the rink, WITH EMPHASIS ON INTERFERENCE IN THE NEUTRAL ZONE.

1. A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who interferes with or impedes the progress of an opponent who is not in possession of the puck.

2. A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who restrains an opponent who is attempting to forecheck.

3. A minor penalty shall be imposed on an attacking player who deliberately checks a defensive player who is not in possession of the puck.
   

4. A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who deliberately knocks a stick out of an opponent's hand, or who prevents a player who has dropped his stick or any other piece of equipment from regaining possession of it.

5. A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who knocks or shoots any abandoned or broken stick or illegal puck or other debris towards an opposing puck carrier in a manner that could cause him to be distracted. (See also Rule 81(a) - Throwing Stick.)

6. A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player on the players' bench or penalty bench who, by means of his stick or body, interferes with the movements of the puck or any opponent on the ice during the progress of the play.

7. If, when the goalkeeper has been removed from the ice, any member of his team (including the goalkeeper) not legally on the ice, including the Manager, Coach, or Trainer interferes by means of his body, stick, or any other object with the movements of the puck or an opposing player, the Referee shall immediately award a goal to the non-offending team.

8. When a player in control of the puck on his opponents side of the center red line and having no other to pass than the goalkeeper is interfered with by a stick or any part thereof or any other object thrown or shot by any member of the defending team including Manager, Coach, or Trainer, a penalty shot shall be awarded to the non-offending team.

   NOTE 1 Body Position:
   Body position shall be determined as the player skating in front of or beside his opponent, traveling in the same direction. A player who is behind an opponent, who does not have the puck, may not use his stick or body in order to restrain hisopponent, but must skate in order to gain or reestablish his proper position in order to make a check.

   A player is allowed the ice he is standing on (body position) and is not required to move in order to let an opponent proceed. A player may block the path of an opponent provided he is doing so by skating in the same direction. Moving laterally, and without establishing body position, then making contact with the non-puck carrier is not permitted and will be penalized as interference. A player is always entitled to use his body position to lengthen an opponent's path to the puck, provided his stick is not utilized; his free hand is not used and he does not take advantage of his body position to deliver an otherwise illegal check.

   NOTE 2 Possession of the Puck:
   The last player to touch the puck, other than the goalkeeper, shall be considered the player in possession. The player deemed in possession of the puck may be checked legally, provided the check is rendered immediately, following his loss of possession.
   

   NOTE 3 Restrain:
   The actions of a player who does not have body position, but instead uses illegal means (e.g. hook with stick; hold with hands) to impede an opponent who is not in possession of the puck. Illegal means are acts which allow a player to establish, maintain, or restore body position, other than by skating.

   NOTE 4 Pick:
   A pick is the action of a player who checks an opponent who is not in possession of the puck and is unaware of the impending check/hit. A player who is aware of an impending hit, not deemed to be a legal battle for the puck, may not be interfered with by a player delivering a pick. A player delivering a pick is one who moves into an opponent's path without initially having body position, thereby taking him out of play.

   NOTE 5 Free Hand:
   A free hand is the one that is not evident holding the player's own stick. Free hand use isa permitted to fend off an opponent or his stick, but may not be used to hold an opponent's stick or body.

   NOTE 6 Stick:
   Any reference made to the use of the stick implies any portion of the stick. It is generally accepted that the blade or end of the shaft are used in stick restraining tactics.

1. In the event of a player being held or interfered with by a spectator, the Referee or Linesman shall blow the whistle and play shall be stopped unless the team of the player interfered with is in possession of the puck at this time when the play shall be allowed to be completed before blowing the whistle and the puck shall be faced-off at the spot where last played at time of stoppage.

2. Any player who physically interferes with the spectators shall automatically incur a gross misconduct penalty and the Referee shall report all such infractions to the Commissioner who shall have full power to impose such further penalty as he shall deem appropriate.

3. In the event that objects are thrown on the ice which interfere with the progress of the game, the Referee shall blow the whistle and stop the play and the puck shall be faced-off at the spot play is stopped.

   (NOTE) The Referee shall report to the Commissioner for disciplinary action all cases in which a player becomes involved in an altercation with a spectator.

1. No player may leave the players' or penalty bench at any time during an altercation or for the purpose of starting an altercation. Substitutions made prior to the altercation shall be permitted, provided the players so substituting do not enter the altercation.

2. For violation of this rule, a game misconduct penalty shall be imposed on the player who was the first or second player to leave the players' or penalty bench from either or both teams.

3. The first player to leave the players' or penalty bench from either or both teams shall be suspended automatically without pay for the next ten (10) regular League and/or playoff games of his team.

4. The second player to leave the bench from either or both teams shall be suspended automatically without pay for the next five (5) regular League and/or playoff games.

   (NOTE) The determination as to the players penalized under (c) and (d) of this rule shall be made by the Referee in consultation with the Linesmen and off-ice officials. In the event that he is unable to identify the offending players, the matter will be referred to the Commissioner or his designee and such determinations may be made subsequently based on reports and other information including but not limited to television tapes.

5. Any team that has a playev penalized under (a) shall be fined ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the first instance. This fine shall be increased by five thousand dollars ($5000) for each subsequent occurrence over the next following three-year period.

6. All players including the first and second players who leave the bench during an altercation shall be subject to an automatic fine in the amount equal to the maximum permitted under the collective bargaining agreement.

7. Any player who leaves the penalty bench during an altercation and is not the first player, shall be suspended automatically without pay for the next five (5) regular League and/or playoff games.

8. Except at the end of each period or on expiration of his penalty, no player may, at any time, leave the penalty bench.

9. A penalized player who leaves the penalty bench before his penalty has expired, whether play is in progress or not, shall incur an additional minor penalty, after serving his unexpired penalty.

10. Any penalized player leaving the penalty bench during stoppage of play and during an altercation shall incur a minor penalty plus a game misconduct penalty after serving his unexpired time.

11. If a player leaves the penalty bench before his penalty is fully served, the Penalty Timekeeper shall note the time and signal the Referee who will immediately stop play.

12. In the case of a player returning to the ice before his time has expired through an error of the Penalty Timekeeper, he is not to serve an additional penalty, but must serve his unexpired time.

13. If a player of the attacking side in possession of the puck shall be in such a position as to have no opposition between him and the opposing goalkeeper, and while in such position he shall be interfered with by a player of the opposing side who shall have illegally entered the game, the Referee shall impose a penalty shot against the side to which the offending player belongs.

14. If the opposing goalkeeper has been removed and an attacking player in possession of the puck shall have no player of the defending team to pass and a stick or a part thereof or any other object is thrown or shot by an opposing player, or the player is fouled from behind thereby being prevented from having a clear shot on an open goal, a goal shall be awarded against the offending team.

    If when the opposing goalkeeper has been removed from the ice, a player of the side attacking the unattended goal is interfered with by a player who shall have entered the game illegally, the Referee shall immediately award a goal to the non-offending team.

15. If a Coach or Manager gets on the ice after the start of a period and before that period is ended, the Referee shall impose a bench minor penalty against the team and report the incident to the Commissioner for disciplinary action.

16. Any club executive or Manager committing the same offense will be automatically fined two hundred dollars ($200).

17. If a penalized player returns to the ice from the penalty bench before his penalty has expired by his own error or the error of the Penalty Timekeeper, any goal scored by his own team while he is illegally on the ice shall be disallowed but all penalties imposed on either team shall be served as regular penalties.

18. If a player shall illegally enter the game from his own players' bench or from the penalty bench, any goal scored by his own team while he is illegally on the ice shall be disallowed but all penalties imposed on either team shall be served as regular penalties.

19. A bench minor penalty shall be imposed on a team whose player(s) leave the players' bench for any purpose other than a change of players and when no altercation is in progress.

20. Any player who has been ordered to the dressing room by the Referee and returns to his bench or to the ice for any reason before the appropriate time shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty and shall be suspended automatically without pay for the next ten (10) regular League and/or playoff games.

21. The Coach of the team whose players left the benchs during an altercation may be suspended, pending a review by the Commissioner. The coach may also be fined a maximum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

22. For all suspensions imposed on players under this rule, the club of the player shall pay to the League a sum equal to the pro-rata of that player's salary covered by the suspension. For purposes of computing amounts due for a player's suspension, the player's fixed salary shall be divided by the number of days in the regular season and then, said result shall be multiplied by the number of games suspended.

    In addition, any club that is deemed by the Commissioner to pay or reimburse to the player the amount of the fine or loss of salary assessed under this rule shall be fined automatically one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).

    (NOTE) In the event that suspensions imposed under this rule cannot be completed in regular League and/or playoff games in any one season, the remainder of the suspension shall be served the following season.

1. Any player who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an official, in any manner attempts to injure an official, deliberately makes contact with an official, physically demeans an official or deliberately applies physical force to an official solely for the purpose of getting free of such an official during or immediately following an altercation shall receive a game misconduct penalty.

   In addition, the following disciplinary penalties shall apply:

   CATEGORY I

   Any player who deliberately strikes an official and causes injury or who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an official with intent to injure, or who in any manner attempts to injure an official shall be automatically suspended for not less than 20 games. (For the purpose of the rule, intent to injure shall mean any physical force which a player knew or should have known could reasonably be expected to cause injury.)
   

   CATEGORY II

   Any player who deliberately applies physical force to an official in any manner (excluding actions as set out in Category One), which physical force is applied without intent to injure, shall be automatically suspended for not less than 10 games.
   

   CATEGORY III

   Any player who, by his actions, physically demeans an official or who deliberately applies physical force to an official solely for the purpose of getting free of such an official during or immediately following an altercation shall be suspended for not less than 3 games.

   Immediately after the game in which such game misconduct penalty is imposed, the Referee shall, in consultation with the Linesmen, decide the category of the offense. He shall make an oral report to the Commissioner and advise of the category and of the offense. In addition, he shall file a written report to the Commissioner in which he may request a review as to the adequacy of the suspension. The player and club involved shall be notified of the decision of the Referee on the morning following the game and the player may request the Commissioner to review, subject to the provisions of this rule, the penalty imposed by the Referee. Such request must be filed with the Commissioner in writing not later than 72 hours following notification of the penalty. No appeal to the Board of Governors pursuant to By-Law 17 shall be available to the player unless a review has been conducted as provided herein.

   If a review of the incident is requested by either the player or by the official, a hearing will be conducted by the Commissioner as soon as practical prior to the fourth game of any suspension. The player's suspension shall continue pending the outcome of the hearing by the Commissioner.

   After any review as called for hereby, the Commissioner shall issue an order either:

   1. sustaining the minimum suspension, or
   2. increasing the number of games within the category, or
   3. changing to a lower category, or
   4. changing to a lower category and increasing the number of games within the category.

   A player shall have the right of appeal from any such order pursuant to By-Law 17.11. Upon such appeal, the Board of Governors' determination shall be one of the four alternatives listed above.

   The penalties imposed under this rule shall not be deemed to limit the right of the Commissioner with respect to any action that he might otherwise take under By-Law 17.

   In the event that the player has committed more than one offense under this rule, in addition to the penalties imposed under this offense, his case shall be referred to the Commissioner of the League for consideration of supplementary disciplinary action. (In all instances where the Commissioner is referred to in this rule, it shall mean the Commissioner or his designee.)

   Any club executive, Manager, Coach or Trainer who holds or strikes an official shall be automatically suspended from the game, ordered to the dressing room, and the matter will be reported to the Commissioner for further disciplinary action.

1. Players shall not use obscene gestures on the ice or anywhere in the rink before, during or after the game. For a violation of the rule, a game misconduct penalty shall be imposed and the Referee shall report the circumstances to the Commissioner of the League for further disciplinary action.

2. Players shall not use profane language on the ice or anywhere in the rink before, during or after a game. For violation of this rule, a misconduct penalty shall be imposed except when the violation occurs in the vicinity of the players' bench in which case a bench minor penalty shall be imposed.

   (NOTE) It is the responsibility of all game officials and all club officials to send a confidential report to the Commissioner setting out the full details concerning the use of obscene gestures or language by any player, Coach or other official. The Commissioner shall take such further disciplinary action as he shall deem appropriate.

3. Club executives, Managers, Coaches and Trainers shall not use obscene or profane language or gestures anywhere in the rink. For violation of this rule, a bench minor penalty shall be imposed.

1. The position of the player's skates and not that of his stick shall be the determining factor in all instances in deciding an "off-side". A player is off-side when both skates are completely over the outer edge of the determining center line or blue line involved in the play.

   (NOTES)

   1. A player is "on-side" when either of his skates are in contact with or on his own side of the line at the instant the puck completely crosses the outer edge of that line regardless of the position of his stick. However, if while an off-side call is delayed, players of the offending team clear the zone, the Linesman shall drop his arm and the play is no longer off-side.

   2. It should be noted that while the position of the player's skates is what determines whether a player is off-side, nevertheless the question of an off-side never arises until the puck has completely crossed the outer edge of the line at which time the decision is to be made.

2. If, in the opinion of the Linesman, an intentional off-side play has been made, the puck shall be faced-off at the end face-off spot in the defending zone of the offending team.

   (NOTES)

   1. An intentional off-side is one which is made for the purpose of securing a stoppage of play regardless of the reason, whether either team is short-handed.

   2. If, while an off-side call is delayed, a player of the offending team deliberately touches the puck to create a stoppage of play, the Linesman will signal an intentional off-side.

3. If a Linesman errs in calling an off-side pass infraction (regardless of whether either team is short-handed), the puck shall be faced-off on the center ice face-off spot.

1. The puck may be passed by any player to a player of the same side within any one of the three zones into which the ice is divided, but it may not be passed forward from a player in one zone to a player of the same side in another zone, except by players of the defending team who may make and take forward passes from their own defending zone to the center line without incurring an off-side penalty. This forward pass from the defending zone must be completed by the pass receiver who is preceded by the puck across the center line, otherwise the play shall be stopped and the face-off shall be at the point from which the pass was made.

   (NOTES)
   

   1. The position of the puck and not that of the player's skates shall be the determining factor in deciding from which zone the pass was made.

   2. Passes may be completed legally at the center red line in exactly the same manner as passes at the attacking blue line.

   3. In the event the player has preceded the puck at the center line he may become eligible to play the puck if he makes skate contact with the line prior to playing the puck.

2. Should the puck having been passed, contact any part of the body, stick or skates of a player of the same side who is legally on-side, the pass shall be considered to have been completed.

3. The player last touched by the puck shall be deemed to be in possession.

   Rebounds off goalkeepers' pads or other equipment shall not be considered as a change of possession or completion of the play by the team when applying Rule 34(b) - Calling of Penalties.

4. If a player in the neutral zone is preceded in the attacking zone by the puck passed from the neutral zone, he shall be eligible to take possession of the puck anywhere in the attacking zone except when the "icing the Puck" rule applies.

5. If a player in the same zone from which a pass is made is preceded by the puck into succeeding zones, he shall be eligible to take possession of the puck in that zone except where the Icing the Puck rule applies.

6. If an attacking player passes the puck backward toward his own goal from the attacking zone, an opponent may play the puck anywhere regardless of whether the opponent was in the same zone at the time the puck was passed. (No slow whistle.)