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Rule 617 | Goals and Assists

Rule 617 | Goals and Assists

(Note) It is the responsibility of the Referee to award goals and assists strictly in accordance with the provisions of this rule and his decision shall be final. In case of an obvious error in awarding a goal or an assist, corrections should be made promptly and no changes can be made to the official scoresheet once it has been signed by the Referee.

(a) A goal shall be scored when the puck has completely crossed the goal line between the posts and under the cross bar. The player who has legally propelled the puck into the opponent’s goal (or last attacking player to play the puck in cases where the puck entered the goal as a result of the actions of the defending team) shall be credited with the scoring of the goal.
     Up to a maximum of two assists shall be awarded to those player(s) who had possession of the puck immediately prior to the goal being scored.
     Only one point can be credited to any single player for a goal scored and each goal or assist shall count as one point in the respective player’s record.

(b) A goal shall be legally scored if:
     (1) The puck has been propelled into the goal by the stick of an attacking player provided it was done in accordance with rule 621 High Sticks.
     (2) The puck enters the goal as a result of any action by the defending team.
     (3) The puck shall have been deflected into the goal by striking any part of an attacking player.
     (4) The puck was legally propelled into the goal crease and not covered by the goalkeeper – making the puck available to another attacking player to propel into the goal. 

(c) A goal shall not be allowed if the following occurs:
     (1) An attacking player kicks the puck directly into the goal or the kicked puck deflects off any player, including goalkeeper, prior to entering the goal.
     (2) The puck has been thrown or deliberately directed into the goal by the attacking team by any means other than a stick, even if subsequently deflecting off any player, including goalkeeper, prior to entering the goal.
     (3) The puck was deflected into the goal directly off an official.
     (4) The puck entered the goal while an attacking player was positioned in the crease (unless physically interfered with by a defending player causing him to be in the goal crease) or interfering with the goalkeeper (see Rule 625(b) Interference).
     (5) The puck has not completely crossed the goal line prior to the expiration of the period.
     (6) The team scoring committed an infraction (prior to the goal scored) that is reported to the Referee by a Linesman.
     (7) No goal can be scored by a team who has a properly rostered player on the ice that has illegally entered the game, regardless as to how the goal is scored.
     (8) The puck enters the attacking zone illegally.
     (9) As otherwise specified in the Official Playing Rules.

(d) It is the responsibility of the on-ice officials to determine if a goal has been scored at the end of a period regardless of the use of signaling devices.