Situation 1
When a penalty has occurred that causes a team to be shorthanded, which side of the ice shall the ensuing face-off take place?
The same side of the ice as the puck was located when play was stopped. Rule Reference 612(b).
For the purpose of this rule, the rink shall be divided in half lengthwise. Unless otherwise specified in the rules, the ensuing face-off will take place on the same side of the ice as the puck was located when play was stopped.
Situation 2
Player A1 is assessed a double minor penalty and player B1 is assessed a single minor penalty. The stoppage of play occurred in the Attacking Zone of Team A. Where is the ensuing face-off?
At an end zone face-off spot in Team A’s defending zone. Rule Reference 612(b).
Any time there is a penalty assessed that causes a team to be short-handed, the ensuing face-off shall take place at an end zone face-off in the offending team's defending zone unless otherwise specified in the rules.
Situation 3
The Referee stops play and assesses minor penalties on one player of each team. If the stoppage takes place in the Attacking Zone of Team A, where is the ensuing face-off?
At the nearest face-off spot in the zone where the puck was last played, within face-off location rules. Rule Reference 612(b).
Because both infractions occurred during the play and were equally committed by both teams, a last play face-off occurs.
Situation 4
A stoppage of play in the Defending Zone was caused by a defending player and the Official assessed the defending team a penalty. Subsequently, during the same stoppage of play, an attacking player is assessed a penalty. Where is the ensuing face-off?
At the nearest End Zone face-off spot to where play was stopped. Rule Reference 612(b).
The penalties assessed are considered coincidental and do not cause either team to be short-handed. Therefore, a last play face-off shall occur.
Situation 5
Team A commits an infraction in its Defending Zone. Before play can be stopped, the puck enters the Attacking Zone of Team A. When play is stopped in Team A’s Attacking Zone, where is the ensuing face-off?
At a Defending Zone face-off spot of Team A. Rule References 612(b) and 409(a).
Any time there is a penalty assessed that causes a team to be short-handed, the ensuing face-off shall take place at an end zone face-off spot in the offending team’s defending zone unless otherwise specified in the rules.
Situation 6
A face-off is about to be conducted in the Attacking Zone of Team A. Before the puck is dropped, a player of Team A receives a minor or major penalty. Where is the ensuing faceoff?
At a Defending Zone face-off spot of Team A. Rule References 612(b) and 409(a).
Any time there is a penalty assessed that causes a team to be short-handed, the ensuing face-off shall take place at an end zone face-off spot in the offending team’s defending zone unless otherwise specified in the rules.
However, if the penalty to be assessed to the Team A player is a misconduct penalty, the ensuing face-off shall take place at the nearest Neutral Zone face-off spot since there is no time placed on the penalty clock.
Situation 7
An infraction is committed by a defending player in their defending zone and as a result, the team will be short-handed. During the stoppage, there is a gathering of players around the goal and an attacking defenseman enters the zone beyond the top of the face-off circles to get closer and engage in the gathering. Where is the ensuing face-off conducted?
At the nearest Neutral Zone face-off spot to where play was stopped. Rule Reference 612(b.3).
Even though the only penalty was assessed to a defending player, the actions of the attacking defenseman would cause the face-off to be conducted at a neutral zone spot.
Situation 8
A penalty infraction is committed by a defending player in their defending zone and as a result, the team will be shorthanded. However, play was stopped as a result of a premature substitution of the goalkeeper violation by the non-offending team. Where is the ensuing face-off conducted?
At the center ice face-off spot or a Neutral Zone face-off spot. Rule Reference 612(b.4) and 205(a).
Even though the only penalty was assessed to a defending player, the premature substitution of the goalkeeper infraction would cause the face-off to be conducted at the center ice face-off spot. If play was stopped in their defending half of the ice, the ensuing face-off shall take place at a Neutral Zone face-off spot near their defending blue line.
Situation 9
During play, Team A prematurely pulls its goalkeeper while Team B is in possession of the puck in its Defending Zone. The Linesman correctly delays the assessment of this “premature substitution” infraction. With Team B in possession of the puck, a Team B player high sticks the puck and play is stopped because no player on either team may legally play the puck. Where is the ensuing face-off?
At the nearest Neutral Zone face-off spot to where the puck was last played. Rule Reference 612(b).
Because each team has committed an infraction of the rules, no player may legally play the puck. Typically, the face-off would be in the Team B defensive zone due to the play with the high stick, but the “premature substitution” by Team A requires the face-off to be moved to the Neutral Zone spot closest to where the puck was last played.
Situation 10
Where is the face-off when the puck strikes an Official and goes out of the playing area?
At the nearest face-off spot in the zone where the puck was last played. Rule References 612(b) and 631(a).
t makes no difference from where the puck is shot or in which zone the Official is located.
Situation 11 (High School and Adult age classifications only)
The puck is shot into Team A’s Attacking Zone with player A3 just inside the blue line. While the Linesman is correctly signaling a delayed offside infraction on Team A, player B6 gains control of the puck and attempts to move the puck out of the zone. During this attempt player B8 commits a minor penalty infraction. The Referee immediately stops play. Where is the ensuing face-off?
At the nearest Neutral Zone face-off spot. Rule References 612(b.4) and 630(d).
Even though the minor penalty infraction to Team B caused the stoppage of play and Team B will be short-handed, there was still a delayed offside infraction on Team A. Because the delayed offside was not nullified and the zone entry was still considered illegal, the face-off must be conducted at the nearest Neutral Zone face-off spot.
Situation 12
The Referee has signaled a penalty against the attacking team. The defending team shoots the puck on the back of its own goal. Where does the face-off take place?
At a Neutral Zone face-off spot outside the defending blue line of the team causing the stoppage of play. Rule References 612(b.4 and c).
Because the non-offending team caused the stoppage, the face-off must be held in the Neutral Zone. In this instance, the face-off would not go to the defending zone of the penalized team, even though the penalty time is going on the clock as the non-offending team caused the stoppage of play.
Situation 13
During play the Referee signals a delayed penalty on a Team A player in their Defending Zone. During the delayed whistle a Team B player plays the puck with a high stick. The Referee stops play due to this “high sticking” violation. The Referee then properly assesses the penalty to the Team A player. Where is the ensuing face-off?
At a Neutral Zone face-off spot near the Defending Zone of Team B, which caused the stoppage of play by high sticking the puck. Rule References 612(b.4 and c) and 621(d).
Regardless of the fact that the penalty infraction was committed by a defending player in their Defending Zone and causes the team to be short-handed, the ensuing face-off cannot take place in the Attacking Zone of a team that has just committed an infringement of a rule. This is the same face-off location as if Team B had iced the puck.
Situation 14
A Team A player commits a penalty infraction while Team B has possession of the puck in Team B’s Defending Zone. During the delayed calling of the penalty, Team B advances the puck into its Attacking Zone whereupon a Team B player commits a minor penalty infraction. Play is stopped immediately and both penalties are assessed as coincidental minor penalties. Where is the ensuing face-off?
At the nearest Neutral Zone face-off spot. Rule References 612(b and c) and 409(a).
The two infractions did not occur at the same time even though they will be recorded as such, and the reason play was stopped was because of the infraction committed by an attacking player in their Attacking Zone.
Situation 15
If an attacking player commits an infraction of the rules in their Attacking Zone after there has been a previous stoppage of play in that zone by a defending player (non-penalty), where is the face-off?
At a Defending Zone face-off spot of the offending team. Rule References 612(b and c).
It makes no difference what penalty is assessed or if it has occurred before or after a stoppage of play. The infraction by the player that results in the offending team being shorthanded causes the face-off to take place at the nearest Defending Zone face-off spot of the offending team unless otherwise specified in the rules.
Situation 16
A player of the attacking team is assessed a penalty in their Attacking Zone, thereby forcing the face-off to their Defending Zone. However, before play resumes a player of the opposing team commits a foul and is assessed a penalty. Where is the ensuing face-off?
At the nearest Neutral Zone face-off spot. Rule References 612(b and c).
A penalty is assessed to each team during the same stoppage and will be considered coincidental minor penalties. In this instance, the last penalty assessed was to the attacking team, so the ensuing face-off would then take place at the nearest Neutral Zone face-off spot.
Situation 17
A Team A player commits a penalty infraction while Team B has possession of the puck in Team B’s Defending Zone. During the delayed calling of the penalty, Team B advances the puck into its Attacking Zone whereupon a Team B player commits a major penalty infraction. Play is stopped immediately and both penalties are assessed. Where is the ensuing face-off?
At a Defending Zone face-off spot of Team B. Rule References 612(b and c) and 409(a).
Even though play will resume with four skaters for each team, the more severe infraction committed by the Team B player warrants the ensuing face-off taking place in Team B’s defending zone.
Situation 18
A Team A player commits a penalty infraction while Team B has possession of the puck in Team B’s Defending Zone. During the delayed calling of the penalty, Team B advances the puck into its Attacking Zone whereupon a Team B player is assessed a misconduct penalty after play has been stopped and both penalties are assessed. Where is the ensuing face-off?
At a Defending Zone face-off spot of Team A. Rule References 612(b and c) and 409(a).
As a result of the penalties assessed, Team A will be shorthanded because of the minor penalty so the ensuing face-off shall take place in their defending zone.
Situation 19
During the second period, a player in their defending zone attempts to pass the puck to a teammate in the neutral zone. The puck strikes the glove of an opponent who, while seated on their players’ bench, has their hands/gloves hanging into the playing area which is struck by the puck. Where is the ensuing face-off?
At the nearest Neutral Zone face-off spot. Rule Reference 612(c).
The stoppage was caused by an attacking player on the bench. If the Referee had deemed the action to be deliberate, they may assess a minor penalty for interference. However, if the Referee deems the puck would have left the playing area regardless, then the face-off would take place in the defending zone where the puck was shot.
Situation 20
A player on the attacking team attempts a shot on goal that hits the cross bar, boards or glass and goes directly out of play. Where is the ensuing face-off?
At the nearest end zone face-off spot in the attacking zone to where the shot was taken. Rule Reference 612(c).
The intent of this rule is to not punish a team for attempting a legitimate shot on goal and having the puck go directly out of play. This, and the puck entering the goal directly off an official, are the exceptions to the rule that permit the officials to conduct the face-off in the attacking zone after the attacking team actions caused the stoppage of play.
Situation 21
As the whistle blows to stop play deep in the end zone of Team B, Team A has four players beyond the top of the face-off circles. Two opposing players start to push each other and this action is followed by a gathering of players. Is Team A responsible to have one of its players, already deep in the zone, move back out beyond the top of the face-off circle in order to avoid losing the face-off in the Attacking Zone?
No. Rule Reference 612(d).
Any players already beyond the tops of the face-off circles at the time of the whistle are permitted to stay there.
Situation 22
Where is the ensuing face-off if the puck goes off a Linesman in the Neutral Zone and directly into an unattended goal?
At the nearest end zone face-off spot of the goal it entered. Rule References 612(f) and 617(c.3).
Any time the puck enters the goal after being deflected directly into the goal by an Official, the face-off shall take place at the nearest end zone face-off spot.
