Hockey Canada is committed to contributing to the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual health of individuals of varying abilities, backgrounds, and interests. Hockey Canada firmly believes that only when sport environments are safe and inclusive can these values be realized. Maltreatment includes volitional acts that result in harm or the potential for physical or psychological harm. Maltreatment in all its forms is a serious issue that undermines the health, well-being performance and security of everyone associated with the game of hockey and is incompatible with the core values that lie at the heart of Canadian sport. Participants in Hockey Canada’s programming should have the reasonable expectation that it will be in an environment that is accessible, inclusive and is free from all forms of Maltreatment.
Team officials will always be responsible for their conduct and that of their players. They must endeavour to prevent disorderly conduct before, during or after the game, on or off the ice and any place in the rink. The Referee may assess penalties to any team officials for failure to do so and will report the individual(s) by completing a Game Incident Report including full details and submitting the Report to the appropriate Member or league delegate.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct includes disrespectful behaviour, which is conduct deemed rude, unpleasant, inappropriate, or unprofessional and found to be offensive to others, but not rising to the level of conduct described in Rule 11.4 – Discrimination.
Unsportsmanlike conduct may also include, but is not limited to, the following actions, which will be penalized at the discretion of the Referee:
Challenging or disputing an official’s decision in an unsportsmanlike manner.
Use of derogatory language that may be offensive to any individual.
Deliberately spraying snow from their skates into an opponent’s face (e.g. “spraying” the goaltender).
Shooting the puck at or near the goal after the whistle.
Shooting the puck out of the playing area, after the whistle.
Engaging in any inappropriate or unwanted discussion with the referee before, during, or after the game.
Any behaviour intended to incite an opponent into incurring a penalty.
Any other display of unsportsmanlike behaviour that would be considered disorderly or contrary to the spirit of the game.
Note: If any behaviour described in Rule 11.1 includes behaviour described in Rule 11.4 – Discrimination, the individual must be penalized under Rule 11.4, in addition to any other penalties that individual might receive.
A Minor or Bench Minor penalty will be assessed to any player or team official who is guilty of Unsportsmanlike Conduct, as outlined above.
No Major penalty may be assessed for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.
No Match penalty may be assessed for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.
A Misconduct penalty will be assessed to any player who:
Persists in Unsportsmanlike Conduct, after receiving a Minor penalty under Rule 11.1 (a).
Distracts a player taking a Penalty Shot or a goaltender defending a Penalty Shot.
Intentionally knocks or shoots the puck out of reach of an Official who is retrieving it.
Does not proceed immediately and directly to the Penalty Bench when they have been penalized.
Enters or remains in the Referee’s crease while the Referee is reporting to or consulting with any game official.
Note 1: A Referee is not required to assess a Minor penalty under this rule before assessing a Misconduct penalty, but may assess either penalty initially.
Note 2: A team official may not be assessed a Misconduct penalty under this rule, but should instead be assessed Game Misconduct Penalty. 11.1 (e) A Game Misconduct penalty will be assessed to any player or team official who persists in Unsportsmanlike Conduct, after receiving a Minor penalty under Rule 11.1 (a) or a Misconduct penalty under Rule 11.1 (d). Note 1: A Referee is not required to assess a Minor or Misconduct penalty under this rule before assessing a Game Misconduct penalty, but may assess either penalty initially. Note 2: Where a player or team official has been assessed a Game Misconduct penalty under this rule, the Referee will report the individual(s) by completing a Game Incident Report, including full details and submitting the report to the appropriate Member or league delegate.
The intent of this rule is not to restrict enthusiasm displayed by a player who has made an important play or scored a goal. Due to the wide scope of this rule, guidelines for judgement are difficult to describe. Officials are directed to use their best judgement and seek guidance from their Referee-in-Chief, as needed.
QUESTION: What penalty is assessed any player who protests a call by banging their stick against the glass?
ANSWER: A Minor penalty for Unsportsmanlike Conduct. If the action persists, assess a Misconduct or Game Misconduct penalty.
When a player or team official sprays water out of a drinking bottle on or at any person, the Referee is directed to assess a Bench Minor penalty (Rule 11.1 (a)). If the player, goaltender or team official guilty of such action can be identified, a Gross Misconduct penalty will be assessed under Rule 11.2 (f) – Abusive Behaviour, in lieu of the Bench Minor penalty.
In cases where a player has been assessed a single Minor penalty and the penalized player is guilty of Unsportsmanlike Conduct, the Referee is encouraged to assess that player an additional Minor penalty for Unsportsmanlike Conduct. The offending player would then serve a four-minute time penalty.
However, if a player has been assessed a Minor penalty and a teammate is guilty of Unsportsmanlike Conduct, the Referee is encouraged to assess a Misconduct penalty to that teammate. This avoids putting the team down 5-on-3, while still penalizing the second player for their Unsportsmanlike Conduct.
Referees must be aware of the difference between emotional outbursts and behaviour intended to incite an opponent or ‘chirping’ and penalize the latter accordingly. Hockey is an intense game, and the intent of this rule is not to overly- penalize the emotional responses of players and coaches. However, persistent insults or ‘chirps’ often lead to escalating verbal and physical behaviour that will require penalties. Referees should work proactively with Head Coaches and team captains to limit inciting behaviour and assess penalties where appropriate.
Abusive behaviour includes targeted, persistent, or excessively profane conduct that is intended to intimidate, threaten, belittle, or demean an individual, which is often of a personal nature, but does not rise to the level of conduct described in Rule 11.4 – Discrimination.
Note: If any behaviour described in Rule 11.2 includes behaviour described in Rule 11.4 – Discrimination, the individual must be penalized under Rule 11.4, in addition to any other penalties that individual might receive.
A Bench Minor penalty will be assessed to a team official or unidentified player from the bench who uses abusive conduct towards the Referee or any other person.
No Major penalty may be assessed under this rule.
No Match penalty may be assessed under this rule.
A Misconduct penalty will be assessed to any player who uses abusive conduct towards the Referee or any other person.
A Game Misconduct will be assessed:
Note 1: A Referee is not required to assess a Bench Minor or Misconduct penalty under this rule before assessing a Game Misconduct penalty.
Note 2: Where a player or team official has been assessed a Game Misconduct penalty under this rule, the Referee will report the individual(s) by completing a Game Incident Report, including full details and submitting the report to the appropriate Member or league delegate.
A Gross Misconduct penalty will be assessed to any player or team official who conducts themselves in a manner as to make a travesty of the game. Such actions may also be described as verbal or physical taunts or gestures that cause harm to the reputation of the game.
In making the determination between Unsportsmanlike Conduct and Abusive Behaviour, officials should consider whether or not the comment is personal in nature. If the conduct criticizes or protests the official’s decision, this should be categorized as Rule 11.1 – Unsportsmanlike Conduct. If the comment or actions attack the official’s character or integrity, this must be penalized under Rule 11.2 – Abusive Behaviour. If the comment or actions are based upon discriminatory grounds, then they must be penalized under Rule 11.4 – Discrimination.
QUESTION: The play is in progress and a player is verbally abusive towards a Linesperson. Can a Linesperson stop the play to assess the Misconduct penalty?
ANSWER: The Linesperson cannot stop play to assess the penalty. They must wait for a stoppage of play, then notify the Referee.
If a player, reacting to verbal harassment, goes into the stands to confront a spectator, the Referee must assess the player a Gross Misconduct for making a travesty of the game. If the player attempts to injure or deliberately injure that spectator, the offending player will also be assessed a Match Penalty under Rule 7.1 (c) – Attempt to Injure or Deliberate Injury
When a player becomes involved with a spectator, the Referee must be sure of the cause of the trouble. If the player did not cause the trouble and is acting in self- defence, they should not be penalized for their actions. However, if those actions become escalated and, in the eyes of the Referee, unjustifiable, then the Referee must penalize the offending player.
Wherever a Referee has reasonable grounds to believe that a player or team official is impaired by alcohol and/or drugs, they should encourage that player to voluntarily withdraw from the game. However, if a further incident occurs, with penalties that require a written report, the possible use of alcohol and/or drugs should be noted in the Official Game Report.
This rule is intended to address players or team officials who deliberately spit at or on any individual. Referees must be vigilant and ensure that players are not simply spitting on the ice but are directing this at another person, regardless of whether contact occurs.
Note: If any behaviour described in Rule 11.3 includes behaviour described in Rule 11.4 – Discrimination, the individual must be penalized under Rule 11.4, in addition to any other penalties that individual might receive.
No Minor penalty may be assessed under this rule.
No Major penalty may be assessed under this rule.
A Match penalty will be assessed to any player or team official who deliberately spits on or at any individual.
Note 1: Where a player or team official has been assessed a Match penalty under this rule, the Referee will report the individual(s) by completing a Game Incident Report, including full details and submitting the report to the appropriate Member or league delegate.
No Misconduct penalty may be assessed under this rule.
No Game Misconduct penalty may be assessed under this rule.
Any player or team official who engages in taunts, insults, or intimidation based on discriminatory grounds will be assessed a Gross Misconduct penalty. Discriminatory grounds include the following, without limitation:
The Referee will report the individual(s) by completing a Game Incident Report including full details and submitting the Report to the appropriate Member or league delegate.
Note 1: If an incident occurs that was not witnessed by the Officials and is reported to the Referee, the Referee will report the individual(s) to an appropriate member of each team’s bench staff and will complete a Game Incident Report including full details and will submit the Report to the appropriate Member or league delegate.
Note 2: If any behaviour described in Rule 11.1, 11.2 or 11.3 includes behaviour described in Rule 11.4, the player, goaltender or team official must be penalized under Rule 11.4, in addition to any other penalties that individual might receive.
Hockey Canada recognizes that it is necessary to provide further guidance to all participants to ensure consistent application of this rule. The objective is to have uniform application of this rule, avoiding the use of personal preferences or sensibilities. To assist in determining whether conduct is discriminatory (Rule 11.4), abusive (Rule 11.2), or unsportsmanlike (Rule 11.1), officials should apply the following test:
Question 1: Was the comment made in a negative context, with the intent to taunt, insult, or intimidate another person?
Question 2: Was the nature of the insult based on “discriminatory grounds”, as defined by Rule 11.4?
If the answers to BOTH questions are “yes”, then a Gross Misconduct penalty under Rule 11.4 must be assessed to the offending player.
If there is any doubt regarding the nature of a comment, officials should strictly apply this test to ensure that the game of hockey is free from maltreatment.
In determining whether conduct is best categorized as Abusive Behaviour or Maltreatment, officials should consider the conduct from the perspective of the person at whom it was directed. Would that person, or a member of the group that the comment references, reasonably find this to be abusive or discriminatory? The officials’ role is not to determine the intent of the offending player in using a particular word or gesture, but rather to consider the context and how a person would reasonably perceive the offending player’s conduct. Officials are directed to use their best judgement and provide a comprehensive report to the appropriate Member or league delegate.
The safety of all participants is a priority for Hockey Canada. It is understood that on-ice officials may need to physically intervene in altercations to deescalate the situation and/ or protect vulnerable players. Officials should only intervene in an altercation when it is safe for them to do so, with the sole purpose of deescalating the altercation. Players that are willing participants in an altercation must be aware of the risks to their own safety and are responsible for their actions, if they compromise the safety of the intervening officials.
When on-ice officials are required to intervene in altercations, it is understood that they will need to make physical contact with players and that the on-ice officials assume a certain level of risk of incidental contact. This rule is intended to address incidents where players make contact with an official that is more than incidental. Furthermore, officials should be aware that the amount of physical intervention they use to deescalate altercations must follow the same principles of minimizing the risk for all participants involved.
For the purpose of this rule, ‘officials’ refers to referees, linespersons, and off-ice officials.
Note: If any behaviour described in Rule 11.5 includes behaviour described in Rule 11.4 – Discrimination, the individual must be penalized under Rule 11.4, in addition to any other penalties that individual might receive.
No Minor penalty may be assessed under this rule.
No Major penalty may be assessed under this rule.
A Match penalty will be assessed to any player or team official who:
Conducts themselves in such a way that physically threatens or intimidates an Official, without making physical contact;
Deliberately applies physical force to an official with a minimal to moderate degree of violence, without causing injury; or
Deliberately applies physical force to an official with a high degree of violence or causes injury to an official by way of any intentional contact.
Note 1: Where a player or team official has been assessed a Match penalty under this rule, the Referee will report the individual(s) by completing a Game Incident Report, including full details and submitting the report to the appropriate Member or league delegate.
No Misconduct penalty may be assessed under this rule.
A Game Misconduct penalty will be assessed to any player or team official who, in the course of attempting to continue or continuing to participate in a gathering or altercation, accidentally applies physical force to an official.
QUESTION: A player on the Penalty Bench grabs a Timekeeper or any Off-Ice Official. What penalty is to be assessed?
ANSWER: A Match penalty must be assessed.