Members may use a two-official, three-official or four-official system for games within their own jurisdiction.
Referees, Linespersons and Off-Ice Officials will be treated with courtesy at all times by players and team officials. Any infraction of this rule will be reported to the appropriate Member or league, who may levy discipline, as the infraction warrants, as per Section 11 – Maltreatment.
A Referee will have full authority and the final decision in all matters under dispute. Their decision will be final on all questions of judgement and not subject to appeal.
For regional playoffs and championships as well as national championships, officials will be appointed as per the requirements outlined in the event technical package or as recommended by the Hockey Canada Officiating Program.
All Referees operating within the jurisdiction of Hockey Canada will be affiliated and under the control of the Member for which they are officiating.
The Referee(s) and Linespersons will be thoroughly impartial parties.
The Referee(s) and Linespersons are the official representatives of Hockey Canada or the Member of Hockey Canada in which the game is being played.
The Referee(s) will see that the teams are called to the ice at the appointed time for the commencement of each game, and at the start of each regulation and overtime period. The Referee(s) will remain on the ice at the conclusion of each period, including overtime, until the players have proceeded to their dressing rooms.
The Referee(s) will check the equipment worn by any player when requested to do so by the Coach of either team via the Captain.
The Referee(s) will assess all penalties as prescribed by the rules. If they deem it necessary, the Referee(s) may consult with the Linespersons.
The Referee(s) will give the final decision in the matter of disputed goals. If they deem it necessary, the Referee(s) may consult with the Linespersons and the Goal Judge involved.
Before starting the game, the Referee(s) will see that the individuals appointed to act as Game Timekeeper, Penalty Timekeeper, Official Scorer, and Goal Judges are in their respective positions.
The Referee(s) will announce to the Official Scorer the duration of the penalties and the rule infractions, and also to whom the goals and assists are credited.
The Referee(s) will, when possible, see that players of the opposing teams are separated on the Penalty Bench to prevent feuding.
After each game, the Referee(s) will check and sign the Official Game Report and return it to the Official Scorer.
Should an official accidentally leave the ice or receive an injury which would affect their duties while play is in progress, the play will be stopped.
If for whatever reason, the appointed Referee(s) or Linesperson(s) are prevented from appearing, the Managers or Coaches of the two competing teams will agree on temporary Referee(s) and Linesperson(s). The temporary officials may include any Hockey Canada certified officials including players, team officials or spectators that may be present at the game or arena. Should no certified officials be present then the teams may appoint one (1) team official or player from each team who will act as temporary officials.
Note: Temporary officials must wear the minimum equipment of skates, helmet, and facial protector (visor).
If the regularly appointed officials appear during the progress of the game, they will replace the temporary officials immediately.
If an appointed Linesperson is unable to act at the last minute, or if through sickness or accident, they are unable to finish the game, the Referee in charge will have the power to appoint another in their place, if necessary.
If owing to illness or accident, the Referee is unable to continue to officiate when working with two Linespersons, one of the Linespersons will perform such duties as devolved upon the Referee. The Linesperson will be selected by the Referee, or if necessary, by the Managers or Coaches of the competing teams.
When reference is made to the Linespersons under Rules 5.2 and 5.3 (all clauses), the duties of the Linespersons will be carried out by both Referees.
Linespersons are authorized to stop the play when:
An off-side situation arises.
An icing the puck situation arises.
There has been premature entry into the face-off circle.
The puck goes outside the playing area.
The puck is interfered with by an ineligible person.
The puck has been batted with the hand from one player to a teammate and it has become obvious the Referee has not seen the infraction.
The puck has been struck with a high stick and it has become obvious the Referee has not seen the infraction.
There are too many players on the ice. If it is a delayed penalty, the Linesperson will stop play when the offending team gains possession and control of the puck, but the Linespersons will NOT raise their arm in this situation.
The goal has been displaced from its normal position and the Referee has not observed this situation. The Linesperson will follow the guidelines specified in Interpretation 1 of this rule and in Rule 10.1 - Delay of Game (Interpretation 1).
There has been a premature substitution of a goaltender.
The Referee is injured or accidentally leaves the ice, preventing them from performing their duties.
It is obvious that a player has sustained a serious injury and the Referee has not seen this situation.
If the Linesperson observes a “Too Many Players Infraction” and the offending team does not have or gain control of the puck, the Linesperson will report this infraction to the Referee at the next stoppage of play.
Linespersons will identify the offender and report to the Referee at the first stoppage, their version of any infraction of the rules which calls for a Minor, Bench Minor or double Minor penalty for Rules:
Linespersons will identify the offender and report to the Referee at the first stoppage, their version of any infraction of the rules that calls for a Major, Match, Misconduct, Game Misconduct, or Gross Misconduct penalty.
Linespersons will, when requested by the Referee, give their version of any incident that may have taken place during the game.
Linespersons are to stop play when more than the correct number of players are on the ice, but must still follow the regular procedure for calling penalties. If the offending team has control of the puck, the Linespersons will stop play immediately; however, if the offending team does not have control, it then becomes a delayed call. In both situations, the Linespersons must report the infraction to the Referee at the first stoppage of play.
Note 1: There is no signal that the Linespersons should use in the delayed penalty situation
A Linesperson cannot award a Penalty Shot where a player is fouled from behind on a breakaway in the neutral or attacking zone and the Referee has not observed the infraction.
A Linesperson is about to report a penalty (Minor, Bench Minor, double Minor, Major, Misconduct, Game Misconduct, Gross Misconduct or Match), but before they do so, the offending team scores a goal. What procedure does the Referee follow?
RULING: The Referee washes out the goal, as the infraction occurred before the goal was scored. Linespersons do not stop play, but must wait for the first stoppage of play to report their version to the Referee. Therefore, if the infraction occurs before the goal is scored, this infraction will be pointed out to the Referee who would wash out the goal and assess the penalty.
A Linesperson cannot report a Checking from Behind infraction that calls for a Minor penalty and Game Misconduct.
There will be one Goal Judge behind each goal. The Goal Judges will not be members of either competing team, nor will they be replaced during the progress of the game, unless it becomes apparent that either Goal Judge, on the account of partisanship or any other cause, is guilty of giving unjust decisions. In such cases, the Referee in charge may appoint another Goal Judge to act in their place.
Each Goal Judge will be stationed in the designated area behind each goal for the duration of the game, and they will not change ends at any time after the game begins. Their jurisdiction is limited to that game only.
In the event of a goal being claimed, the Goal Judge will decide whether or not the puck has passed between the goal posts and entirely over the goal line. The decision will simply be goal or no goal.
The Referee is not required to consult with the Goal Judge in the event of a disputed goal, if they are sure of their call.
The Penalty Timekeeper will keep the time served by each penalized player during the game and, upon request, inform the penalized player as to the unfinished time of their penalty.
If a player leaves the Penalty Bench before their time has expired, the Penalty Timekeeper will note the time and signal that to the Referee at the next stoppage of play.
Where public address systems are used, the Penalty Timekeeper will announce or have announced the name of each penalized player, the nature of the offence and the time the penalty was assessed.
Prior to the start of the game, the Official Scorer will obtain from the Manager or Coach of each team their complete line-ups, verified and signed by the team official in charge. The Captain and Alternate Captains of each team will be duly noted on the Official Game Report.
The Official Scorer will request that all affiliated players dressed for the game are designated on the Official Game Report by the use of the symbols “AP” after their name (in a similar manner to that used to designate the Captain and Alternate Captains). They will be players not signed to a regular card of the club with which they are playing.
The Official Scorer will submit the complete line-up of the competing teams to the Referee, in their dressing room prior to the start of the game and will draw attention to any case which they feel does not comply to the rules.
The Official Scorer will enter on the Official Game Report a correct record of the goals scored, by whom they were scored and to whom assists, if any, are to be credited.
They will also keep a correct record of all penalties assessed, stating the names and numbers of the penalized players, the duration of the penalty, the infraction, and the time when the penalties were assessed.
Where a public address system is in use, the Official Scorer will announce, or have announced, immediately following the scoring of each goal, the name of the player who scored the goal and the name of each player who received an assist.
The Official Scorer will advise the Referee when the same player has received their second Misconduct penalty (Rule 4.7 – Misconduct Penalties), third stick infraction penalty or third Head Contact penalty during the same game (Rule 4.8 – Game Ejection & Game Misconduct Penalties).
At the completion of each game, the Official Scorer will sign the Official Game Report, and then have the Referee sign it. They will then forward the Game Report to the Secretary of the Member or league involved.
The Game Timekeeper will record the start and finish time of each game and all actual playing time during the game.
The Game Timekeeper will signal the Referee for the commencement of the game, the start of the second and third period and for each overtime period. If the rink is not equipped with an automatic sound device, or if this equipment should fail to operate, the Game Timekeeper will, by means of a siren or whistle, signal the end of each period, each overtime period and the end of the game.
The Game Timekeeper will announce or have announced when ONE MINUTE of actual playing time remains in each regulation or overtime period.
In the event of any dispute regarding time, the matter will be referred to the Referee and their decision will be final.