Butt-ending is where a player uses or attempts to use the shaft of their stick, above the upper hand, to check or jab an opponent. This rule applies whether or not contact is made.
A double Minor penalty will be assessed to any player who attempts to butt-end an opponent or butt-ends an opponent with a minimal degree of violence.
No Major penalty may be assessed for butt-ending.
A Match penalty, at the discretion of the referee, based on the degree of violence of impact, may be assessed to any player who butt-ends or deliberately attempts to butt-end an opponent with force. A Match penalty will be assessed to any player who injures an opponent by a butt-ending infraction that would otherwise call for a double Minor penalty.
No Misconduct penalty may be assessed for butt-ending.
No Game Misconduct penalty may be assessed for butt-ending.
If a player uses the butt-end of their stick to hook or hold an opponent, this must be penalized under Rule 8.2 – Hooking. “Butt-end hooking” is a type of hooking and is not a stick infraction; it would not count towards a player’s three stick infractions for the purpose of a Game Ejection penalty under Rule 4.8 (a) – Game Ejection & Game Misconduct Penalties. In order for a butt-ending penalty to be assessed, a jabbing motion must occur.
Cross-checking is when a player uses the shaft of the stick, between their two hands, to check an opponent.
A Minor penalty will be assessed to any player who cross-checks an opponent.
A Major penalty and Game Misconduct penalty, at the discretion of the referee, based on the degree of violence of impact, may be assessed to any player who cross-checks an opponent.
A Major penalty and Game Misconduct penalty will be assessed to any player who injures an opponent by a cross-checking infraction that would otherwise call for a Minor penalty.
A Match penalty will be assessed to any player who attempts to injure or deliberately injures an opponent by cross-checking.
No Misconduct penalty may be assessed for a cross-checking infraction.
A Game Misconduct penalty must be assessed any time a Major penalty is assessed for cross-checking, as detailed under Rule 9.2 (b).
In applying this rule, the Referee should consider whether the player is “pushing” or “striking” an opponent with the shaft of their stick. If a pushing motion is used, a penalty may not be necessary. However, a striking motion must be penalized.
A Major penalty and Game Misconduct penalty for Head Contact must be assessed to any player who strikes an opponent with a cross-check above the normal height of the shoulders. Please refer to Rule 7.6 – Head Contact for details.
Slashing is the action of hitting an opponent with a stick while holding the stick with one or both hands. Tapping the stick of the puck-carrier is not considered slashing if it is for the sole purpose of gaining possession of the puck.
A Slashing penalty will be assessed to any player who swings their stick at an opponent (whether out of range or not) without actually striking them, or who, on the pretext of playing the puck, makes a wild swing at the puck with the object of intimidating their opponent.
A Minor penalty will be assessed to any player who slashes or attempts to slash an opponent.
At the discretion of the Referee, based on the degree of violence of the impact, a Major penalty and a Game Misconduct penalty will be assessed to any player who slashes an opponent.
A Major penalty and a Game Misconduct penalty will be assessed to any player who injures an opponent with a slashing infraction that would otherwise call for a Minor penalty.
A Match penalty will be assessed to any player who deliberately attempts to injure or deliberately injures an opponent with a slash.
No Misconduct penalty may be assessed for a slashing infraction.
A Game Misconduct penalty must be assessed any time a Major penalty is assessed for a Slashing infraction, as detailed under 9.3 (b).
Spearing is the action of poking or jabbing, or attempting to poke or jab, an opponent with the toe of the blade of the stick.
A double Minor penalty will be assessed to any player who attempts to jab an opposing player with the toe of the blade of the stick or who pokes or jabs an opposing player with a minimal degree of violence.
No Major penalty may be assessed for a spearing infraction.
A Match penalty will be assessed to any player or team official who deliberately spears or deliberately attempts to spear an opponent by jabbing them forcefully with the toe of the blade of the stick.
A Match penalty will be assessed to any player who injures an opponent by a spearing infraction that would otherwise call for a double Minor penalty.
No Misconduct penalty may be assessed for a spearing infraction.
No Game Misconduct penalty may be assessed for a spearing infraction.
In addition to degree of violence, the severity of the spearing action and/or the area of the body where the spear is directed should serve as a guide to the type of penalty to assess (Match or double Minor). If the spearing action is directed at the groin, stomach, chest or head of an opposing player, a Match penalty would be warranted. If the spearing action is directed at the leg or ankle area, or if the spear does not make contact, then a double Minor penalty may be assessed.
Notwithstanding the above, if the spearing action is violent or vicious, a Match penalty will be assessed, regardless of the area of the body where the spear is directed. If the player speared is injured as a result of that infraction, regardless of the area of the body involved, a Match penalty must be assessed to the player guilty of the spearing infraction.
High-sticking is when any player carries their stick above the normal height of the shoulders. A high-sticking penalty may be assessed regardless of whether or not contact occurs.
In Junior and Senior divisions, a Minor penalty will be assessed to any player who contacts an opponent above the normal height of the shoulder with their stick.
At the discretion of the referee, a double Minor penalty may be assessed for an accidental high-stick, with a minimal degree of violence, that causes injury.
No Major penalty may be assessed for high-sticking. Any high-sticking infraction that warrants a Major penalty, whether for degree of violence or injury, should be penalized under Rule 7.7 (b) – Head Contact – Junior/Senior.
No Match penalty may be assessed for high-sticking. Any high-sticking infraction that warrants a Match penalty should be penalized under Rule 7.7 (c) – Head Contact – Junior/Senior.
No Misconduct penalty may be assessed for a high-sticking infraction.
No Game Misconduct penalty may be assessed for a high-sticking infraction.
Players are responsible for their stick at all times.
In Junior and Senior divisions, where a player high-sticks the puck and then, on the follow through, hits an opposing player above the shoulder and no injury has resulted, assess a Minor penalty for High-sticking.
This interpretation would also apply on a follow through of shooting the puck.
In Junior and Senior divisions, where a double Minor is assessed for an injury for an accidental high-stick, Officials must ensure that this penalty is only assessed for minimal or glancing contact. The double Minor penalty must not be substituted for actions which warrant a Major penalty and Game Misconduct penalty.
The following attempted restraining fouls should be considered accidental high- sticks:
When a hooking action, whereby the stick accidentally slides up from the upper body to the head or neck area, causes injury, a double Minor will be assessed.
When an attempted lifting of the opponent’s stick, which results in accidental contact to the head or neck area, causes injury, a double Minor will be assessed.
When a player, while losing their balance and/or falling, accidentally clips an opponent with their stick to the head or neck area, causing injury, a double Minor will be assessed.
The following acts will be considered “negligent” use of the stick and, if injury results, a Major penalty and Game Misconduct for Rule 7.7 – Head Contact – Junior/Senior will be assessed:
When a slashing action glances off the upper body and deflects upwards to make contact with the head or neck area, causing injury, a Major penalty and Game Misconduct penalty will be assessed.
When a cross-checking action glances off the upper body and deflects upwards to make contact with the head or neck area, causing injury, a Major penalty and Game Misconduct penalty will be assessed.
Although restraining fouls with the stick would normally be perceived to be accidental in nature, any aggressive, reckless, negligent or forceful action of the stick (e.g. pitchfork action in lifting the stick or hooking an opponent) that results in contact to the neck or head area, causing injury, will result in a Major penalty and Game Misconduct being assessed.