Refusing to Play the Puck

72.1REFUSING OR ABSTAINING FROM PLAYING THE PUCK The purpose of this section is to enforce continuous action and both Referees and Linespersons should interpret and apply the rule to produce this result.

72.2HAND PASS When a “hand pass” has been initiated by one Player to a teammate and the teammate elects not to play the puck to avoid the stoppage of play, and the opposing team also abstains from playing the puck (perhaps to allow time to expire on a penalty), the Referee shall stop the play and order the resulting “face-off” at the nearest “face-off” location to where the play was stopped for this violation.

72.3HIGH STICK When a Player contacts the puck with their stick above the “normal height of the shoulders” and a teammate elects not to play the puck to avoid the stoppage of play, and the opposing team also abstains from playing the puck (perhaps to allow time to expire on a penalty), the Referee shall stop the play and order the resulting “face-off” at the face-off spot in the zone to nearest to where the play was stopped for this violation ➔ Rule 76.2→ – Face-off Locations.

72.4ICING If, in the opinion of the Referee, the defending side “intentionally” abstains from pursuing the puck beyond the face-off spots on an icing promptly when they are in a position to do so, they shall stop the play and order the resulting “face-off” on the adjacent corner OTHER INFRACTIONS face-off spot nearest the goal of the team at fault.

72.5PENALTY When the Referee signals the delayed calling of a penalty to one team and a Player of that team intentionally abstains from playing the puck in order to allow additional time to expire on the game or penalty time clocks, the Referee shall stop the play and order the resulting “face-off” at one of the face-off spots in the offending team’s defending zone. ➔ Rule 76.2→ – Face-off Locations.