Can I run the bench if the head coach is absent or ejected?

Question

Accepted Answer

The Hockey Canada national documents do not say that an assistant automatically takes over. What they do say:

Bench requirement: a team's Official Game Report must list at minimum one Coach who meets the Member's certification requirements and one Hockey Canada Safety Person (Rule 2.1 (b), Playing Rules 2026-28). The By-laws define a Team the same way: at least one Coach meeting Member certification requirements.
Who answers for the team: the Playing Rules call the Head Coach responsible for all actions of the team, including a refusal to start play (Rule 10.8).
If an official is ejected: a team official given a Game Misconduct is ordered to the dressing room for the rest of the game and reported to the Member or league (Rule 4.8 (a)).
Referees do not check certification: officials make no decision on certification at the game; irregularities are reported to the Member or league (Rule 2.1 (b), Interpretation 1).

Rules on who may act as the head coach, and any head coach substitution, are not set out in these national documents.