What does the Official Scorer do before the game starts?

Under Rule 5.6 (a) and (b) of the Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2026-2028, before the game the Official Scorer:

• obtains from the manager or coach of each team their complete line-up, verified and signed by the team official in charge;
• notes the captain and alternate captains of each team on the Official Game Report;
• asks that all affiliated players dressed for the game are marked "AP" after their name on the Official Game Report, in the same way as captains. These are players not signed to a regular card of the club they are playing with;
• submits the complete line-ups of both teams to the referee in their dressing room before the start of the game, and draws attention to any case they feel does not comply with the rules.

The referee checks before the game that the Game Timekeeper, Penalty Timekeeper, Official Scorer and goal judges are in position (Rule 5.2 (f)).