Referee's Guide to Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2026-27

Signals from the Referee's Signals pages of the Playing Rules:

• Boarding: strike the clenched fist of one hand into the open palm of the other in front of the chest.
• Charging: rotate clenched fists around one another in front of the chest.
• Cross-checking: forward and backward motion of both clenched fists, extending from the chest about one foot.
• Butt-ending: a cross motion of the forearms, one moving under the other.
• Checking from behind: forward motion of both arms, palms open and facing away, fully extended from the chest at shoulder level.
• Clipping/tripping: strike the leg below the knee with either hand in a front-to-back motion, keeping both skates on the ice.
• Slew-footing: the same motion, but back-to-front.
• Hooking: a tugging motion with both arms as if pulling something from in front toward the stomach.
• Holding: clasp either wrist with the other hand in front of the chest.
• Holding the stick: the holding signal followed by a signal that you are holding a stick with two hands in a normal manner.
• High-sticking: both fists clenched, one immediately above the other at forehead height.
• Head contact: pat the flat (open palm) of the non-whistle hand on the side of the head.
• Interference: cross arms stationary in front of the chest.
• Kneeing: slap either knee with the palm, keeping both skates on the ice.
• Roughing: clenched fist with arm extended out to the front or side.
• Slashing: a chopping motion with the edge of one hand across the opposite forearm.
• Spearing: a jabbing motion with both hands thrust out in front of the body, then dropped to the sides.
• Too many players: six fingers (one hand open) in front of the chest.
• Unsportsmanlike conduct/diving: both hands forming a 'T' in front of the chest.
• Misconduct: both hands on hips.
• Match penalty: pat the flat of the hand on top of the head.
• Delayed calling of penalty: extend the non-whistle arm fully above the head.
• Goal scored: a single point at the goal the puck legally entered.
• Wash-out: sweeping sideways motion of both arms across the front of the body at shoulder level, palms down (referee: no goal; linesperson: no icing, and in some situations no off-side).

Source: Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2026-2028, Referee's Signals. https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Officiating/Downloads/2026-28-hc-rulebook-e.pdf

Minor (Rule 4.2): a two-minute time penalty. Any player except a goaltender is ruled off for two minutes of actual playing time and their team plays shorthanded.

• If the opposing team scores while a team is shorthanded from one or more Minor or Bench Minor penalties (or would be shorthanded because of a delayed one), the Minor with the least time remaining terminates. For a double Minor, the first Minor terminates. This does not apply to a goal on a Penalty Shot.
• Coincidental Minors to both teams do not leave either team shorthanded, and a goal never terminates them.
• If the officials forget to place a player in the penalty bench, no action is needed until it is noticed. If that player actually enters the game, they are on the ice illegally and any goals scored while they are on the ice are disallowed (the player is not penalized further, as it was the officials' error).

Bench Minor (Rule 4.3): a two-minute penalty served in the penalty bench by a player of the offending team who was on the ice at the time of the infraction; the team plays a player short for two minutes of actual playing time.

• If the referee can identify the player who committed the infraction (including players in the penalty bench), that player serves it.
• Otherwise the coach, through the captain, designates any player who was on the ice. For Too Many Players the coach may select any player who was on the ice.
• A second Bench Minor at the same stoppage must be served by a second player who was on the ice, so the team resumes play two players short.

Source: Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2026-2028, Rules 4.2 and 4.3. https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Officiating/Downloads/2026-28-hc-rulebook-e.pdf

• Major (Rule 4.4): a five-minute time penalty. Any player, goaltender or team official given a Major is also given a Game Misconduct, goes to the dressing room for the rest of the game and is reported to the Member or league. The coach, through the captain, designates a player who was on the ice to serve it. If a player gets a Minor and a Major at the same stoppage, the Major is served first.
• Misconduct (Rule 4.7): a non-time penalty; the team does not play shorthanded. The player is off the ice for 10 minutes of actual playing time, a substitute is allowed immediately, and the player stays in the penalty bench until the first stoppage after the penalty expires. A player given a Minor and a Misconduct serves the Minor first (a substitute serves it) and the Misconduct starts when the Minor ends. A second Misconduct in the same game automatically becomes a Game Misconduct.
• Game Misconduct (Rule 4.8): non-time; the player or team official is removed from the game and ordered to the dressing room, a substitute is allowed immediately, 10 minutes is recorded on the Official Game Report, and the person is reported to the Member or league.
• Game Ejection (Rule 4.8 (b)): non-time; the player is removed with no time recorded. It applies to a player assessed three Minor penalties for stick infractions (butt-ending, cross-checking, slashing, spearing, high-sticking) in the same game, and, in minor and female divisions, three Minor or double Minor head contact penalties in the same game. It does not trigger an automatic suspension.
• Gross Misconduct (Rule 4.9): non-time; the person is removed, ordered to the dressing room, 10 minutes is recorded and the person is reported to the Member or league.
• Match (Rule 4.10): a five-minute time penalty; the team plays shorthanded, the player or team official goes to the dressing room immediately and cannot take part in further games until the Member or league has dealt with the case. The team sends a player who was on the ice to serve the five minutes.

Automatic suspension (Rules 4.8 (c), 4.9 (b)): a Game Misconduct or Gross Misconduct assessed in the last 10 minutes of regular playing time, at any time in overtime or after the game ends carries a suspension of at least the next regular league or play-off game or seven days.

Source: Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2026-2028, Rules 4.4 and 4.7 to 4.10. https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Officiating/Downloads/2026-28-hc-rulebook-e.pdf

Team in possession (Rule 4.15 (a)): if a player on the team with the puck commits an infraction calling for a Minor, Bench Minor, Major, Match, Misconduct, Game Misconduct or Gross Misconduct, the referee blows the whistle immediately and assesses the penalty.

Team not in possession (Rule 4.15 (b)): the referee signals a delayed penalty by extending an arm straight up, and blows the whistle and stops play immediately when the offending team gains possession and control of the puck.

If the non-offending team scores before the whistle:

• Delayed Minor or Bench Minor: the Minor is not assessed.
• Delayed Major, Match, Misconduct, Game Misconduct or Gross Misconduct: it is assessed in the normal manner regardless of the goal.
• If the offending team is already shorthanded from Minor or Bench Minor penalties (or would be shorthanded because of the delayed penalty), the goal counts and the Minor or Bench Minor with the least time remaining terminates; the signalled penalty is still assessed and served. A delayed Minor is treated as having two minutes remaining for this purpose (Rules 4.2 (b), 4.15 (b) Note 2).
• If a team scores while shorthanded and a delayed penalty is signalled against the opposing team, the delayed penalty is still assessed, because the team scored upon is not shorthanded (Note 3).

Other points:

• If the referee is about to whistle for a penalty and the offending team scores before the whistle reaches the referee's mouth, the goal is not allowed (Rule 4.15 Interpretation 1).
• The referee may stop play immediately for a Match penalty regardless of possession (Rule 4.15 (c)).
• If the referee cannot identify the offender's number, the referee and captain choose a player who was on the ice to serve it (Rule 4.15 (d)).
• Before play resumes, the referee may alter or correct a decision, even if the penalty has been announced or shown on the clock (Rule 4.15 (e)).

Source: Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2026-2028, Rules 4.2 and 4.15. https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Officiating/Downloads/2026-28-hc-rulebook-e.pdf

Linespersons may stop play when (Rule 5.3 (a)):

• an off-side or icing situation arises;
• there is premature entry into the face-off circle;
• the puck goes outside the playing area or is interfered with by an ineligible person;
• the puck has been batted with the hand to a teammate, or struck with a high stick, and it is obvious the referee has not seen it;
• there are too many players on the ice (for a delayed penalty the linesperson stops play when the offending team gains possession and control of the puck, but does NOT raise their arm);
• the goal has been displaced and the referee has not seen it;
• there has been a premature substitution of a goaltender;
• the referee is injured or accidentally leaves the ice;
• a player has obviously sustained a serious injury and the referee has not seen it.

Reporting to the referee at the first stoppage: linespersons identify the offender and give their version of infractions calling for a Minor, Bench Minor or double Minor for Rules 7.1 (a) Attempt to Injure or Deliberate Injury, 7.6 (a) Head Contact (double Minor only), 7.8 (a) Kneeing, 7.11 (a) Instigator and Aggressor, 8.4 (a) Interference from the Bench, 8.8 (a) Slew-Footing, 9.1 (a) Butt-Ending, 9.4 (a) Spearing, 9.5 (a) High Sticking Junior/Senior (double Minor only), 10.1 (a) Delay of Game, 10.4 (a) Leaving the Players' or Penalty Bench, 10.5 (a) Throwing or Shooting Stick or Object, 10.6 (a) Illegal Equipment, 10.7 (a) Too Many Players, and 11.1 (a) Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Rule 5.3 (c)). They do the same for any infraction calling for a Major, Match, Misconduct, Game Misconduct or Gross Misconduct (Rule 5.3 (d)), and give their version of any incident when the referee asks (Rule 5.3 (e)).

A linesperson cannot stop play to assess a Misconduct for verbal abuse; they wait for a stoppage and notify the referee (Rule 11.2 Interpretation 2). Where the rules refer to the linespersons in Rules 5.2 and 5.3, the duties are carried out by both referees (Rule 5.2 (n)).

Source: Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2026-2028, Rule 5.3. https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Officiating/Downloads/2026-28-hc-rulebook-e.pdf

There is no legal contact to the head, face or neck. Players must be penalized for contact with an opponent's head, face or neck regardless of the circumstances, including accidental contact where the main point of contact is the shoulder or chest. Head contact supersedes other rules, except Rule 7.10 (Fighting).

Minor and female hockey (Rule 7.6):

• Minor for accidental head, face or neck contact.
• Double Minor for intentionally contacting the head, face or neck with any part of the body or equipment.
• Major plus Game Misconduct at the referee's discretion based on the degree of violence; it must be assessed if a player is injured on contact that would otherwise be a Minor. A cross-check above the normal height of the shoulders is a Major plus Game Misconduct whether or not injury results.
• Match penalty for hitting a player in the head so they cannot protect themselves, or for attempting to injure or deliberately injuring an opponent by head contact.
• Game Ejection for a player who incurs three Minor or double Minor head contact penalties in the same game (Rule 4.8 (b)). A Game Ejection does not trigger an automatic suspension.
• No Misconduct penalty may be assessed for head contact.

Junior and senior hockey (Rule 7.7):

• Contact with minimal violence may be penalized with a Minor for roughing, charging or another appropriate penalty.
• Minor plus Misconduct for head contact with a moderate degree of violence.
• Major plus Game Misconduct for head contact with a high degree of violence, and for an illegal hit after which the player hits their head on the glass, ice or boards with a resulting head injury.

Source: Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2026-2028, Rules 7.6, 7.7 and 4.8. https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Officiating/Downloads/2026-28-hc-rulebook-e.pdf

Checking from behind is an action where a player is pushed, body-checked, cross-checked or hit from behind. The responsibility is always on the player delivering the check to avoid contact to an opponent's back, and referees are told to strictly enforce the rule, for example where:

• a player about to be checked turns and creates contact with the back;
• a player along the boards with their head down is hit from behind and driven head-first into the boards;
• a player swings the elbow and forearm into an opponent's back to throw them into the boards;
• a player kicks or pulls an opponent's feet out from behind and then pushes them into the boards.

Penalties (Rule 7.5):

• Minor plus Game Misconduct for intentionally pushing, body-checking, cross-checking while in motion, or otherwise hitting an opponent from behind anywhere on the ice.
• Major plus Game Misconduct at the referee's discretion, based on the degree of violence of the impact. If a player is injured by a checking from behind infraction that would otherwise be a Minor, a Major and Game Misconduct must be assessed.
• Match penalty for hitting an opponent from behind into the boards or goal frame in such a way that the player is unable to protect or defend themselves, or for deliberately attempting to injure or injuring an opponent by checking from behind.
• No Misconduct penalty may be assessed for checking from behind.

Source: Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2026-2028, Rule 7.5. https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Officiating/Downloads/2026-28-hc-rulebook-e.pdf

A fight occurs when at least one player punches or attempts to punch an opponent repeatedly, or when two players wrestle in a way that makes it difficult for the linespersons to intervene and separate them. When a fight occurs, all other players must immediately return to their players' benches. Referees have wide latitude under this rule, to be exercised rationally.

• Major plus Game Misconduct to any player who fights an opposing player (Rule 7.10 (b)). A Minor penalty may not be assessed for fighting.
• Minor to a goaltender who leaves the crease during a fight, recorded on the Official Game Report as "Leaving the Crease" (Rule 7.10 (a)). With the referee's permission a goaltender near the crease may go to the bench.
• Match penalty, in addition to others, to a player wearing a ring, tape or other material on the hands who uses it to gain an advantage or inflict punishment or injury in a fight (Rule 7.10 (c)).
• Misconduct to any player who does not immediately return to the bench (or the neutral area the referee designates) and stay there until called back. At least one player must have received a Major and Game Misconduct for fighting for this to apply (Rule 7.10 (d)).
• Game Misconduct to a player who joins in a fight, acts as a peacemaker, or takes part in another or secondary fight during the same stoppage (Rule 7.10 (e)).
• Gross Misconduct to any player, goaltender or team official who fights with a team official, joins a fight involving a team official or intervenes as a peacemaker in one (Rule 7.10 (f)).

If a player makes no attempt to retaliate other than to protect themselves and, in the referee's opinion, does not engage in the fight, only the opponent receives the Major and Game Misconduct, plus an additional Minor as the instigator under Rule 7.11 (a). The protecting player may receive a Minor for roughing or perhaps no penalty at all (Rule 7.10 Interpretation 2).

Source: Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2026-2028, Rule 7.10. https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Officiating/Downloads/2026-28-hc-rulebook-e.pdf

• Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Rule 11.1): disrespectful behaviour that is rude, unpleasant, inappropriate or unprofessional, including protesting or disputing a call. Criticizing or protesting an official's decision is Unsportsmanlike Conduct.
• Abusive Behaviour (Rule 11.2): targeted, persistent or excessively profane conduct meant to intimidate, threaten, belittle or demean, often personal. Comments or actions that attack the official's character or integrity must be penalized as Abusive Behaviour.
• Discrimination (Rule 11.4): taunts, insults or intimidation based on discriminatory grounds (race, national or ethnic origin, skin colour or language; religion, faith or beliefs; age; sex, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression; marital or familial status; genetic characteristics; disability, without limitation). Gross Misconduct.

The two-question test (Rule 11.4 Interpretation 1):

1. Was the comment made in a negative context, with the intent to taunt, insult or intimidate another person?
2. Was the nature of the insult based on discriminatory grounds?

If both answers are yes, a Gross Misconduct under Rule 11.4 must be assessed. If there is any doubt about the nature of a comment, apply the test strictly.

If behaviour under Rule 11.1, 11.2 or 11.3 also involves discrimination, the person must be penalized under Rule 11.4 in addition to any other penalties.

Emotion versus inciting: the rule is not meant to over-penalize emotional responses of players and coaches, but referees must penalize behaviour intended to incite an opponent ('chirping'), and are told to work proactively with head coaches and captains on it (Rule 11.1 Interpretation 5). Celebrating a goal or important play is not restricted (Rule 11.1 Interpretation 1).

Source: Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2026-2028, Section 11. https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Officiating/Downloads/2026-28-hc-rulebook-e.pdf

Players and team officials: players and team officials must treat referees, linespersons and off-ice officials with courtesy at all times, and any infraction is reported to the Member or league, which may discipline under Section 11 (Rule 5.1 (b)). The referee's decision is final on all questions of judgement (Rule 5.1 (c)).

Penalties by type of conduct:

• Disputing a decision in an unsportsmanlike manner (Rule 11.1): Minor or Bench Minor penalty. If it persists, a Misconduct to a player or a Game Misconduct to a player or team official.
• Abusive conduct that attacks the official's character or integrity (Rule 11.2): Bench Minor to a team official or an unidentified player from the bench; Misconduct to a player; Game Misconduct to a player who persists and to any team official who uses abusive conduct to the referee or any person. A Gross Misconduct applies to conduct that makes a travesty of the game.
• Discriminatory taunts, insults or intimidation (Rule 11.4): Gross Misconduct, with a Game Incident Report.
• Spitting at or on a person (Rule 11.3): Match penalty, with a Game Incident Report.

For a Game Misconduct under Rule 11.1 or 11.2, the referee completes a Game Incident Report with full details and submits it to the Member or league delegate.

Parents and other spectators: the Playing Rules assess penalties to players and team officials. For an incident off the ice that no on-ice official or stand-by official saw, the referee reports it to the Member or league if a league official, team official or off-ice official reported it to them. If any other person (for example a fan or media) reported it, no further action is taken (Rule 4.1 Interpretation 2).

Source: Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2026-2028, Rules 5.1, 11.1 to 11.4 and 4.1. https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Officiating/Downloads/2026-28-hc-rulebook-e.pdf

Official Game Report: after each game the referee checks and signs it and returns it to the Official Scorer (Rule 5.2 (i)).

Reports to the Member or league:

• Major and Game Misconduct penalties: the individual is reported to the appropriate Member or league for further action (Rules 4.4 (a), 4.8 (a), 4.9 (a)).
• Match penalties: the referee reports all Match penalties and the surrounding circumstances to the Member or league immediately after the game (Rule 4.10 note).
• Altercations off the ice before the warm-up or after the game: the referee must report them to the Member or league (Rule 4.1 (a)).
• An incident after players and officials enter the dressing rooms that the referee, a linesperson or the stand-by official observes: a report is made to the Member or league (Rule 4.1 Interpretation 1).

Game Incident Report: the referee completes one, with full details, and submits it to the Member or league delegate when:

• a team official fails to prevent disorderly conduct (Section 11 introduction);
• a Game Misconduct is assessed for Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Rule 11.1 (e)) or Abusive Behaviour (Rule 11.2 (e));
• a Match penalty is assessed for spitting (Rule 11.3 (c));
• a Gross Misconduct is assessed for discrimination (Rule 11.4).

Other notes: if there is reasonable ground to believe a player or team official is impaired by alcohol or drugs and a further incident brings penalties needing a written report, note the possible use in the Official Game Report (Rule 11.2 Interpretation 4). A player or team official given a Game Misconduct or Gross Misconduct in the last 10 minutes of regular time, in overtime or after the game is automatically suspended for at least the next regular league or play-off game or seven days (Rules 4.8 (c), 4.9 (b)).

Source: Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2026-2028. https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Officiating/Downloads/2026-28-hc-rulebook-e.pdf

The managers or coaches of the two teams agree on temporary referees and linespersons.

• Temporary officials may be any Hockey Canada certified officials present, including players, team officials or spectators.
• If no certified official is present, each team may appoint one team official or player to act as a temporary official.
• Temporary officials must wear at least skates, a helmet and a facial protector (visor).
• If the regularly appointed officials arrive during the game, they replace the temporary officials immediately.
• If an appointed linesperson cannot start or finish the game, the referee in charge may appoint another in their place if necessary.

Source: Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2026-2028, Rule 5.2 (k) to (m). https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Officiating/Downloads/2026-28-hc-rulebook-e.pdf