How is head contact penalized in minor, female, junior and senior hockey?

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