Publisher’s Note: The National Federation of State High School Associations is the only source of official high school interpretations. They do not set aside nor modify any rule. They are made and published by the NFHS in response to situations presented.

Dr. Karissa L. Niehoff, Publisher, NFHS Publications © 2019

NOTES: New “NFHS Official Ice Hockey Signals” are on pages 84-87.

SITUATION 1: A player is assessed multiple penalties at the same stoppage of play, but only one minor penalty will affect the team’s on-ice player count. If the opponent scores and that minor penalty terminates, when does the next penalty begin? RULING: Immediately. It makes no difference if that next penalty is a coincident minor, coincident major or a misconduct penalty. (4-2-2)

SITUATION 2: A goalkeeper is outside his/her privileged area and an opposing skater impedes the goalkeeper’s progress, interfering with the goalkeeper’s ability to return to the goal/ privileged area. RULING: Referee’s judgment whether or not interference needs to be called. (7-9)

SITUATION 3: Play is stopped when a Team A player is assessed a minor penalty for hooking. Before play resumes, a Team B player is assessed a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. What is the resulting on-ice player count for each team and where is the faceoff location? RULING: Even though the penalties were not simultaneously assessed, they occurred during the same stoppage of play. As a result, they are treated as coincident minors. On-ice player count does not change. This also results in a last-play faceoff location, even though the stoppage of play was caused by the Team A penalty. (9-1-9)

SITUATION 4: An attacking player is pushed into the attacking zone by an opposing player prior to the puck entering the zone. RULING: Offsides. (9- 6-2)

SITUATION 5: An attacking player legally enters the attacking zone, then turns over the puck. The defending player who has just taken control of the puck passes it to his teammate, who then skates the puck back into the defensive zone while the attacker remains in the attacking zone. RULING: Onside. (9-6-2)