Regel 8: Injured Players

When a Player is injured or compelled to leave the ice during a Game, they may retire from the Game and be replaced by a substitute, but play must continue without the Teams leaving the ice.

During the play, if an injured Player wishes to retire from the ice and be replaced by a substitute, they must do so at the Players’ Bench and not through any other exit leading from the Rink. This is not a legal Player change and therefore when a violation occurs, a Bench-minor Penalty shall be imposed.

If a penalized Player has been injured, they may proceed to the Dressing Room without taking a seat in the Penalty Box. The penalized Team shall immediately put a substitute Player in the Penalty Box, who shall serve the penalty until the injured Player is able to return to the game. They would replace their Teammate in the Penalty Box at the next stoppage of play. For violation of this rule, a Bench Minor Penalty shall be imposed.

Should the injured penalized Player who has been replaced in the Penalty Box return to their Players’ Bench prior to the expiration of their penalty, they shall not be eligible to play until their penalty has expired. This includes coincidental penalties when their substitute is still in the Penalty Box awaiting a stoppage in play.

The injured Player must wait until their substitute has been released from the Penalty Box before they are eligible to play. If, however, there is a stoppage of play prior to the expiration of their penalty, they must then replace their Teammate in the Penalty Box and is then eligible to return once their penalty has expired.

When a Player is injured so that they cannot continue play or go to their Players’ Bench, the play shall not be stopped until the injured Player’s Team has secured control of the puck. If the Player’s Team is in “control of the puck” at the time of injury, play shall be stopped immediately unless their Team is in a scoring position.

In the case where it is obvious that a Player has sustained a serious injury, the Referee and/or Linesperson may stop the play immediately. Where an injury has occurred to a Player and there is a stoppage of play, a Team Doctor (or other Medical Personnel) may go onto the ice to attend to the injured Player without waiting for the Referee’s consent.

When play has been stopped by the Referee or Linesperson due to an injured Player, or whenever an injured Player is attended to on the ice by the Coach or Medical Personnel, such Player must be substituted for immediately. This injured Player cannot return to the ice until play has resumed.

When play is stopped for an injured Player, the ensuing “face-off” shall be conducted at the Face-off Spot in the zone nearest the location of the puck when the play was stopped.
When the injured Player’s Team has control of the puck in the Attacking Zone, the “face-off” shall be conducted at the nearest Face-off Spot in the Neutral Zone.

When the injured Player is in their Defending Zone and the attacking Team is in “possession of the puck” in the Attacking Zone, the “face-off” shall be conducted at the nearest Face-off Spot in the defending Team’s zone.
A player who lies on the ice either feigning an injury or refusing to get up off the ice will be issued a Minor Penalty.

If a Goalkeeper sustains an injury or becomes ill, they must be ready to resume play immediately or be replaced by a substitute Goalkeeper and no additional time shall be allowed for the purpose of enabling the injured or ill Goalkeeper to resume their position. No warm-up shall be permitted for a substitute Goalkeeper in all games.

The substitute Goalkeeper shall be subject to the regular rules governing Goalkeepers and shall be entitled to the same privileges.

When a substitution for the injured Goalkeeper has been made, the injured Goalkeeper is not allowed to resume the position until the next stoppage of play. For a violation of the rule, a Minor Penalty for “Delay of Game” shall be assessed.

When play has been stopped by the Referee or Linesperson due to an injured Goalkeeper, such Goalkeeper must be substituted for only if they have to proceed to the Players’ Bench to receive medical attention.

Where an injury has occurred to a Goalkeeper and there is a stoppage of play, a Team Doctor (or other Medical Personnel) may go onto the ice to attend to the injured Player without waiting for the Referee’s consent.

If the Doctor or Medical Personnel has come onto the ice to attend to the Goalkeeper and there is no undue delay, the Goalkeeper may remain in the game. However, no additional time shall be permitted by the Referee for the purpose of enabling the injured Goalkeeper to resume their position (i.e., no warm-up).

A Player who is bleeding or who has visible blood on their equipment or body shall be ruled off the ice at the next stoppage of play.
Such Player shall not be permitted to return to play until the bleeding has been stopped and the cut or abrasion has been covered (if necessary). It is required that any affected equipment and/or uniform be properly disinfected or exchanged.