Regel 87: Time-Outs

Each Team shall be permitted to take one thirty-second (30 s) “time-out” during the course of any game, Regular Season or Playoffs.
All Players including Goalkeepers on the ice at the time of the “time-out” will be allowed to go to their respective benches.
This “time-out” must be taken during a normal stoppage of play. Only one “time-out” ("television commercial break / power break" or Team “time-out”), shall be permitted at any one stoppage of play. For the purpose of this rule, a “television commercial break” is deemed an “official time-out” and not charged to either Team.

Any Player designated by the Coach or the Coach will indicate to the Referee that their Team is exercising its option. The “time-out” must be requested by the team before the Referee has completed the players change procedure, before the Referee lowers his hand and points to the respecting face-off location.

The Referee will report the “time-out” to the Game Timekeeper who shall be responsible for signaling the termination of the “time-out”.

No “time-out” shall be granted following a “face-off” violation.

No “time-out” shall be granted to the defensive Team following an icing, following the Goalkeeper causing a stoppage of play from a shoot-in from beyond the center red line, or when a defending Player accidentally dislodges the net causing a stoppage of play.

No “time-out” shall be granted when a “Penalty Shot” has been awarded to either Team by the Referee, once instructions have been given to the Player taking the shot and the Goalkeeper defending the shot. No “time-out” will be granted during the shootout.

No warm-up involving pucks on the ice shall be permitted for a Goalkeeper or replacement Goalkeeper during a “time-out”. If, after one warning, this continues, the Referee shall assess a “Delay of Game” penalty to the offending Team.

During each regular period of the games shall be one (1) commercial break, with a duration of ninety (90) seconds but can be subject to change for specific events.

Commercial breaks shall be taken at the first stoppage of play after the game clock as it counts down to 12:00 (min.).

Commercial breaks shall not be taken if:

1. A goal is scored;
2. A penalty shot is called;
3. A fight breaks out on ice;
4. An icing infraction is called;
5. The net is dislodged accidentally by a defending player (incl. goalkeeper); and
6. The puck is shot into the end zone from beyond the center red line and the goalkeeper freezes the puck resulting in a stoppage of play.

Exceptions from point (iv)-(vi) above is when a penalty or penalties are assessed in the stoppage that affects the on-ice strength of either team. In the event that a commercial break is not taken the missed commercial break shall be made up at the next stoppage of play.

No commercial breaks shall be taken in the final sixty (60) seconds of the first and second periods, as well as during the final two (2) minutes of the third period. No commercial breaks shall be granted during overtime.

The Teams shall comply with the following provisions during commercial breaks:

1. Goalkeepers will be allowed to go to their respective players’ bench.
2. Teams are allowed to change lines once the referee blows the whistle signaling the teams to return to the face-off with 20 seconds remaining in the commercial stoppage.
3. These line changes will follow the same protocol as a normal line change during a stoppage of play.

Immediately after a goal, there is a 30-second 'goal break'. This break is for the broadcaster to show replays of the goal.