Toronto, ON – The
Ontario Hockey
League announced a
series of rule
changes for the
2015-16 season
effective
immediately
including the
Exhibition Schedule
commencing tonight.
The four rule
changes include
video replay on
offsides, no-change
icing, face-off
procedure, and
3-on-3 overtime. The
no-change icing rule
is adopted from the
Canadian Hockey
League format making
the OHL consistent
with the Western
Hockey League and
Quebec Major Junior
Hockey League. The
3-on-3 overtime
format is also being
implemented across
the entire CHL this
season. All rules
were approved at the
annual OHL Board of
Governor’s meetings
in August.
Details of all four
rule changes are as
follows:
1. VIDEO REPLAY –
OFFSIDE
The following
situation will be
subject to review by
the Video Goal
Judge:
When a goal has been
scored following an
off-side play that
was not called.
Video Goal Judge
Criteria for Review
of Off-Side Goal
· When a goal has
been scored, and the
video goal judge can
conclusively
determine that the
play entering the
attacking zone was
off-side, the goal
shall be disallowed.
· The video goal
judge must confirm
that the puck
remained in the
attacking zone
following the
off-side until the
goal was scored and
that there was
continuous play
throughout (no
stoppage).
· There is no limit
to the amount of
time that can elapse
following the
off-side before the
goal and should the
defending team play
the puck at any
time, it will have
no bearing on the
play.
· Any penalties
assessed will be
served, and the
elapsed time from
the off-side will be
placed back on the
clock prior to
resumption of play.
· If the video goal
judge determines
that the off-side
was inconclusive,
the referee’s on-ice
decision will stand.
2. NO CHANGE ICING
RULE
When the offending
team ices the puck
from their defensive
zone, they are not
allowed to change
the players “on the
ice”. Determination
of players “on the
ice” will be made
when the puck leaves
the offending
player’s stick.
· When a team ices
the puck from its
own defending zone,
it is not permitted
to change a player(s).
· A penalty will be
assessed to a team
that deliberately
attempts to make a
change after they
ice the puck from
their own defending
zone.
· After the puck is
iced from the
defending zone, if a
player(s) from the
team not permitted
to change steps onto
the ice or skates
onto the ice
briefly, a penalty
WILL NOT be assessed
automatically. If
the player(s) return
to their bench
quickly after
stepping or skating
onto the ice, no
penalty will be
assessed. The
player(s) can return
to the bench on his
own, be called off
the ice by a coach
or teammate, or be
instructed by any of
the on-ice officials
to return to his
bench.
· A penalty will be
assessed when a
player does not
attempt to
immediately return
to the bench after
the whistle has been
blown for icing from
the defending zone.
Should the referee
feel that a coach is
not giving his best
effort to keep
players from going
on the ice after an
icing from the
defending zone, he
may assess a bench
minor penalty for
delay of game to the
offending team.
3. FACE - OFF
PROCEDURE
When the face-off
takes place at any
of the nine face-off
spots, the players
taking part shall
take their position
so that they will
stand squarely
facing their
opponent’s end of
the rink, and clear
of the ice markings
(where applicable).
The sticks of both
players facing-off
shall have the blade
on the ice, within
the designated white
area. At the eight
face-off spots
(excluding center
ice face-off spot),
the defending player
shall place his
stick within the
designated white
area first followed
immediately by the
attacking player.
When the face-off is
conducted at the
center ice face-off
spot, the visiting
players shall place
his stick on the ice
first.
4. OVERTIME 3 ON 3
· The overtime
period shall be
played with each
team at a numerical
strength of three
(3) skaters and one
(1) goalkeeper.
· When regulation
time ends and the
teams are 5 on 3,
teams will start
overtime 5 on 3.
Once player strength
reaches 5 on 4 or 5
on 5, at the next
stoppage of play,
player strength is
adjusted to 4 on 3
or 3 on 3, as
appropriate.
· When regulation
ends and teams are 4
on 4 teams will
start overtime 3 on
3.
· If at the end of
regulation time
teams are 3 on 3,
overtime starts 3 on
3. Once player
strength reaches 4
on 4 or 5 on 5, at
the next stoppage
player strength is
adjusted to 3 on 3
or 4 on 3 as
appropriate.
· At no time will a
team have less than
three players on the
ice. This may
require a fourth
and/or fifth skater
to be added in the
event penalties are
assessed.
· If the score
remains tied at the
conclusion of the
overtime period, the
standard shootout
procedure will take
place to determine a
winner.