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Rule of the Week

One short, cited card for each rule code, every week. Each card gives the rule number, a plain-English explanation and, where it applies, what happens on the ice, on the clock and on the scoresheet.

Rule cycle USA Hockey 2025-29 · NFHS 2026-27 · NCAA 2026-28 · ACHA 2026-27 Last verified

Week of October 26, 2026 · season week 4

USA Hockey 2025-29

The goalkeeper never serves time in the penalty box

Rule numbers: USAH 407(a) USAH 407(b) USAH 407(c)

A goalkeeper's penalties are charged to the goalkeeper but served by a teammate. For a minor or misconduct, and for any other time penalty, a teammate who was on the ice at the moment of the foul serves it. The coach designates that player through the captain, and the choice cannot be changed. If the goalkeeper gets a game misconduct or match penalty, the goalkeeper also leaves the game and is replaced by a substitute goalkeeper, a temporary goalkeeper or an extra skater. Every minute is charged in the records against the goalkeeper, no matter who sat in the box. Separately, Rule 407(c) gives a goalkeeper a minor for deliberately taking part in the play beyond the center red line.

All penalties assessed to a goalkeeper, regardless of who serves the penalty, or any substitution, shall be charged in the records against the goalkeeper.

USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey, Rule 407(b) (Note), p. 92 (PDF p. 126)
On the ice
A teammate from the ice at the moment of the foul goes to the box; the goalkeeper stays in net unless ejected.
Clock
The penalty time is posted under the serving player's number.
Scoresheet
The penalty is charged to the goalkeeper, with the server noted.

Example

The Team B goalkeeper slashes a Team A forward at the crease and is given a minor. The coach, through the captain, sends a forward who was on the ice to the box. The scoresheet charges the slashing minor to the goalkeeper.

Common mistake: Letting a player who was on the bench serve the goalkeeper's penalty, or charging the penalty minutes to the player who served them.

Sources

Verified

NFHS 2026-27

Goalkeeper penalties: who sits for what

Rule numbers: NFHS 4-8-1 NFHS 4-8-2 NFHS 4-3-2 NFHS 4-4-3

Who sits for a goalkeeper depends on the penalty. For a minor, the goalkeeper stays in net and the captain picks a teammate who was on the ice at the moment of the foul to serve it. For a major or a misconduct, NFHS sends the goalkeeper to the box personally and a backup goes in. With a major, the team also sends a second player to the box alongside the goalkeeper; that player is the one who steps back on when the five minutes run out. The penalized goalkeeper must wait until the backup has come off before returning to the ice. NCAA 28.2 now works the other way, with a skater serving a goalkeeper's major or misconduct.

On the ice
Minor: a skater sits and the goalkeeper stays in net. Major or misconduct: the goalkeeper sits and a substitute goalkeeper plays.
Clock
Goalkeeper major: 5:00, with an extra skater in the box to return when it expires.
Scoresheet
The penalty is charged to the goalkeeper in every case.

Example

An NFHS goalkeeper is assessed a major. He heads to the box with one teammate, the backup goalkeeper takes the net, and the teammate rejoins play once the five minutes are up.

Common mistake: Bringing the newer NCAA procedure into a high-school game and having a skater serve the goalkeeper's major or misconduct.

Sources

  • 2024-25 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book, Rule 4-3-2, 4-4-3, p. 23
  • 2024-25 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book, Rule 4-8-1, 4-8-2, p. 26

Verified

NCAA 2026-28

Hand passes in your own defending zone no longer stop play

Rule numbers: NCAA 84.1 NCAA 84.2

A player may knock the puck down or bat it with an open hand, or move it along the ice with a hand. Play stops only if the officials judge that the player directed the puck to a teammate, or let the team gain an advantage, and the offending team then gets possession and control. A puck that just deflects off a hand with no advantage gained is not a violation. New in the 2026-28 book, a hand pass between teammates inside their own defending zone no longer brings a whistle. The zone is decided by where the puck is when the passer and the receiver each touch it, not by where the players' skates are.

Play will not be stopped for any hand pass by players in their own defending zone.

NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28), Rule 84.2, p. 101 (PDF p. 104)
On the ice
Both touches in the passing team's defending zone: play on.

Example

Under pressure behind his net, a Team B defenseman bats the puck to his partner, who picks it up in the corner. Both touches are in Team B's defending zone, so play continues.

Common mistake: Blowing the whistle out of habit on a defending-zone hand pass, or judging the zone by the players' skates instead of the puck.

Sources

Verified

ACHA 2026-27

Overtime strength when regulation ends on a power play

Rule numbers: ACHA 2026-28 Overtime and Shootout Requirements, OT Notes 1-3

The ACHA overtime document explains how to get to 3-on-3 when penalties carry over from regulation. A game that ends regulation 5-on-4 starts overtime 4-on-3, and once the teams are back to even (4-on-4) they drop to 3-on-3 at the following stoppage. A game that ends 5-on-3 starts overtime 5-on-3, and when strength recovers to 5-on-4 or 5-on-5 it is reset at the next stoppage to whichever of 4-on-3 or 3-on-3 fits the numbers. A game that ends 4-on-4 starts overtime 3-on-3. Because a team can never go below three skaters, players may have to be added, with the numbers corrected at the next stoppage.

At no time will a team have less than three players on the ice.

ACHA: 2026-28 Regular Season Overtime and Shootout Requirements (updated 8/27/2026), OT Note, p. 2
On the ice
Set the starting overtime strength from the penalty clocks at the end of regulation.
Clock
Carry over the unexpired penalty time; adjust the strength at the first stoppage after it expires.

Example

Regulation ends with Team A on a 5-on-4 power play. Overtime starts 4-on-3. When the penalty expires and the teams are 4-on-4, they switch to 3-on-3 when play next stops.

Common mistake: Starting overtime 3-on-3 regardless of the penalty clock, or dropping a team below three skaters.

Sources

Verified

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