Rule 301 Sticks

(a) The sticks shall be made of wood or other material approved by the Rules Committee, and must not have any projections. Adhesive tape of any color may be wrapped around the stick at any place for the purpose of reinforcement or to improve control of the puck. The end of a hollow stick must be covered.

(b) No stick shall exceed sixty-three inches in length from the heel to the end of the shaft nor more than twelve and one-half inches from the heel to the end of the blade.

The blade of the stick shall not be more than three inches in width at any point nor less than two inches.

All edges of the blade shall be beveled.

The curvature of the blade of the stick shall be restricted in such a way that the distance of a perpendicular line measured from a straight line drawn from the base of the heel to the base of the toe to the point of maximum curvature shall not exceed one-half inch.

(c) The blade of the goalkeeper's stick shall not exceed three and one-half inches in width at any point except at the heel where it must not exceed four and one-half inches in width; nor shall the goalkeeper's stick exceed fifteen and one-half inches in length from the heel to the end of the blade.

The widened portion of the goalkeeper's stick extending up the shaft from the blade shall not extend more than twenty-six inches from the heel and shall not exceed three and one-half inches in width.

(d) A minor penalty shall be imposed on any player or goalkeeper who uses a stick not conforming to the provisions of this rule.

(Note 1) When a formal complaint is made by the Captain of a team against the dimensions of any stick, the Referee shall make the necessary measurement immediately.

If the complaint is not sustained, a bench minor penalty shall be imposed on the team requesting the measurement.

(Note 2) A player who participates in the play while carrying a stick to his goalkeeper shall incur a minor penalty under this rule.

(Note 3) If a goal is scored with an illegal stick, the proper penalty shad be assessed and the goal shall be allowed.

(e) A minor plus a misconduct penalty shall be imposed on any player who refuses to surrender his stick for measurement when requested to do so by the Referee.

(f) A minor penalty shall be assessed a player or goalkeeper who participates in the play while he is in possession of more than one stick, except that no penalty shall be assessed a player who is accidentally struck by the puck while he is carrying a replacement stick to a teammate.

Rule 302 Skates

(a) All players and On-Ice officials must wear hockey skates of a design approved by the Rules Committee. All skates worn by players (but not goalkeepers) and by the On-Ice Officials shall be equipped with approved safety heel tips, if so designed.

When the Referee becomes aware that any player is wearing skates on which the protective heel tip is missing or broken, if so designed, he shall order that player off the ice immediately and such player shall not be permitted to participate further in the game until the heel tip has been replaced.

It is recommended that all players (except goalkeepers) and On-Ice Officials wear skates with blades that have been approved by HECC.

(b) The use of speed skates or fancy skates or any skate so designed that it may cause injury is prohibited.

Rule 303 Goalkeeper's Equipment

(a) With the exception of skates and stick, all the equipment worn by the goalkeeper must be constructed solely for the purpose of protecting the head or body, and he must not wear any garment or use any contrivance which would give him undue assistance in keeping goal.

(Note) Cages on gloves and abdominal aprons extending down the front of the thighs on the outside of the pants are prohibited. "Cage" shall mean any lacing or webbing or other material in the goalkeeper's glove joining the thumb and index finger which is in excess of the minimum necessary to fill the gap when the goalkeeper's thumb and forefinger in the glove are fully extended and spread and includes any pocket or pouch effect produced by excess lacing or webbing or other material between the thumb and forefinger when fully extended or spread.

Protective padding attached to the back or forming part of goalkeeper's blocker glove shall not exceed nine inches in width nor more than seventeen inches in length at any point. The cuff of the goalkeeper's catching glove shall not exceed nine inches in width. The maximum length of the catching glove shall not exceed seventeen inches, Any bar or attachment (cheater bar) between the cuff and the thumb shall only extend from the cuff to the thumb in a straight line. Any other pocket, pouch or contrivance added to the glove by a manufacturer or otherwise is not acceptable and makes the glove illegal.

(b) The leg guards worn by goalkeepers shall not exceed twelve inches in extreme width when the leg of the player.

(c) It is compulsory for all goalkeepers to wear helmets and full face masks. Throat/neck protectors are recommended. No form fitted face masks shall be permitted, with the following exceptions:

(1) At the Junior and Girls/Women age classifications, USA Hockey strongly recommends that all goalkeepers wear HECC approved face masks. However, any such goalkeeper, having reached the age of majority and having signed the proper waiver, shall be permitted to wear a full mask of his/her choice or a form fitted face mask with a frontal wire insert, providing such mask includes a back skull plate in lieu of a HECC approved helmet. The signed waiver must be made available to Game Officials prior to each game, upon request.

(2) Any goalkeeper in the Senior age classifications Male and female}, who has reached the age of majority and who has signed the proper waiver may wear any form fitted face mask. Such mask shall include a back skull plate in lieu of a HECC approved helmet.

(d) A minor penalty shall be imposed on any goalkeeper using illegal equipment in a game. If the decision as to the legality involves making any measurements or other examination which would cause any delay whatsoever, other than a stick measurement, such measurement or examination shall take place at the end of the first or second period or immediately in the third or overtime period. If such equipment is found to be illegal the penalty shall be announced and served immediately or following such intermission.

Rule 304 Protective Equipment

(Note) Although some protective equipment is not mandatory in all age classifications, USA Hockey strongly recommends that all players and goalkeepers in all age classifications properly wear an internal mouthpiece, a HECC approved helmet and a HECC approved full face mask for all games and practices.

(a) Each participant is personally responsible to wear protective equipment for all games, warm-ups and practices. Such equipment should include shin pads, shoulder pads, elbow pads, hip pads or padded hockey pants, protective cup, tendon pads plus all head protective equipment as required by USA Hockey rules. It is recommended that all protective equipment be designed specifically for ice hockey.

All protective equipment, except gloves, padded hockey pants, helmet/face mask and goalkeeper's leg guards, must be worn under the uniform for violation of this rule after a warning by the Referee a minor penalty shall be imposed.

(Note) Players, including goalkeepers, violating this rule shall not be permitted to participate in the game until such equipment has been corrected or removed

A player, excluding the goalkeeper, whose helmet/face mask has come off his head during play may not resume play until his helmet/face mask has been properly replaced. A player not conforming to this rule shall be assessed a minor penalty.

If the goalkeeper's helmet/face mask comes off during play, the Referee shall stop play immediately. A minor penalty shall be assessed a goalkeeper who deliberately removes his helmet/face mask during play.

(b) It is compulsory for all players in all classifications to wear a hockey helmet, with helmet strap properly fastened. (See Rule 304(d) Note 2.) It is mandatory that all players wear a HECC approved helmet with the following exceptions:

(1) Players in the Junior or Girls/Women Midget age classifications, having reached the age of majority, and who sign the proper waiver may wear a non-HECC approved helmet.

(2) Players in the Senior age classification must wear a hockey helmet (HECC approved or not) with helmet strap properly fastened.

All players on the players' and the penalty bench must wear the protective helmet/face mask while in the bench area. For a violation of this rule, after a warning by the Referee, a misconduct penalty shall be assessed to the offending player. It is required that all On-Ice Officials wear a black hockey helmet with the helmet strap fastened. It is strongly recommended that all On-Ice Officials wear a half shield visor properly attached to their helmet.

(c) All players, including goalkeepers, in the Pee Wee through Junior and in the Girls/Women Squirt

through Midget age classifications are required to wear a colored (non-clear) internal mouthpiece, which covers all the remaining teeth of one jaw, customarily the upper.

For a violation of this rule a misconduct penalty shall be imposed. A game misconduct penalty (game ejection for Juniors) penalty shall be assessed for a subsequent violation by the same player or goalkeeper in the same game.

For all classification below juniors, it is required that the mouthpiece be attached to the face mask or helmet.

It is recommended, in all classifications, that the mouthpiece be form fitted by a Dentist.

For Juniors only-A player or goalkeeper, having reached the age of majority, and who signs the proper waiver, shall be permitted to play with any mouthpiece or no mouthpiece at all. If the Captain of a team requests that a mouthpiece be checked on a player of the opposing team and the challenge is not sustained, a bench minor penalty for delay of game shall be imposed on the team requesting such check.

(d) All players, including goalkeepers, in Junior and below and Girls/Women Midget and below age classifications, are required to wear a face mask certified by HECC, plus any chin protection that accompanies the face mask, except as permitted in Note 1 of this rule.

{Note 1) All players who are playing in the Junior and Girls/Women Midget age classification, having reached the age of majority, shall be permitted to wear a HECC approved half face mask shield. For Juniors only, all players who have reached the age of majority and who have signed the proper waiver shall be permitted to wear a face mask of their choice, or no face mask at all. Such signed waiver must be made available to Game Officials prior to each game, upon request.

(Note 2) Any helmet or face mask that is altered except as permitted in Rule 304(d) Note 1 shall be deemed to be illegal equipment and shall not be allowed to be used in a game. (This shall include helmets from which a part has been cut or removed, face masks from which the chin-cup has been removed or any other such alterations from the original manufacturing specifications.)

(e) All players must wear the required protective equipment in the manner for which it is designed. For violation of this rule a misconduct penalty shall be imposed.

Rule 305 Dangerous Equipment

(a) The use of pads or protectors made of metal, or of any other material likely to cause injury to a player, is Prohibited.

The wearing of cast or splints made of hard or unyelding materials is prohibited, or even if padded, unless directed in writing by a licensed medical physician. Such cast or splints must be covered on all exterior surfaces with no less than 1/2" thick, high density, closed cell polyurethane or an alternate material of the same minimum thickness and similar physical properties to protect an injury.

(b) A glove from which all or part of the palm has been removed or cut to permit the use of the bare hand shall be considered illegal equipment. A minor penalty shall be imposed on any player wearing such a glove in play.

Rule 306 Puck

(a) The puck shall be made of vulcanized rubber, or other approved material, one inch thick and three inches in diameter and shall weigh between five and one-half ounces and six ounces. For the 8 or under (Mite) and below age classification, it is recommended that the puck weigh between four ounces and four and one-half ounces and be blue in color.

Rule 307 Equipment Measurement

(a) A request for measurement of any equipment covered by this section shall be limited to one request by each team during the course of any stoppage of play.

(b) The Referee may, at his own discretion, measure any equipment used for the first time in the game.

(c) The Referee shall assess a bench minor penalty against a team that requests any measurement (excluding mouthpiece) if the measurement verifies that the equipment is legal.