Rule 301. Sticks

1. 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 fully covered.

2. No stick shall exceed 63 inches in length from the heel to the end of the shaft nor more than 12 1/2 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 1/2 inch.

3. The blade of the goalkeeper's stick shall not exceed 3 1/2 inches in width at any point except at the heel where it must not exceed 4 1/2 inches in width; nor shall the goalkeeper's stick exceed 15 1/2 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 26 inches from the heel and shall not exceed 3 1/2 inches in width.

   For Juniors only - In the case of a goalkeeper's stick, there shall be a knob of white tape or some other protective material approved by the League. Failure to comply with this provision of the rule will result in the goalkeeper's stick being deemed unfit for play. The goalkeeper's stick must be changed without the application of a minor penalty.

4. 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 shall be assessed and the goal shall be allowed.

5. 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.

6. 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.