Rule 609. Delaying the Game

1. A minor penalty shall be imposed on any player or goalkeeper who delays the game by deliberately shooting or batting the puck with his stick outside the playing area.

   (Note) This penalty shall apply also when a player or goalkeeper deliberately bats or shoots the puck with his stick outside the playing area after a stoppage of play.

2. A minor penalty shall be imposed on a goalkeeper who shoots the puck directly (nondeflected) outside of the playing area, except that no penalty shall apply if the puck inadvertently leaves the playing area in a location that is not protected by glass or screen.

3. A minor penalty shall be imposed on any player (including a goalkeeper) who delays the game by deliberately displacing a goal post from its normal position. The Referee or Linesmen shall stop play immediately when a goal post has been displaced.

   If the defending team has deliberately displaced the goal post, thereby depriving the attacking team of an immediate and reasonable scoring opportunity, or if, during the course of a break-away, the goalkeeper (all classifications) or player (excluding Juniors and Adults) deliberately removes his helmet/face mask, a penalty shot/optional minor penalty shall be awarded to the non-offending team, which shot shall be taken by the player last in possession of the puck.

   If a player of the defending team deliberately displaces the goal, and, in the opinion of the Referee, the puck would have entered the goal had it not been displaced, or if the defending team deliberately displaces the goal when the goalkeeper is off the ice, thereby preventing an obvious and imminen goal, a goal shall be awarded in lieu of a penalty shot.

   (Note) A player with a ``break-away'' is defined as a player in control of the puck with no opposition between the player and the opposing goal and with a reasonable scoring opportunity.

   If a minor penalty for deliberately displacing a goal post, or for the goalkeeper (all classifications) or player (excluding Juniors and Adults) deliberately removing his helmet/facemask during play, is assessed with less than two minutes remaining in regulation time, or at any time during overtime, a penalty shot/optional minor shall be assessed against the offending team in lieu of the minor penalty.

4. A bench minor penalty shall be imposed upon any team which, after warning by the Referee to its Captain to place the correct number of players on the ice and commence play, fails to comply with the Referee's direction and thereby causes any delay by making additional substitutions, by persisting in having its players off-side, or in any other manner.

5. A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player or goalkeeper who deliberately holds the puck against the boards, goal or ice with his stick, skate, foot or any other part of his body for the purpose of delaying the game (see Rule 612(b), Falling on the Puck).

6. A minor penalty shall be imposed on a goalkeeper who has an opportunity to play the puck with his stick prior to being pressured by an attacking player, but instead intentionally causes a stoppage of play.

7. A minor penalty for delaying the game shall be assessed a player who, after a warning by the Referee, fails to maintain a proper position during the conducting of a face-off.