Rule 636. Throwing Stick

1. When any player or Team Official of the defending team deliberately throws or shoots a stick or any part thereof or any other object at the puck in his Defending Zone, the Referee shall allow the play to be completed and if a goal is not scored, a penalty shot/optional minor shall be taken by the player designated by the Referee as the player fouled.

   If, however, the goal being unattended and the attacking player having no defending player to pass and having a chance to score on an ``open goal'', a stick or part thereof or any other object is thrown or shot by any member of the defending team in or into its Defending Zone, thereby preventing an obvious and imminent goal, a goal shall be awarded to the attacking team.

   (Note 1) If the Officials are unable to determine the person against whom the offense was made, the non-offending team, through the Captain, shall designate a player on the ice at the time the offense was committed to take the shot.

   (Note 2) For the purpose of this rule, an open goal is defined as one from which a goalkeeper has been removed for an additional attacking player.

2. A minor penalty shall be imposed on any player on the ice who throws his stick or any part thereof or any other object in the direction of the puck in any zone, except when such act has been penalized by a penalty shot or the awarding of a goal.

   (Note) When a player discards the broken portion of a stick by tossing it to the side of the rink (and not over the boards) in such a way as will not interfere with play or an opposing player, no penalty shall be imposed for so doing.

3. A misconduct penalty shall be imposed on any player or goalkeeper who throws a stick or any part thereof outside the playing area.

   If the offense is committed in protest of an Official's decision, a game misconduct penalty shall be assessed the offending player.

   A game misconduct penalty shall be imposed on any player or goalkeeper who deliberately throws a stick or any part thereof outside the playing area at or in the direction of any spectators.