USA Hockey Officials Open Book
Exam Prep 2026 | Updated Questions
& Verified Answers | Rulebook-Based
Study Guide | A+ Guaranteed Pass
USA HOCKEY OFFICIALS OPEN BOOK EXAM PREP 2026
Updated Questions & Verified Answers | Rulebook-Based Study Guide | A+
Guaranteed Pass
SECTION 1: RULES & REGULATIONS
1. What is the standard length of an NHL-size hockey rink?
A. 180 feet
B. 185 feet
C. 200 feet
D. 210 feet
E. 220 feet
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 200 feet RATIONALE: USA Hockey rules specify the
standard rink is 200 feet long and 85 feet wide. All officiating decisions are made within
this standard playing surface.
2. How many players, including the goaltender, are allowed on the ice per team at
one time?
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 7
E. 8
, CORRECT ANSWER: C. 6 RATIONALE: Each team is permitted six players
on the ice at a time — five skaters and one goaltender — unless a penalty has reduced
the team's on-ice strength.
3. What is the diameter of an official hockey puck?
A. 2 inches
B. 2.5 inches
C. 3 inches
D. 3.5 inches
E. 4 inches
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 3 inches RATIONALE: An official hockey puck must
be 3 inches in diameter, 1 inch thick, and weigh between 5.5 and 6 ounces per USA
Hockey specifications.
4. How long is a minor penalty in USA Hockey?
A. 1 minute
B. 1.5 minutes
C. 2 minutes
D. 3 minutes
E. 5 minutes
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 2 minutes RATIONALE: A minor penalty results in
the offending player serving 2 minutes in the penalty box. The penalty ends early if the
opposing team scores during the power play.
5. What is the duration of a major penalty?
A. 2 minutes
B. 3 minutes
C. 4 minutes
, D. 5 minutes
E. 10 minutes
CORRECT ANSWER: D. 5 minutes RATIONALE: A major penalty carries a 5-
minute duration and does NOT end early if the opposing team scores. The penalized
player must serve the full 5 minutes.
6. What is a misconduct penalty duration?
A. 2 minutes
B. 5 minutes
C. 7 minutes
D. 10 minutes
E. 15 minutes
CORRECT ANSWER: D. 10 minutes RATIONALE: A misconduct penalty is
10 minutes. Importantly, the team does NOT play shorthanded — a substitute player
may remain on the ice while the penalized player serves the time.
7. Which of the following actions results in a game misconduct penalty?
A. Tripping
B. Hooking
C. Receiving a second misconduct in the same game
D. Delay of game
E. Icing
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Receiving a second misconduct in the same game
RATIONALE: Under USA Hockey rules, a player who receives a second misconduct
penalty in the same game is automatically assessed a game misconduct and must
leave the game.
8. What is icing in hockey?
, A. Shooting the puck over the boards
B. Shooting the puck into the stands
C. Shooting the puck from behind the center red line across the opponent's
goal line
D. Passing the puck out of the defensive zone
E. Deflecting the puck out of play
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Shooting the puck from behind the center red line
across the opponent's goal line RATIONALE: Icing is called when a player
shoots the puck from their own side of the center red line and it crosses the opposing
team's goal line untouched, without a goal being scored.
9. When is icing NOT called?
A. When a team is on a power play
B. When the puck deflects off a player
C. When the shooting team is shorthanded
D. When the puck crosses the blue line
E. When the goalie touches the puck
CORRECT ANSWER: C. When the shooting team is shorthanded
RATIONALE: USA Hockey rules permit a shorthanded team to ice the puck without
stoppage. This prevents penalized teams from being disadvantaged when clearing the
puck under pressure.
10. What is offsides in hockey?
A. Passing the puck over two lines
B. Shooting the puck over the boards
C. An attacking player entering the offensive zone before the puck
D. Skating behind the net with the puck
E. Touching the puck with a high stick
Exam Prep 2026 | Updated Questions
& Verified Answers | Rulebook-Based
Study Guide | A+ Guaranteed Pass
USA HOCKEY OFFICIALS OPEN BOOK EXAM PREP 2026
Updated Questions & Verified Answers | Rulebook-Based Study Guide | A+
Guaranteed Pass
SECTION 1: RULES & REGULATIONS
1. What is the standard length of an NHL-size hockey rink?
A. 180 feet
B. 185 feet
C. 200 feet
D. 210 feet
E. 220 feet
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 200 feet RATIONALE: USA Hockey rules specify the
standard rink is 200 feet long and 85 feet wide. All officiating decisions are made within
this standard playing surface.
2. How many players, including the goaltender, are allowed on the ice per team at
one time?
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 7
E. 8
, CORRECT ANSWER: C. 6 RATIONALE: Each team is permitted six players
on the ice at a time — five skaters and one goaltender — unless a penalty has reduced
the team's on-ice strength.
3. What is the diameter of an official hockey puck?
A. 2 inches
B. 2.5 inches
C. 3 inches
D. 3.5 inches
E. 4 inches
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 3 inches RATIONALE: An official hockey puck must
be 3 inches in diameter, 1 inch thick, and weigh between 5.5 and 6 ounces per USA
Hockey specifications.
4. How long is a minor penalty in USA Hockey?
A. 1 minute
B. 1.5 minutes
C. 2 minutes
D. 3 minutes
E. 5 minutes
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 2 minutes RATIONALE: A minor penalty results in
the offending player serving 2 minutes in the penalty box. The penalty ends early if the
opposing team scores during the power play.
5. What is the duration of a major penalty?
A. 2 minutes
B. 3 minutes
C. 4 minutes
, D. 5 minutes
E. 10 minutes
CORRECT ANSWER: D. 5 minutes RATIONALE: A major penalty carries a 5-
minute duration and does NOT end early if the opposing team scores. The penalized
player must serve the full 5 minutes.
6. What is a misconduct penalty duration?
A. 2 minutes
B. 5 minutes
C. 7 minutes
D. 10 minutes
E. 15 minutes
CORRECT ANSWER: D. 10 minutes RATIONALE: A misconduct penalty is
10 minutes. Importantly, the team does NOT play shorthanded — a substitute player
may remain on the ice while the penalized player serves the time.
7. Which of the following actions results in a game misconduct penalty?
A. Tripping
B. Hooking
C. Receiving a second misconduct in the same game
D. Delay of game
E. Icing
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Receiving a second misconduct in the same game
RATIONALE: Under USA Hockey rules, a player who receives a second misconduct
penalty in the same game is automatically assessed a game misconduct and must
leave the game.
8. What is icing in hockey?
, A. Shooting the puck over the boards
B. Shooting the puck into the stands
C. Shooting the puck from behind the center red line across the opponent's
goal line
D. Passing the puck out of the defensive zone
E. Deflecting the puck out of play
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Shooting the puck from behind the center red line
across the opponent's goal line RATIONALE: Icing is called when a player
shoots the puck from their own side of the center red line and it crosses the opposing
team's goal line untouched, without a goal being scored.
9. When is icing NOT called?
A. When a team is on a power play
B. When the puck deflects off a player
C. When the shooting team is shorthanded
D. When the puck crosses the blue line
E. When the goalie touches the puck
CORRECT ANSWER: C. When the shooting team is shorthanded
RATIONALE: USA Hockey rules permit a shorthanded team to ice the puck without
stoppage. This prevents penalized teams from being disadvantaged when clearing the
puck under pressure.
10. What is offsides in hockey?
A. Passing the puck over two lines
B. Shooting the puck over the boards
C. An attacking player entering the offensive zone before the puck
D. Skating behind the net with the puck
E. Touching the puck with a high stick
