USA Hockey Rules 2026/2027 Complete Exam Questions And
Verified Answers | New Update | Graded A+.
The Referee notices that a team has three players with a "C" on their
uniforms during the pre-game warm-up. How many players should the
Referee allow to act as
Captain?
One. Rule Reference 202(a). In this situation the Referee should look at the
game sheet to determine the Captain. If there is more than one Captain
designated, the Referee must ask the Coach to appoint only one of the three
players to act as the
team's Captain. The Referee must also inform the Coach that the other two
players will be allowed to have Captain's privileges, but they must be
designated as
Alternate Captains.
The Team Captain and the Alternate Captain(s) are incapacitated by
reasons of injuries or are unavailable due to penalties and the Referee
deems it necessary to convey a message to the bench. With whom shall the
Referee communicate?
Any player on the ice with whom the Referee elects to converse. Rule
Reference
202(a). The Referee has the authority to select a player on the ice to convey the
message to the bench. Failure of a team to have a captain available is not
justification for a Referee to not communicate when doing so would assist in
managing the game.
,A team refuses to designate a Captain at the beginning of the game. Should
the Referee assess a penalty?
No
May a goalkeeper be designated as a Captain or Alternate Captain?
Yes. However, the goalkeeper cannot exercise the privileges of the
Captain during the game as outlined in this rule. Rule Reference 202(a).
There is no rule preventing a goalkeeper from being named a Captain or
Alternate Captain as an honor by the team to show leadership. However,
that goalkeeper may not exercise Captain's
privileges during a game. Doing so would unnecessarily delay the game if
the goalkeeper were allowed to leave the goal area for any discussion and
then go to the bench area to relay any message and finally back to the
goal area and be
prepared for the resumption of play.
,There is a question of a rule interpretation. The Referee wants to explain
the rule to the Captain, but notices that the Captain and both Alternate
Captains are seated on the players' bench. What should the Referee do?
If the Captain is still participating in the game (they are not removed from
the game because of penalty, injury, etc.), they should be invited from the
players' bench to discuss the interpretation with the Referee. Rule
Reference 202(a).
There is a question of a rule interpretation and the Captain comes off the
bench to protest the decision of the Referee. What should the Referee
do?
If the Captain leaves the bench for a discussion without being invited to do
so, and makes a complaint or protest, they must be assessed a minor
penalty for
unsportsmanlike conduct under this rule. Rule Reference 202(b).
A team has 16 skaters plus two goalkeepers listed on the game scoresheet.
A skater who is not listed on the scoresheet participates in the game. What
action should the Referee take when it is brought to their attention?
Add the skater's name to the scoresheet, and assess a bench minor penalty
to the player's team. Rule Reference 203(a). All penalties incurred and
goals/assists
awarded to that skater shall stand. The team may not elect to send the
skater to the dressing room and forgo the bench minor penalty because the
skater has already participated in the game.
, A team has eighteen skaters and two goalkeepers listed on the game
scoresheet.
What happens if a skater who is not listed on the scoresheet participates in
the game and scores a goal?
The goal shall be disallowed. Rule References 203(a), 201(a) and 629(c).
Once the Referee has become aware of the additional skater, they must
remove them from the game immediately. The team already has the
maximum number of skaters on the game sheet, so the player is ineligible
to participate in the game.
Both teams are assessed minor penalties at the same time during a
stoppage of play after the line change process has been completed. Is each
team entitled to a full line change?
No. Rule Reference 204(a). Each team must replace the penalized player but
are not entitled to a full line change. A full line change is allowed only
when a penalty or
penalties are imposed that affect the numerical on-ice strength of either or
both teams.
During a player change, the Team A retiring player is in the vicinity of the players'
bench and does not make any effort to play the puck or the body of the opponent.
However, their replacement comes onto the ice at the other end of the bench and
immediately engages in play in a manner that changes a 2-1 break for Team B into a
2- 2 attack. Is this considered a too many players infraction?
Yes. Rule Reference 204(b). In this situation, Team A has gained a competitive
advantage during the player change, even though neither the retiring player nor
the replacement player has directly played the puck or an opponent. The fact
they are still both on the ice and Team A gained a territorial or positional
advantage as a
result of the change is considered to be a violation of the rule and should be
penalized.
Verified Answers | New Update | Graded A+.
The Referee notices that a team has three players with a "C" on their
uniforms during the pre-game warm-up. How many players should the
Referee allow to act as
Captain?
One. Rule Reference 202(a). In this situation the Referee should look at the
game sheet to determine the Captain. If there is more than one Captain
designated, the Referee must ask the Coach to appoint only one of the three
players to act as the
team's Captain. The Referee must also inform the Coach that the other two
players will be allowed to have Captain's privileges, but they must be
designated as
Alternate Captains.
The Team Captain and the Alternate Captain(s) are incapacitated by
reasons of injuries or are unavailable due to penalties and the Referee
deems it necessary to convey a message to the bench. With whom shall the
Referee communicate?
Any player on the ice with whom the Referee elects to converse. Rule
Reference
202(a). The Referee has the authority to select a player on the ice to convey the
message to the bench. Failure of a team to have a captain available is not
justification for a Referee to not communicate when doing so would assist in
managing the game.
,A team refuses to designate a Captain at the beginning of the game. Should
the Referee assess a penalty?
No
May a goalkeeper be designated as a Captain or Alternate Captain?
Yes. However, the goalkeeper cannot exercise the privileges of the
Captain during the game as outlined in this rule. Rule Reference 202(a).
There is no rule preventing a goalkeeper from being named a Captain or
Alternate Captain as an honor by the team to show leadership. However,
that goalkeeper may not exercise Captain's
privileges during a game. Doing so would unnecessarily delay the game if
the goalkeeper were allowed to leave the goal area for any discussion and
then go to the bench area to relay any message and finally back to the
goal area and be
prepared for the resumption of play.
,There is a question of a rule interpretation. The Referee wants to explain
the rule to the Captain, but notices that the Captain and both Alternate
Captains are seated on the players' bench. What should the Referee do?
If the Captain is still participating in the game (they are not removed from
the game because of penalty, injury, etc.), they should be invited from the
players' bench to discuss the interpretation with the Referee. Rule
Reference 202(a).
There is a question of a rule interpretation and the Captain comes off the
bench to protest the decision of the Referee. What should the Referee
do?
If the Captain leaves the bench for a discussion without being invited to do
so, and makes a complaint or protest, they must be assessed a minor
penalty for
unsportsmanlike conduct under this rule. Rule Reference 202(b).
A team has 16 skaters plus two goalkeepers listed on the game scoresheet.
A skater who is not listed on the scoresheet participates in the game. What
action should the Referee take when it is brought to their attention?
Add the skater's name to the scoresheet, and assess a bench minor penalty
to the player's team. Rule Reference 203(a). All penalties incurred and
goals/assists
awarded to that skater shall stand. The team may not elect to send the
skater to the dressing room and forgo the bench minor penalty because the
skater has already participated in the game.
, A team has eighteen skaters and two goalkeepers listed on the game
scoresheet.
What happens if a skater who is not listed on the scoresheet participates in
the game and scores a goal?
The goal shall be disallowed. Rule References 203(a), 201(a) and 629(c).
Once the Referee has become aware of the additional skater, they must
remove them from the game immediately. The team already has the
maximum number of skaters on the game sheet, so the player is ineligible
to participate in the game.
Both teams are assessed minor penalties at the same time during a
stoppage of play after the line change process has been completed. Is each
team entitled to a full line change?
No. Rule Reference 204(a). Each team must replace the penalized player but
are not entitled to a full line change. A full line change is allowed only
when a penalty or
penalties are imposed that affect the numerical on-ice strength of either or
both teams.
During a player change, the Team A retiring player is in the vicinity of the players'
bench and does not make any effort to play the puck or the body of the opponent.
However, their replacement comes onto the ice at the other end of the bench and
immediately engages in play in a manner that changes a 2-1 break for Team B into a
2- 2 attack. Is this considered a too many players infraction?
Yes. Rule Reference 204(b). In this situation, Team A has gained a competitive
advantage during the player change, even though neither the retiring player nor
the replacement player has directly played the puck or an opponent. The fact
they are still both on the ice and Team A gained a territorial or positional
advantage as a
result of the change is considered to be a violation of the rule and should be
penalized.
