Rule 613 | Face-Off Procedures
(a) Play shall start when one of the officials drops the puckbetween the sticks of two opposing players.
For face-offs occurring at a designated end zone face-off spot, theplayers facing-off will stand squarely facing their opponents’end of the rink and clear of the ice markings. The stickblades of both players shall be in contact with the nearestwhite area of the face-off spot and clear of the center red area.
For face-offs occurring at the center ice or neutral zone face-off spots, the playersfacing-off shall squarely face their opponent’s end of the iceand stand approximately one stick length apart.
The attacking player shall be the first to place his stick onthe ice, except for a center ice face-off where the visitingteam player shall be first to place his stick on the ice.
(b) No other player shall be allowed to enter the face-off circle orcome within 15 feet of the players facing-off the puck. All other players must position themselves behind thehash marks on the outer edge of the face-off circle or standapproximately one stick length apart from the opponent.
(c) At the conclusion of the line change procedure [see Rule 204(a) and Glossary], the Officialconducting the face-off shall blow his whistle. This willsignal each team that they have no more than five seconds toline up for the ensuing face-off. Prior to the conclusion of five seconds, the Official shall conduct a proper face-off.
(d) If a player facing-off fails to take his proper positionimmediately when directed by the Official, the Official mayorder him replaced for that face-off byany teammate then onthe ice.
If a player, other than the player facing off, fails tomaintain his proper position, the center of his team shall beejected from the face-off.
A second violation of any of the provisions of thissubsection by the same team during the same face-off shallresult in a minor penalty for delay of game being assessed tothe player committing the second violation.
(e) A minor penalty for interference shall be assessed to anyplayer facing-off who makes any physical contact with hisopponent’s body by means of his own body or by his stickexcept in the course of playing the puck after the face-off hasbeen completed.
