Rule 618 | Handling Puck with Hands
(a) Play shall be stopped and a last play face-off shall occuranytime a player (except the goalkeeper) closes his hand onthe puck and does not immediately drop the puck to the ice.
A minor penalty for delay of game shall be assessed to anyplayer, other than the goalkeeper, who picks the puck upfrom the ice with his hand(s) while play is in progress.
A penalty shot/optional minor penalty shall be awarded tothe non-offending team anytime a defending player, otherthan the goalkeeper, picks the puck up off the ice with hishand or holds the puck while play is in progress and the puckis in the goal crease. If this infraction occurs while thegoalkeeper has been removed from the ice and prevents andobvious and imminent goal, a goal shall be awarded to thenon-offending team.
(Note) For the purpose of this rule, the goal crease shall extend from the ice to the top of the crossbar of the goal frame.
(b) A player or goalkeeper shall not be allowed to “bat” the puckin the air, or push it along the ice with his hand, directly to ateammate unless the “hand pass” has been initiated andcompleted in his defending zone, in which case play shall be allowed to continue. If the “hand pass” occurs in the neutralor attacking zone, a stoppage of play will occur and a face-offwill take place according to last play face-off rules providedno territorial advantage has been gained.
No goal can be scored as a result of the puck beingpropelled by the hand of an attacking player regardless if thepuck enters the goal directly from the hand or deflects off ofany player prior to entering the goal.
(c) Play shall be stopped and an end zone face-off taken when agoalkeeper holds the puck for more than three seconds whilebeing pressured. If not pressured, after a warning by theReferee, a goalkeeper shall be assessed a minor penalty fordelay of game.
If a goalkeeper catches the puck and throws it forwardtowards his opponent’s goal and it is first played by ateammate, play shall be stopped and the ensuing face-offshall be held at the nearest end face-off spot of the offendingteam.
