Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2022-2024

Updated July 2023 Officiating Duties for Referees and Linespersons

Hockey Canada has released the updated Playing Rules for the 2022-2024 season, which includes important changes to the officiating duties for referees and linespersons. These changes are designed to improve the consistency and fairness of the game, and to provide officials with clearer guidance on how to interpret the rules.

Key Changes for Referees

The most significant change for referees is the introduction of a new "two-referee system" for all games at the Major Bantam level and above. Under this system, two referees will work together to officiate the game, with one referee primarily responsible for the offensive zone and the other referee primarily responsible for the defensive zone. This change is expected to improve the accuracy and consistency of officiating, as well as reduce the workload on individual referees.

Key Changes for Linespersons

The most notable change for linespersons is the addition of a new "offside review" system. Under this system, linespersons will have the ability to review offside calls using video replay. This change is designed to reduce the number of incorrect offside calls, which can have a significant impact on the outcome of games.