A goalkeeper may be changed for another player at any time under conditions set out in this section.

*NEW*
(NOTE 1) When a goalkeeper leaves his goal area and proceeds to his players' bench for the purpose of substituting another player, the skater cannot enter the playing surface before the goalkeeper is within five feet (5') of the bench. If the substitution is made prematurely, the official shall stop the play immediately unless the non-offending Team has possession of the puck in which event the stoppage will be delayed until the puck changes hands.

There shall be no time penalty to the Team making the premature substitution, but the resulting face-off will take place at the center ice face-off spot.

In all other situations not covered in the above, a minor penalty may result for "too many men on the ice."

(NOTE 2) The Referee shall request that the public address announcer make the following announcement: "Play has been stopped due to premature entry of a player from the players' bench." If in the course of making a substitution, the player entering the game plays the puck with his stick, skates or hands or who checks or makes any physical contact with an opposing player while the retiring player is actually on the ice, then the infraction of "too many men on the ice" will be called.

If in the course of a substitution either the player entering the play or the player retiring is struck by the puck accidentally, the play will not be stopped and no penalty will be called.

*NEW*
(NOTE 3) Goalkeepers' substitution during a game will be conducted within the same time frame as a regular line change. No extra time will be allotted to the goalkeeper coming off the bench, except in the case where an injury to a goalkeeper occurs.

(b) If by reason of insufficient playing time remaining, or by reason of penalties already imposed, a bench minor penalty is imposed for deliberate illegal substitution (too many men on the ice) which cannot be served in its entirety within the legal playing time, or at any time in overtime, a penalty shot shall be awarded against the offending Team.

(c) A player serving a penalty on the penalty bench, who is to be changed after the penalty has been served, must proceed at once by way of the ice and be at his own players' bench before any change can be made.

For any violation of this Rule, a bench minor penalty shall be imposed.

(d) Following the stoppage of play, the visiting Team shall promptly place a line-up on the ice ready for play and no substitution shall be made from that time until play has been resumed. The home Team may then make any desired substitution which does not result in the delay of the game.

If there is any undue delay by either Team in changing lines, the Referee shall order the offending Team or Teams to take their positions immediately and not permit a line change.

(NOTE) When a substitution has been made under the above Rule, no additional substitution may be made until play commences.

*NEW*
(e) Following a stoppage of play, the Referee will enforce the following line change procedure once he has determined that this procedure may begin:

1. The Referee shall give the visiting Team up to five (5) seconds to make their line change.
2. The Referee shall raise his hand to indicate no further changes by the visiting Team and to commence the home Team's line change.
3. The Referee shall give the home Team up to eight (8) seconds to make their line change.
4. The Referee shall lower his hand to indicate no further changes by the home Team.
5. Any attempt by the either Team to make a change after the Referee's signal, attempt to place too many men on the ice for the subsequent line change, or attempt to make additional personnel changes, shall not be permitted and the Referee will send the players who have attempted to change back to their players' bench. The Referee will then issue a warning to the offending Team (through the Coach) indicating that any subsequent violations during the rest of the game (including overtime), shall result in a bench minor penalty for delaying the game.
6. The Linesman conducting the face-off will blow his whistle (once the Referee has lowered his hand for the line changes) to indicate that all players must be in position and on-side for the face-off within five (5) seconds. The face-off will then be conducted in accordance with Rule 54 - Face-Offs.
7. Players who are slow (after the five second warning whistle given by the Linesman) getting to the face-off location or who are in an off-side position for the ensuing face-off will be warned once in the game by the Referee. This warning will also be given to the offending Team's Coach. Any subsequent violation shall result in a bench minor penalty for delay of game being assessed to the offending Team. The offending Team's center must also be removed from the face-off.
8. In the last two (2) minutes of regulation and anytime in the overtime period(s), points (6) and (7) above are not applicable. The Linesman shall give the teams a reasonable amount of time to set up for the ensuing face-off after points (1) through (5) above have been enforced.

Players must proceed directly to the location of the face-off to participate in the ensuing face-off. Any attempts to delay the game by stalling or otherwise unnecessary actions by either team shall result in the assessment of a bench minor penalty for delaying the game.

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