NHL High Stick Rule

NHL High Stick Rule (The Ultimate Guide)

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There are basically two different types of high sticking in hockey. High sticking an opponent is a foul and results in a penalty while high sticking the puck is also against the rules but only results in the stoppage of play and a faceoff rather than a penalty.

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NHL High Stick Rule Explained

The NHL deals with high sticking against an opponent with Rule 60 of the league’s rule book while Rule 80 covers high sticking the puck during play.

High-Sticking the Puck Rule

According to Rule 80 in the NHL Rule Book, high sticking the puck occurs when a player makes contact with the puck in open ice while his stick is above the height of his shoulders. If a player high sticks the puck and either he or a teammate is the next to control it then the whistle is blown to kill the play.

However if a player high-sticks the puck and the opposing team takes possession of it, the play is allowed to continue. If the play is whistled dead the faceoff takes place in the neutral zone if the attacking team committed the offence.

If the defending team high-sticks the puck then the faceoff takes place in their own zone. If a player cradles the puck on the blade of his stick (lacrosse style) it will be called high sticking if the blade goes above the height of his shoulders. A player is allowed to use the lacrosse-style move on a penalty shot and in a shootout attempt as long as the blade doesn’t go above shoulder height.

As far as scoring a goal with a high stick is concerned, the goal will be waved off if the attacking player makes contact with the puck while his stick is above the height of the crossbar, not above the height of his shoulders. The determining factor here is where the puck actually makes contact with the player’s stick.

If the part of the stick the puck makes contact with is below the crossbar then the goal will stand. Therefore the blade of the stick could actually be above the crossbar but the puck may strike the shaft of the stick as along as it’s below the bar. In this instance, the goal is allowed.

Take a look at this goal called back due to high-sticking:

High-Sticking Minor Penalty

A two-minute minor high sticking penalty is assessed when a player is carrying his stick above shoulder height of an opponent and accidentally or deliberately makes contact with him. All players must be in control of their sticks at all times during a game and are responsible for it.

The only time a player is allowed to make accidental contact with an opponent with a high stick is when he is following through on a shot, winding up for a shot, or makes contact with an opposing centre who is bent over during a faceoff.

High-Sticking Double-Minor Penalty

A double-minor penalty for high sticking is handed out when the player who is struck by the stick is cut and blood is drawn. In this instance, the referee who made the call has the option of checking video replay of the infraction to make sure he got the call right.

This is often done to confirm what took place and to make sure who’s stick it was which caused the actual damage. After reviewing the play from various different angles on a monitor the referee will then either confirm the original call or wave off the penalty.

Here is a video example on Twitter of a high-sticking double minor called on Pittsburgh Penguins Evgeni Malkin for high-sticking Mark Borowiecki of the Nashville Predators. This is a cross-checking style high-stick that caused blood.

High-Sticking Match Penalty

A five-minute major and match penalty can be called for a high-sticking infraction when the referee rules it to be a deliberate intent to injure an opponent.

When it comes to major and match penalties, the referee who made the call is required to review the play on a monitor and has the choice of confirming the original penalty or reducing it to a two-minute minor.

However, the referee can’t wave the penalty off. Serious high-sticking incidents may also result in fines and/or a suspension to the offender.

Take a look at this video on Twitter of a match penalty high-sticking call on Kirill Kaprizov high-sticking Drew Doughty:

Read our related post on the NHL Slashing Rule here.

How is High Sticking the Puck Measured?

High sticking the puck is measured at the player’s shoulder height during regular play but at the height of the crossbar if the puck is batted or deflected into the net.

Can You Score a Goal with a High Stick?

Scoring a goal with a high stick is illegal and rarely happens due to video replays being checked thanks to the league rule on the matter. This means the officials will view replays of all possible high-stick goals and then determine if it was legal or not.

Can a Coach Challenge a High Stick Goal?

NHL coaches aren’t allowed to challenge a goal they believed to be scored by a high stick as the only challenges they can make concern possible missed offside or goaltender’s interference calls which result in a goal.

A coach can also make a challenge if they believe the puck went out of the playing surface and stuck the protective spectator netting and pucks that are illegally passed to a teammate in the offensive zone via a high stick or hand pass.

What Happens if You High Stick the Puck into Your Own Net?

According to rule 80.3 of the NHL rule book, if a player strikes the puck with a high stick and it ends up in his net then it’s basically tough luck as the goal will be allowed.

What Happens if You Refuse to Play the Puck After a High Stick?

Rule 72.3 states that if a player high sticks the puck and he or his teammate decides not to play the puck since it will result in a whistle and the opposing team also doesn’t want to play the puck then the play will be called dead after a few seconds. The faceoff then takes place at the dot closest to where the infraction took place.

Where Is the Faceoff Location After a High Stick?

When an official blows the play dead due to a violation for high-sticking the puck, the faceoff takes place at the spot which gives the offending team the least amount of territorial advantage.

This means if the attacking team high sticks the puck in the offensive blue line the faceoff comes outside of the line into the neutral zone. If the defending team high sticks the puck in its own zone then the faceoff takes place inside the zone.

Can You Lift Your Stick Over Your Head Ever?

Hockey players are legally allowed to lift their sticks over their heads when winding up for a slap shot or following through with a pass or shot. They may also raise their sticks above their heads as long as they don’t make contact with the puck or an opposing player while doing so.

Can a Goalie High Stick the Puck?

Goalies aren’t allowed to high stick the puck or an opponent either without being penalized for it. If a goalie should high stick the puck the faceoff will take place in his own zone. If a penalty is called for making contact with an opponent it is served by a teammate unless it’s a match penalty. In that case, he’s tossed from the game.

Has the High Stick Rule Changed Over Time in the NHL?

In 1992/93, the high-sticking rule was changed from making contact with the puck above shoulder height to making contact with the puck with the stick when it was above waist height. Then in 1993/94 goals were allowed as long as a player’s stick was below the height of the crossbar when making contact with the puck.

Final Thoughts

Hockey sticks are quite dangerous objects and players need to be in control of them during the action. Many high-sticking penalties are called when players attempt to lift their opponent’s sticks to steal the puck and they miss but there are also some intentional high-sticking fouls.

Thankfully, the deliberate infractions aren’t very common these days as the era of wild stick-swinging duels is a more or less a thing of the past. There are still instances of wayward sticks causing serious damage though and the mandatory use of helmets and visors has helped keep them to a minimum.

Read our related NHL rules articles here:

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