While all ice hockey players practice their stickhandling on a regular basis, some of them also like to sharpen up on their soccer skills as kicking the puck can definitely come in handy during the course of a game. There are specific rules dealing with kicking the puck in the NHL and we will explore them in depth in this article.
Can You Use Your Feet in Hockey?
According to rule 49 of the NHL rule book, hockey players are allowed to use their feet to kick the puck as long as they’re not intentionally kicking it into the net.
Kicking the puck anywhere on the ice in all three zones is allowed as a defensive and offensive tactic and skilled players can even set up their teammates with a well-placed kick of the puck.
Can You Kick the Puck into the Net?
You can’t intentionally kick the puck into the opposing teams net as the goal will not count. However, the puck can deflect off of your skate unintentionally and it will count as a good goal.
Let me explain each in more detail below:
Distinctive Kicking Motion Explained (No Goal)
Using your feet to kick the puck into the net isn’t allowed, and if it does happen the goal will be disallowed once the play has been reviewed by video. This play is covered by rule 37.4 of the NHL rule book and states:
When a player uses a deliberate distinct kicking motion to propel or deflect the puck into the net, it won’t result in a goal.
In addition, if the player kicks the puck toward the net and it deflects into the net off of the body of another player, the goalkeeper, an official or the goalpost, it will be disallowed.
The rule also states that a player isn’t allowed to use a distinct kicking motion to kick any piece of playing equipment, such as a glove or helmet or even the blade of his own hockey stick to propel the puck over the goal line and into the net.
Watch this video of many examples where the goals were reviewed and a distinctive kicking motion ruled no goal:
Deflecting the Puck off Your Skate Explained (Good Goal)
If the puck should happen to go into the opposing net off of an attacking player’s skate and there is no distinct kicking motion involved it shall be ruled as a good goal. A player may also purposely turn his skate to deflect the puck into the net as long as there is no distinct kicking motion involved and this will be called a good goal.
Players who often head to the front of the net on power-plays have been known to practice the art of deflecting the puck into the net with their skates without kicking at the disk.
NHL rule 49.2 states that a goal will be allowed if a player kicks the puck and it deflects into the net off of any other player’s stick other than the goaltender’s. A goal will also be allowed if a player kicks the puck and it deflects off of his own stick and into the net.
In addition, if a player is in the process of attempting to stop on the ice and the puck hits his skate and enters the net it shall be ruled a good goal.
Watch this video on NHL.com of Sebastian Aho scoring a good goal with his skate by deflection here.
Can a Kicked Puck that Enters the Net Be Video Reviewed?
The NHL quickly reviews all goals in the situation room in Toronto, and this includes goals that have been potentially kicked into the net. For the purpose of video review, goals that are the result of a deliberate distinct kicking motion by an attacking player shall be disallowed.
If the puck deflects into the net off the player’s foot or skate the goal will stand.
There is no penalty for kicking the puck into the net, nor is there a delay of game penalty for the video review.
Why the Rule Exists: Safety Concerns
The NHL has implemented the distinct-kicking-motion rule for goals as it doesn’t want a slew of players kicking at the puck while it is in the vicinity of the goal crease. Skate blades are razor sharp and can cause very serious and even career-ending injuries to players.
History of Kicking the Puck Rule in Hockey
In 1929/30, the NHL introduced a rule which allowed players to kick the puck on the ice in any zone but disallowed goals that were kicked into the net.
Video replay review of kicked-in goals was introduced in the 1991/92 season to help assist the on-ice officials.
In 1996/97, the NHL began to allow players to deflect and redirect pucks into the net with their feet or skates as long as a distinct kicking motion wasn’t used.
Questions You May Have About Kicking the Puck:
Apart from disallowing a goal, are there any other repercussions for the player or team?
If a player deliberately kicks the puck into the net the goal is disallowed but there is no penalty or further repercussion for the illegal play.
Can a player use his foot to pass the puck?
Hockey players are certainly allowed to deliberately kick the puck to a teammate as a pass and many skilled players will earn assists this way.
What happens if a puck is kicked by an opponent into his own net?
If a player accidentally kicks the puck into his own net it will result in a goal for the opposition.
Can a goalie use his skate to kick the puck away from the net?
Goaltenders are allowed to kick the puck away form their net and goal crease areas as well as kick it to a teammate or anywhere on the ice in general
What happens if you kick an opponent in hockey?
According to rule 49.3 of the NHL rule book, if a player kicks or attempts to kick another player during the course of a game it will result in a match penalty and an automatic five-minute major penalty. Supplementary discipline may also be handed out by the league after the incident has been reviewed but there are no specified fines and/or suspensions for the infraction.
What if a player uses their knees, shins, or legs, to score?
The rule which applies to players kicking the puck into the net with their feet also applies to all other parts of the body. Therefore if a player deliberately uses his legs, shins or knees to propel the puck into the net by using a deliberate motion it will result in no goal. If the puck deflects into the net off of any part of the body it will result in a good goal.
Jamie is the founder of Hockey Response and he is the chief writer/ lead editor. Jamie has been playing hockey for over 20 years. He was the defenseman of the year in NL and has played Jr A level hockey. Jamie has coached several kids hockey camps and he was the assistant coach of the Western Kings.