INLINE HOCKEY
BRIHA OFFICIAL Rules
BRITISH REGIONAL INLINE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION OFFICIAL INLINE HOCKEY RULE BOOK
The BRIHA Playing Rules have been designed to include both administrative and conduct rules.
The BRIHA goal is to promote fair play and address changes in the game.
The rules that are applied to our sport are intended to create a safe playing environment where players can apply their skills and enjoy the equal competition for all teams.
The consistent implementation of these rules and enforcement standards will continue to create strong competition and grow the interest of our sport.
Age
16+
Note: The player‘s age on December 31 will determine the age classification.
Rink/Sport Hall
Size is 40m-61m long and 20m-30m wide.
The playing surface shall be divided into two halves by a ‘CENTER LINE’, extending completely across the rink. The centre line shall be considered to be a part of the zone in which the puck is located.
Goal Posts
The goal frame shall be made of metal, or other approved material. The goal posts should be set 1.83m apart measured from the inside of the posts and the crossbar should extend vertically 1.22m above the playing surface, connecting the tops of the goal posts.
Attached to each goal frame should be netting strong enough to withstand any shot by a puck.
The goal shall be cantered on the goal line.
Play should be stopped immediately when the goal post has been displaced from its normal position.
Referees
Standard two man system using approved BRIHA officials(one onsite and one offsite). Onsite Referee must wear a helmet designed for hockey with helmet strap properly fastened.
Teams
Composition of Teams
A team shall be composed of five players on the playing surface (4 skaters, plus the goalie). Anytime a team has been reduced to less than four players, the game shall be declared a forfeit.
Captain of Team
Each team shall appoint a Captain and no more than two Alternate Captains. The Captain will wear the letter ‘C’, and the Alternate Captain the letter ‘A’. On the surface, only these designated players, if they are not penalized, shall have the privilege to discuss with the referee any questions relating to the interpretation of rules that may arise during the course of the game.
Players in Uniform
At the beginning of each game, the captain of each team shall list the names and numbers of the players and goalkeepers who shall be eligible to play in the game. Each team shall be allowed one goalkeeper on the playing surface at one time. The goalkeeper may be removed and another “player” substituted. Such substitute shall not be permitted the privileges of the goalkeeper.
It is recommended that each team has on its bench a substitute goalkeeper who shall be fully dressed and equipped to play.
When the substitute goalkeeper enters the game the position shall be taken without delay and no warm-up shall be permitted.
Except when all designated goalkeepers are incapacitated, no player on the playing roster in that game shall be permitted to wear the equipment of the goalkeeper. If a team’s goalkeeper(s) is unavailable to continue, the team must immediately appoint a temporary goalkeeper or place an additional skater on the playing surface with none of the goalkeeper’s privileges.
If during the game a team cannot place on the playing surface the number of players in uniform required under these rules because of penalties, injuries, etc., the Referee has no alternative but to declare that the game shall be forfeited.
The non-offending team shall be declared the winner and the score of 5-0 shall be recorded, or if the difference is greater than five (5) goals the score shall stand.
Change of Players
Players may be changed at any time from the players’ bench, provided that the player or players leaving the playing surface are within 2 meters of the players’ bench and out of the play before the change is made. If in the course of making a substitution, either player deliberately plays the puck while the retiring player is still on the playing surface, the infraction, “Too Many Players” shall be assessed.
A goalkeeper may be substituted by a player or goalkeeper at any time during play.
Injured Players
When a player, other than a goalkeeper, is injured or compelled to leave the playing surface during a game, the player may retire from the game and be replaced immediately by a substitute.
Any goalkeeper who sustains an injury or becomes ill must be ready to resume play immediately or be replaced by a substitute goalkeeper. No additional time shall be allowed by the Referee for the purpose of enabling the injured or ill goalkeeper to resume the position. The substitute goalkeeper shall enter the game without delay and no warm-up shall be permitted. The substitute goalkeeper shall be subject to the regular rules governing goalkeepers and shall be entitled to the same privileges.
Any penalized player, who has been injured, may proceed to the dressing room without going to the penalty bench. The penalized team shall immediately put a substitute player on the penalty bench to serve the entire penalty. The penalized player who has been injured and has been replaced on the penalty bench is not eligible to play until the penalty time has expired.
When a player is injured and cannot continue to play or go to the players’ bench, play shall not be stopped until the injured player’s team has secured possession of the puck. If the player’s team is in possession of the puck at the time of injury, play shall be stopped immediately unless the team has a scoring opportunity.
In the case where it is obvious that a player has sustained a serious injury, play shall be stopped immediately.
A player, other than the goalkeeper, whose injury appears serious enough to warrant a stoppage of play, may not participate further in the game until the completion of the ensuing face-off.
A player bleeding or covered by blood shall be considered as an injured player and shall leave the playing surface for treatment and/or cleaning. If he does not comply with this regulation he shall be assessed a Minor penalty.
Such player shall be permitted to return to the surface provided
that:
1.) The cut is completely closed sealed with appropriate bandages.
2.) Any blood is removed from the player and his equipment and uniform are replaced or properly cleaned.
If the surface, rink facilities or any objects are stained with blood, the Referee shall ensure that the bloodstains are removed by rink personnel after the first stoppage of play.
Equipment
Stick
The sticks shall be made of wood, carbon composite, graphite or aluminium materials and must not have any projections extending from the stick.
Skates
All players and Referees must wear inline hockey skates. Players and Referees are permitted to wear skates with up to 5-wheels, provided they are designed for inline hockey. Brakes are NOT PERMITTED during hockey or roller blading in Demonstration Hall.
Goalkeeper’s Equipment
With the exception of skates and stick, all the equipment worn by the goalkeeper must be constructed solely for the protection of the head or body, and must not include any garment which would give the goalkeeper undue assistance keeping goal.
It is mandatory for all goalkeepers to wear a helmet designed for hockey with a helmet strap properly fastened and a full-face mask designed for hockey with a chin cup. All goalkeepers must wear chest protection. Throat protection is recommended.
Protective equipment
Each participant is personally responsible to wear protective equipment for all games, warm-ups and practices.
Recommended equipment for all players is: hip pads, padded hockey pants, protective cup or pelvic protector, chest protection, shoulder pads and throat protection. Eye and full facial protection is strongly recommended for all players.
Players 15 – 19 – Helmet approved for hockey
Full face mask designed for hockey
Elbow pads / Gloves /Knee and shin protection designed for hockey
Players 20 and 21 years of age must wear visors
Players over 21 – same, except
– no facial protection required, but highly recommended.
The wearing of a full face mask or 1/2 face shield and internal mouth guard is highly recommended.
Puck
BRIHA or Inline UK Nationals shall be played with a puck. Pucks shall be made of plastic or other material approved by BRIHA. The dimensions of a puck shall be approximately:
➢ Diameter – 7.62 – 8.00 cm
➢ Thickness –2.00 – 2.54 cm
➢ Weight – 100 to 120 gms
Uniform
All players participating in BRIHA or Inline UK games must be uniformly dressed and have matching jerseys with long sleeves. For all BRIHA and Inline UK Championships padded hockey pants or sweat pants must be worn.
Each player and each goalkeeper listed in the line-up must wear an individual identifying number on the back of the sweater. All numbers assigned must be whole numbers between 1-99. No two members of the same team shall be permitted to wear the same number.
Goals and Assists
NOTE: It is the responsibility of the Referee to award goals and assists, and such decision is final.
In cases of an obvious error in awarding a goal or an assist which has been announced, it should be corrected promptly.
Changes shall not be made on the scoring summary after the Referee has signed the Official Score Sheet.
(a) A goal shall be scored when the puck has been put between the goal posts by the stick of a player of the attacking team from in front, below the cross bar and entirely across the goal line.
A ‘goal’ shall be credited in the scoring records to a player who shall have propelled the puck into the opponent’s goal.
Each ‘goal’ shall count as one point in the player’s record.
An ‘assist’ shall be credited to the player or players taking part in the play immediately preceding the goal, but no more than two assists can be credited on any goal. Only one point can be credited to any one player for any one goal scored.
A goal shall be scored if the puck is put into the goal in any way by a player of the defending team. The player of the attacking team who last played the puck shall be credited with the goal, but no assist shall be awarded.
If an attacking player kicks the puck and the puck goes directly into the goal or is further deflected into the goal by any player, including the goalkeeper, the goal shall not be allowed.
If the puck shall have been deflected into the goal from the shot of an attacking player by striking any part of any player, the goal shall be allowed. The player who deflected the puck shall be credited with the goal. The goal shall not be allowed
if the puck has been kicked, thrown, or otherwise deliberately directed by an attacking player into the goal by any means other than a stick.
If a goal is scored as a result of a puck being deflected directly into the goal off a Referee, the goal shall not be allowed.
Should a player legally propel the puck into the goal crease of the opposing team and the puck becomes loose in the goal crease and available to a player of the attacking team, any goal scored on the play shall be allowed.
Any goal scored, other than as covered by the Official Playing rules, shall not be allowed.
Puck Must Be Kept in Motion
The puck must be kept in motion at all times. Play shall not be stopped because the puck is frozen along the boards by two or more opposing players, unless one of the players falls onto the puck. The Referee may stop the play along the boards if allowing play to continue shall lead to unnecessary contact surrounding the puck.
Off-Sides
Icing and off-sides as applied in ice hockey does not exist in roller hockey.
Length of Game/Tied Game
2 periods 15 minutes in duration, running time. Stop time in the last minute when score is within 2 goals.
if teams are tied at full time, then the winner shall be determined through the penalty shoots. 3 penalty shoots will be taken by each team. If there is still a tie after 3 penalty shoots, then sudden victory penalty shoots will be taken by each team. The first team to score on a penalty shoots when the opponent does not score on a penalty shoots is declared the winner. Sudden victory penalty shoots cannot include any of the first 3 players until all players on the team have taken a shoot.
The winner of that competition shall be declared the winner of the match.
League Table
Each team will play the other teams in Super 6 league two times during the season.Teams will receive 2 points for a win, zero for a loss and 1 point for an penalty shootout loss. League placing will be decided by points gained.
If two or more teams have the same points and the same goal difference, the team which has scored the higher number of goals will be ranked higher.
If the teams have scored the same number of goals, then the team with the best record in matches only those two will be ranked higher.
Time Out
Each team is permitted 1 time-out per game that last 30 seconds. The game clock shall stop during a time-out.
If the team roster list consists of 5 players including goalkeeper, they allowed for an extra 2 time outs per game.
If the team roster list consists of 6 players including goalkeeper, they allowed for an extra 1 time outs per game.
Constitutional
All players must be registered by completing the necessary forms prior to competing for any team. Teams may register up to 14 players and no player can be registered to more than one team on the same league. Players may only transfer their registration to another team on one occasion in the same division during the first quarter of the season.
All players must be named on the team sheet prior to kick off. Any team playing an unregistered or suspended player will automatically lose the match 5 – 0 and be deducted 2 points. Players playing whilst suspended will have a further three match ban added to the end of their then current suspension. Teams are asked to arrive 10 minutes prior to scheduled kick off times. Teams must be on the pitch and ready to begin the match at the appointed kick-off time. If a team is more than 10 minutes late their opponents may claim a 3 – 0 head start, and at the referees discretion a 5 – 0 win (and deduction of 2 points to the losers). Teams failing to appear for their designated fixture, will have the match awarded to their opponents 5 – 0. In the event that a team refuses to play another team the match will be awarded to the other team 5 – 0. In the event that a team refuses to complete a match which has already started, the match will be awarded to the other team 5 – 0. Any decision to cancel a game can only be made by BRIHA management. Any player or team suspended by BRIHA Association may not participate in the Leagues or Tournaments held at North Molton Sports and Community Centre or Ivybridge Leisure Centre. A fixture list will be issued at the start of each season and will be displayed on the League website www.briha.co.uk. All league results will be displayed on the website, but BRIHA will not accept any responsibility for any omissions from or inaccuracies in any such fixture lists and/or results.
Playoff
Penalties
The team cannot be reduced to fewer than two players.
Penalties shall be actual playing time and shall be divided
into the following classes:
1.) Minor Penalties
2.) Major Penalties
3.) Misconduct Penalties
4.) Match Penalties
5.) Penalty Shot
Minor Penalties
For a “MINOR PENALTY”, any player, other than a goalkeeper, shall be ruled off the playing surface for two minutes, during which time no substitute shall be permitted. When running time is being played, the penalty will start at the moment the ensuing face-off is conducted. If a minor or bench minor penalty terminates during a stoppage of play, allowing the team to have an additional player on the playing surface, the player so penalized shall remain on the penalty bench until the ensuing face-off is conducted.
If the opposing team scores a goal while a team is shorthanded by one or more minor or bench minor penalties, the first of such penalties shall automatically terminate.
When coincident minor penalties are assessed to players of both teams, the penalized players shall take their place on the penalty bench and such players shall not leave the penalty bench until the first stoppage of play following the expiration of their respective penalties.
Any player who accumulates four penalties in one game will receive an automatic game misconduct and a one-game suspension.
Any player hitting his opponent’s goaltender will be penalized.
Major Penalties
For a “MAJOR PENALTY”, the offending player shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty and the offending team shall be short-handed for five minutes, during which time no substitute shall be permitted.
Misconduct Penalties
A “MISCONDUCT PENALTY” involves the removal of a player, other than a goalkeeper, for a period of 10 minutes, but another player is permitted to immediately replace a player so removed. A player whose misconduct penalty has expired shall remain on the penalty bench until the next stoppage of play.
A “GAME MISCONDUCT” penalty involves the suspension of a player for the balance of the game, but a substitute is permitted to replace the player so removed. The ejected player will receive an indefinite suspension and will be considered for reinstatement after meeting with the BRIHA Officials. A 1-game suspension shall be imposed for ANY “game misconduct.”
Fighting
A 2-game suspension shall be imposed for fighting. Any Player who engages in their 2nd fight in a season suspension 6 games. Any Player who engages in their 3rd fight in a season suspension (16 games) is automatic. The suspension could be resumed next season until 16 games are complete.
Delayed Penalties
If a third player of any team is penalized while two players of the same team are serving penalties, the penalty time of the third player shall not commence until the penalty time of one of the two players already penalized has elapsed. Nevertheless, the third player penalized must immediately proceed to the penalty bench and may be replaced by a substitute until such time as the penalty time of the penalized player shall commence.
Calling of Penalties
Should an infraction of the rules be committed by a player of the team in possession of the puck, the Referee shall immediately stop play and assess the penalty(s) to the offending player(s).
Abuse of Officials and Other Misconduct
Any player who challenges or disputes the ruling of an Official attempts to incite an opponent or create a disturbance during the game shall be assessed a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. If the player persists in such conduct, a misconduct penalty shall be assessed and any further persistence by the same player shall result in the assessment of a game misconduct penalty.
Any player who shoots the puck/ball after the whistle shall be assessed a minor penalty if, in the opinion of the Referee, the player had sufficient time after the whistle to refrain from taking the shot.
Body-Checking, Boarding, Charging, Checking from behind, Cross-Checking
A minor penalty or major plus a game misconduct penalty, at the discretion of the Referee, shall be assessed to any player who intentionally body-checks an opponent, with or without the puck; who makes physical contact with an opponent after the whistle has been blown; who fouls an opponent in such a manner that caused the player to be violently thrown into the boards; who runs, jumps into, or charges an opponent; who cross-checks an opponent; who body-checks or charges a goalkeeper while the goalkeeper is within the goal crease or privileged area.
A goalkeeper is not “fair game” just because the goalkeeper is outside the privileged area. A penalty for interference or charging must be assessed in every case where an opposing player makes unnecessary contact with a goalkeeper.
Delaying the Game
A minor penalty shall be assessed to any player or goalkeeper, who delays the game by deliberately shooting, batting or throwing the puck/ball outside the playing area. This penalty shall also be assessed when it occurs during a stoppage of play. Intentional delay of the game by a goalkeeper shall be assessed at the discretion of the Referee.
A minor penalty shall be assessed to a player or goalkeeper who delays the game by deliberately displacing the goal post from its normal position. Play shall be stopped immediately when the goal post has been displaced.
Elbowing, Kneeling, Holding, Hooking, Interference
A minor penalty or major plus a game misconduct penalty shall be assessed to any player who uses the elbow or knee in such a manner as to foul an opponent, in any way; to a player who holds an opponent with the hands, legs, feet, stick, or in any other way; to any player who grabs or holds the face mask of an opponent with the hand; to a player who impedes or seeks to impede the progress of an opponent by hooking with the stick; to any player who interferes with or impedes the progress of an opponent who is not in possession of the puck/ball, deliberately knocks a stick out of an opponent’s hand, prevents a player who has dropped the stick or any other piece of equipment from regaining possession of it, or shoots a stick or other object toward an opponent.
Kicking Player
A minor or major, at the discretion of the Referee, shall be assessed to a player who kicks an opponent.
When a player injures an opponent as the result of ‘kicking’, the Referee shall assess a major plus game misconduct to the offending player.
Slashing, Tripping
Referees should penalize as “slashing” any player who swings the stick at an opponent (whether in or out of range) without actually making contact, or when a player on the pretext of playing the puck/ball makes a wild swing at the puck/ball with the intent to intimidate an opponent; to any player who places the stick, leg, knee, foot, arm, hand, or elbow in such a manner that it causes an opponent to trip or fall.
Unnecessary Roughness (Roughing)
At the discretion of the Referee, a minor or double minor penalty may be assessed to any player who uses unnecessary roughness against an opponent.
A minor penalty for unnecessary roughness must be assessed every time an opposing player makes unnecessary physical contact with the player in possession of the puck.
It is not the intent to penalize incidental contact between two opposing players who are actively in pursuit of the puck. The act of riding an opponent of the puck shall not be considered to be roughing. However, this does not allow the player without the puck to throw his or her body into the opponent to achieve possession.
Penalty Shot
In cases where a player was fouled in a manner that warrants a penalty shot, the player fouled shall be designated to take the penalty shot. If the fouled player is injured on the play, the Captain shall designate any non-penalized player who was on the playing surface at the time of the infraction to take the penalty shot.
In cases where the player fouled is not identifiable, the
Coach or the Captain of the non-offending team selects and reports to the Referee the number of any non-penalized player who was on the playing surface at the time of the infraction, who shall take the shot.
The Referee shall cause to be announced the name and number of the player taking the penalty shot, who cannot be a player serving a penalty or have been assessed a delayed penalty.
The players of both teams shall withdraw to their player benches.
The Referee shall place the puck on the centre face-off spot.
Only a player designated as a goalkeeper shall defend against the Penalty Shot.
The goalkeeper shall stay in his crease until the player has touched the puck.
The player shall, on instructions of the Referee and once the puck is touched, play the puck and proceed toward his opponent’s goal line and attempt to score on the goalkeeper.
If the player misses the puck and does not touch the puck on the way past it as it sits on the centre face-off spot, then the player can return and continue with the Penalty Shot.
Once the puck is shot the play shall be considered complete, and no goal can be scored by a second shot of any kind.
If a goal is scored, the face-off shall take place at the centre face-off spot.
Broken Stick
A player or goalkeeper whose stick is broken shall not receive a stick thrown onto the playing surface but may receive a stick from a teammate on the playing surface at the time without proceeding to his player bench.
If a player or goalkeeper, whose stick is broken, does not immediately drop the broken portions and continue to play, a minor penalty shall be assessed.
If the goalkeeper goes to the player bench during a stoppage of play to replace his stick and then returns back to resume play, a minor penalty shall be assessed.
However, if the goalkeeper is changed for the substitute goalkeeper, no penalty shall be assessed.
The goalkeeper is allowed to go to the player bench and change his stick when the play is in progress.
If a player participates in the play while taking a replacement stick to a player or goalkeeper, a minor penalty shall be assessed.
If a player, whose stick is broken receives a stick during play from a teammate on the penalty bench, the receiving player shall be assessed a minor penalty.
Puck Striking Official
Play shall not be stopped because the puck touches a Referee anywhere on the rink.
Refusing to Start Play
If, when both teams are on the playing surface, one team for
any reason shall refuse to play when ordered to do so by the
Referee, the Captain shall be warned and the team so refusing shall be allowed thirty seconds to begin the game or resume play. If, at the end of that time the team shall still refuse to play, the Referee shall assess a bench minor penalty to the offending team.
Should there be a recurrence of the same incident, the Referee(s) shall suspend the game, and the circumstances shall be reported to the League Authorities for further action.
If a team, when ordered to do so by the Referee(s), fails to leave the dressing room and go onto the playing surface promptly, it shall be assessed a bench minor penalty.
If after the assessment of a bench minor penalty, the team shall still refuse to go onto the playing surface and start play within two minutes, the Referee(s) shall declare the game a forfeit and the score shall be recorded as with 1-0 or the current score, whichever is more advantageous for the no offending team.
High Sticks
The carrying of the stick above the normal height of the shoulders is prohibited. The Referee shall assess a minor penalty or a major plus a game misconduct penalty to any player who strikes an opponent with a stick so carried.
When a player injures an opponent as the result of “high sticking,” the Referee shall assess a major plus a game misconduct penalty to the offending player.
Batting the puck above the normal height of the shoulders with the stick is prohibited and when it occurs play shall be stopped and the ensuing face-off shall take place at an end zone face-off spot of the offending player’s team unless:
The puck is batted to an opponent, in which case the play shall continue.
A player of the defending team shall bat the puck/ball into the player’s own goal, in which case the goal shall be allowed.
Kicking Puck
Kicking the puck shall be permitted in all zones; however, a goal that is scored as the result of the puck being kicked by an attacking player and entered the goal either directly or after deflecting off any player including the goalkeeper, shall not be allowed.
Hand Pass to a Teammate
Permitted in Defending Zone.
Face Offs
The puck shall be ‘faced-off’ by the Referee dropping the puck onto the playing surface between the sticks of the two players facing-off. Players facing off shall stand facing their opponent’s end of the rink with the blade of their sticks in contact with nearest while area of the face-off spot and clear of the red centre area of the spot. The attacking team player shall be the first player to place the stick on the playing surface.
If a player facing-off fails to take the proper position immediately when directed by the Referee, the Referee may order a replacement for that face-off by a teammate on the playing surface.
No other player shall be allowed to enter the face-off circle or come within four and one-half (4 ½) meters of the players facing-off the puck, and they must stand on-side on all face-offs.
When a player, other than the player facing-off, fails to maintain the proper position, the centre of the offending team shall be ejected from the face-off.
For a second violation of any of the provisions of this rule, a minor penalty shall be assessed to the player who commits the second violation.
No substitution of players shall be permitted until the face-off has been completed and play has been resumed except when any penalty is assessed during the face-off.
The whistle shall not be blown to start play. Playing time shall commence from the instant the puck is faced-off and shall stop when the whistle is blown.
If, after a warning by the Referee, either of the players fails to take the proper position for the face-off promptly, the Referee shall be entitled to conduct the face-off regardless of such default.
During the conduct of any face-off, no player shall make any physical contact with an opponent except in the course of playing the puck after the face-off has been completed.
For a violation of this rule the Referee shall assess a minor penalty to the player whose action caused the physical contact.
‘Conduct of any face-off’ commences when the Referee designates the spot of the face-off and takes up a position to drop the puck.
A face-off shall be conducted at the beginning of each period and after any stoppage of play. All face-offs will only be conducted at the nine designated face-offs spots.
When a stoppage of play occurs between the end zone faceoff spots and the near end of the rink, the ensuing face-off shall take place at the end zone face-off spot on the side where the stoppage occurred, unless otherwise provided in these rules.
When a violation of a rule has been committed or a stoppage of play has been caused by any player of the attacking team in the Attacking Zone, the ensuing face-off shall take place at the nearest high-zone face-off spot.
This includes a stoppage of play caused by a player of the attacking team shooting the puck onto the back of the defending team’s goal without any intervening action by the defending team.
When a rule violation has been committed or a play stoppage has been caused by players of both teams, the ensuing faceoff shall take place at the face-off spot nearest to the puck was last played.
When players are penalized at a stoppage of play so as to result in penalties being placed on the penalty time clock to one team, the ensuing face-off shall be conducted at one of the two end zone face-off spots in the offending team’s end zone. There are only four exceptions to this application:
1.) When a penalty is assessed after the scoring of a goal – face-off at centre face-off spot.
2.) When a penalty is assessed at the end (or start) of a period – face-off at centre face-off spot.
3.) When the defending team is about to be penalized and the attacking players enter the attacking zone beyond the outer edge of the end zone face-off circles – face-off at the High Zone face-off spots.
4.) When the team not being penalized illegally clears the puck, the face-off shall be at the High Zone face-off spot of the team icing the puck.
When a goal is legally scored, the ensuing face-off shall be conducted at the centre face-off spot.
When the game is stopped for any reason not specifically covered in the Official Playing Rules, the ensuing face-off shall take place at the face-off spot nearest to where the puck was last played.
