The Officials

On-Ice

Referee—Wears orange armbands. He supervises the game, calls the penalties, determines goals and handles face-offs at center ice to start the game, and after a goal is scored.

Linesman—Two are used. They call offside, icing and handle all face-offs after the opening face-off. They do not call penalties, but can recommend to the referee that a penalty be called.

Off-Ice

Goal Judges—One sits off-ice behind each goal and indicates when the puck has crossed the goal line by turning on a red light. The referee can ask his advice on disputed goals, but the referee has final authority on whether or not a goal has been scored and can overrule the goal judge.

Official Scorer—He determines which player scores and credits assists if there are any. He may consult the referee, but the scorer is the final authority in crediting points.

The Game
Each hockey game consists of three 20-minute periods. There are two 15 minute intermissions, while the Zamboni resurfaces the ice. If the score is tied at the end of the final period, then a sudden death 4 on 4 overtime period of five minutes is played. This new overtime format was adopted by the WHL this season. If no team scores, the game ends in a tie, except during playoffs. The average duration of a Western Hockey League game is 2 1/2 hours.

Wait for the Whistle
The Spokane Chiefs employ the "wait for the whistle" policy. When the puck is in play please wait for the whistle to blow before leaving or returning to your seat. "Waiting for the whistle" makes the game much more enjoyable for the fans.

The Rules
The most common area creating confusion for the novice hockey fan is following breaks in the game caused by penalties. Having a better understanding of some of the most common penalties will drastically improve viewers ability to follow the game. A team plays shorthanded when one or more of its players is charged with a penalty. However, no team is forced to play more than two players short of full strength (six) at any time. When a third penalty is assessed to the same team, it is suspended until the first penalty expires. When a penalty is called on a goalie, a teammate who is on the ice at the same time of the penalty serves the goalie's time in the penalty box.

Minor Penalty—(two minutes) Called for tripping, hooking, slashing, charging, roughing, holding, elbowing, or boarding.

Major Penalty—(five minutes) Called for fighting or when minor penalties are commited with deliberate attempt to injure. Major penalties for slashing, spearing, high-sticking, butt-ending, and cross-checking carry automatic game misconducts.

Misconduct—(ten minutes) Called for various forms of unsportsmanlike behavior or when a player incurs a second major penalty in game. This is a penalty against an individual and not a team penalty, so a subtitute is permitted.

Penalty Shot—A free shot, unopposed except for the goalie. The shot is awarded to a player if he is illegally impeded from behind on a breakaway, or if any player on the defending team throws his stick at a player trying to score. The team which commits the offense is not penalized beyond the penalty shot.

Delayed Penalty—Whistle is delayed until the penalized team regains possesion of the puck and is signaled by the referee with his arm raised overhead.

	Elbowing—Tapping the elbow of the "whistle hand" with the opposite hand			Interference—Crossing arms in front of the chest with fists closed
	High-Sticking—Holding both fists clenched, one above the other at the side of the head			Misconduct—Placing both hands on hips
	Holding—Clasping the wrist of the "whistle hand" well in front of the chest			Roughing—A thrusting motion with the arm extending from the side
	Hooking—A tugging motion with both arms, as if pulling something toward the stomach			Slashing—A chopping motion with the edge of one hand across the forearm
	Icing—Extending the arm and pointing to penalized player			Cross-Checking—A forward and backward motion with both fists clenched extending from the chest