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Rule 47  Charging

Charging shall mean the actions of a player who, as a result of distance traveled, shall violently check an opponent in any manner. A "Charge" may be the result of a check into the boards, into the goal frame or in open ice.

  1. A minor or major penalty shall be imposed on a player who skates or jumps into, or charges an opponent in any manner.
  2. When a major penalty is imposed under this Rule for a foul resulting in an injury to the face or head of an opponent, a game misconduct shall be imposed, and an automatic fine of one hundred dollars ($100).
  3. A minor, major or a major and a game misconduct shall be imposed on a player who charges a goalkeeper while the goalkeeper is within his goal crease.

    (NOTE) A goalkeeper is NOT "fair game" just because he is outside the goal crease area. The appropriate penalty should be assessed in every case where an opposing player makes unnecessary contact with a goalkeeper. However, incidental contact, at the discretion of the Referee, will be permitted when the goalkeeper is in the act of playing the puck outside his goal crease provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact.

    Although goalkeepers are provided with additional protection under Rule 78 -- Protection of the Goalkeeper, they are still subject to penalties for infractions of the rules that they commit in or out of the goal crease. Particular attention will be made by the Referees to goalkeepers that embellish the contact in an attempt to draw a penalty.

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