Major League Roller Hockey - Rules

Rules

While Major League Roller Hockey follows the general rules of inline hockey, it differs slightly from those used in National Hockey League games. Infractions of the rules can lead to either the stoppage of play in the case of offside and illegal clearing calls, or a penalty call for more serious infractions.

The league has different rules regarding being offside. First, the league only has an "offside pass" rule, which requires a stoppage in play if a pass originating from inside a team's defending zone was completed on the offensive side of the center line, unless the puck crossed the line before the player. Furthermore, the league also does not have an a standard "offside" rule resulting from skate position.

Another rule difference between MLRH and the NHL rules concerns how illegal clearings are called. In MLRH, a linesman stops play due to illegal clearing the moment the puck crosses the goal line, in contrast to the NHL rules where play is stopped if a defending play (other than the goaltender) touches the puck before an attacking player is able to. It is similar in that, when a team is guilty of illegally clearing the puck they are not allowed to make a line change before the following faceoff.

MLRH and the NHL differ also in penalty rules. In MLRH, a minor penalties called have a duration of one and one half minutes, while in the NHL, they have a duration of two minutes. Double minor penalties in MLRH have a duration of three minutes, as opposed to four minutes in the NHL. Major penalites in MLRH have a duration of four minutes, as opposed to five minutes in the NHL. Players who receive a second fighting major in MLRH games are ejected from the game, and suspended for two games immediately in contrast to the NHL rule. Usually a penalized team cannot replace a player that is penalized on the floor and is thus shorthanded for the duration of the penalty, but if the penalties are coincidental, for example when two players fight, both teams remain at full strength. Also, unlike minor penalties, major penalties must be served to their full completion, regardless of number of goals scored during the power play.

MLRH also has an instigator rule for players who wear half shields and cages. Any player wearing such who receives a high sticking penalty is assessed a double minor automatically. Any player who instigates a fight wearing such, is assessed a minor automatically, unless at the discretion of the official, the player takes his helmet off to square off with his foe.