Der Spielerwechsel während des laufenden Spiels, der Eishockey erst zur schnellsten Mannschaftsportart werden lässt, sorgt auch bei alten Hasen immer wieder für Diskussionsstoff. Grund dafür mag auch die „imaginäre Wechselzone“ sein, die jeder Zuschauer und gelegentlich auch der Referee räumlich anders auslegt. Die offizielle Verlautbarung laut IIHF-Regelbuch liest sich jedenfalls so:
410 – CHANGE OF PLAYERS AND GOALKEEPERS
a) Under the conditions set out in this section, the players and goalkeepers may be changed at any time during the play or during a stoppage of play.
b) If, during a substitution, the player entering the game plays the puck or makes any physical contact with an opponent while the retiring player is actually on the ice, there shall be a penalty.
➤ Bench Minor penalty for Too Many Players on the Ice (Rule 573).
c) If, during the substitution, either the entering player or retiring player is struck accidentally by the puck, the play shall not be stopped and no penalty called.411 – CHANGE OF PLAYERS AND GOALKEEPERS FROM THE PLAYER’S BENCH DURING PLAY
a) The players and goalkeepers may be changed at any time from the player’s bench while the game is in progress provided that:
1. The changing players and goalkeepers are within an imaginary area limited by the length of the respective player’s bench and 3 m from the boards,
2. The changing players and goalkeepers are out of the play before any change is made.
➤ Bench Minor penalty (see Rule 573)
b) If, when a goalkeeper leaves his goal crease and proceeds to his player’s bench for the purpose of substituting another player and if the substitution is made prematurely, the official shall stop the play when the offending team gains possession of the puck. The ensuing face-off shall take place at the center ice face-off spot, except in cases where the offending team would gain as a result a territorial advantage, in which cases the face-off shall be where the stoppage of play occurred (See Rule 440g)
Nun ist die Verwirrung komplett: Ist die Wechselzone nun 3 oder 1,5 Meter breit? Wir sind irritiert, würden jedoch die offizielle Version als Maßstab anlegen…
Weitere Regeln werden in unserer Wissensammlung erklärt.
