Video review of major penalties in 2024/25

Photo: Dean Woolley

Game officials will have the option to use video review to confirm major penalties or double-minor high-sticking calls in season 2024/25.

Available at both the 2024 Challenge Cup Final and Playoff Finals Weekend as a trial, the Elite League is adopting this part of the IIHF rulebook for the upcoming season.

"What's important to note is that officials can only review a play if the call on the ice is a major penalty. So this about confirming a call on the ice, rather than using video to re-referee a game," explained the EIHL's Head of Hockey Operations Liam Sewell. "Our officials will need to be calling a major penalty on the ice to be able to use the review. If there isn't a good angle of the play, or the video isn't working, the on-ice call stands.

"The decision to consult the video is at the discretion of the on-ice officials, they don't have to use it every time. And, of course, everything will be dependent on the angles available to the game officials in each building."

Major penalties
All major penalties except fighting are eligible for confirmation by video review (Rule 20.6). Officials can review a play in order to:

• ⁠Confirm the original major penalty
• ⁠⁠Downgrade a major to a minor
• ⁠⁠Remove the penalty altogether

Double-minor high-sticking
The only other penalty that can be reviewed is a double-minor for high-sticking (Rule 18.4). Here the option of video review is to confirm if a high stick was used, by which player, and/or was it a natural follow-through (Rule 60.1). Officials can review a play in order to:

• Confirm the double-minor
• ⁠Remove the penalty altogether

In both cases, as with video reviews for goal/no goal situations, the review will be conducted by the on-ice officials within the arena.

Video reviews on major penalties and double-minors for high-sticking can only be initiated by game officials - they are not plays on which coaches can challenge.