Hockey Canada has made half ice games
mandatory at the novice level for the
2019-20 season. Hockey PEI along with other
Atlantic branches are introducing half-ice
games for the 2017-18 season in
preparation for the 2019-20 mandate.
In half-ice games players receive more puck
touches more shot attempts and shots on goal.
More passing and receiving more stops and starts, plus more playing time for all players.
The following video demonstrates how half-ice games will be played on Prince Edward Island.
Teams will warm-up in opposite ends of
the rink for three minutes after the
dividers and nets have been set up for
half-ice play.
At the completion of warm-up, half of
Team A and Team B will change ends as shown here.
The home team will use the nets on the goal line, and the visiting team will use the center ice nets.
Each game will consist of two 25-minute halves.
Half-ice Novice games are non-checking and shall be played either four versus four, or three versus three.
There is no off-sides or icing, no scores kept
and no game sheets are needed.
There will be an opening face-off in each end at the start of the game and at the start of the second half.
Those will be the only face-offs of the game.
On a frozen puck by the goalie or when a goal is scored
the same procedure will occur.
The referee will signal the attacking players to vacate the zone beyond the ringette line or top of circles.
Once the attackers have exited the zone,  they may re-enter to resume play immediately.
They may not challenge the opposition until they have all exited the zone.
In the event a puck goes out of play over the dividers, glass, or boards the referee will provide a new puck.
In this example. Team A shoots the puck 
over the divider.
This forces Team A to clear the zone
while the referee provides a new puck to Team B, play will resume immediately.
Teams will share both benches as shown here.
Line changes will happen in each end every minute on the sound of the buzzer or whistle.
Once the buzzer or whistle sounds, players must relinquish control of the puck immediately
and vacate the ice. Failure to relinquish control of the
puck at the buzzer or new players
entering the ice surface prematurely may
result in a penalty for the offending team.
In the event a penalty is called
the offending player will miss their
next shift.  The on-ice official will raise
their arm to signal a penalty has been committed.
At the end of the shift the referee will inform the coach that the
offending player will miss their next
ship resulting in the offending team
playing short-handed for one minute.
As mentioned earlier the game is divided into two 
25-minute halves.
As shown here after the first half, the visiting team will switch ends
so players can play against the other half 
of the home team.
Please note, the visiting team is the
only team that changes benches.
Once the visiting team has changed benches, a face-off occurs and play continues until the end of the game.
Thank you for watching.
With your cooperation, together we can
provide our Novice players with a
positive and fun game environment that
will maximize each player's skill
development and ice time. For more
information turn to the Novice hockey
guide under coaching resources at HockeyPEI.com.
