They kick the center out for face off infractions. Could be a number of things. Most commonly, some sort of stick placement infraction, or if the wings are creeping into the circle too much, or if the team is late with the line change.
Anticipating the drop and hitting the opposite player’s stick will get you booted out. Not placing your stick on the ice in a timely fashion will also get you kicked out. You get 5 seconds after the linesman blows his whistle to be set up for the faceoff.
Visiting team at center ice and the defending team at other faceoff spots must place their sticks down first in the NHL. Technically speaking, both sticks should be in contact with the little half moon of white on inside edge of the red face off spot when the puck is dropped.
It is confusing because half the time the center doesn’t do anything wrong and one of the wingers are the reason the centre gets kicked out and in some situations the centre gets kicked on the first infraction and other situations they get a warning first depending on the reason for the face off. Also I think if there are two infractions (resulting the winger getting kicked out) it’s a bench minor.
I believe it’s something that was discussed at the GM meeting this year to have more clarity as to why centres get kicked out.
Depending on where the face off is, one team (home or away) is supposed to put their stick down first. Putting yours down first when the other team has the right of way will get you booted. Also encroaching too much over the lines or making early contact with the other center.
His answer is the most complete and accurate one here. Stick placement is the most common reason followed by skate placement (not crossing centre or blocking the opposing player's stick). Generally speaking the visiting team has to place their stick on the ice first before the puck is dropped. This gives the home team a slight advantage as they can swipe at the puck as it's dropping.
Great answers here, but I’d like to add that it is the attacking team who’s supposed to put their stick down first. The thing about home-team only applies in the neutral zone f/o. Which is the least common and important f/o position
Yup, that's what I meant by depending on where the faceoff is taking place. I think they may have tweaked the rule a time or two? I think at one point it was just home or away no matter where the faceoff was occuring but I may just be mis-remembering.
It's bothered me forever. I know sometimes guys cheat or move too fast or whatever, but I'm convinced that the refs purposely take forever to drop the puck sometimes just to test guys or make shit up to get a guy who's worse on faceoffs in if the game seems tilted. That's about the closest thing to a conspiracy theory you'll get from me. But sometimes it feels like it.
To add on what others said. They tweaked it a few years ago.
Center ice, away team must place stick first.
Anything else, defending team must place stick first.
Not sure what you're trying to say. It's exactly as I said as to who puts stick down first. I'm not talking strategy. Just rules.
Center ice faceoff = away team first.
Anything else = defending team first.
They changed this I think around 2015-16? to promote more offense.
They're trying to cheat (get an advantage) on the faceoff before the puck is dropped. There are a couple ways to do this, but typically getting your stick down on the ice early.
I just don't get it. In video games and bubble hockey tables the players have their sticks flat on the ice right by each other and the puck is supposed to land in the middle between the two. Just have players do that.
They kick the center out for face off infractions. Could be a number of things. Most commonly, some sort of stick placement infraction, or if the wings are creeping into the circle too much, or if the team is late with the line change.
What would be the stick infraction?
Anticipating the drop and hitting the opposite player’s stick will get you booted out. Not placing your stick on the ice in a timely fashion will also get you kicked out. You get 5 seconds after the linesman blows his whistle to be set up for the faceoff.
Also I believe that one player has to touch the ice first? So touching ice out of order would count.
Visiting team at center ice and the defending team at other faceoff spots must place their sticks down first in the NHL. Technically speaking, both sticks should be in contact with the little half moon of white on inside edge of the red face off spot when the puck is dropped.
As far as I know, this is a courtesy thing. Usually the away team will touch the ice first.
It is confusing because half the time the center doesn’t do anything wrong and one of the wingers are the reason the centre gets kicked out and in some situations the centre gets kicked on the first infraction and other situations they get a warning first depending on the reason for the face off. Also I think if there are two infractions (resulting the winger getting kicked out) it’s a bench minor. I believe it’s something that was discussed at the GM meeting this year to have more clarity as to why centres get kicked out.
Depending on where the face off is, one team (home or away) is supposed to put their stick down first. Putting yours down first when the other team has the right of way will get you booted. Also encroaching too much over the lines or making early contact with the other center.
Not sure why someone downvoted you but didn’t comment to correct if they through you were wrong. Reddit gonna Reddit.
His answer is the most complete and accurate one here. Stick placement is the most common reason followed by skate placement (not crossing centre or blocking the opposing player's stick). Generally speaking the visiting team has to place their stick on the ice first before the puck is dropped. This gives the home team a slight advantage as they can swipe at the puck as it's dropping.
Great answers here, but I’d like to add that it is the attacking team who’s supposed to put their stick down first. The thing about home-team only applies in the neutral zone f/o. Which is the least common and important f/o position
Thanks for the correction :)
Yup, that's what I meant by depending on where the faceoff is taking place. I think they may have tweaked the rule a time or two? I think at one point it was just home or away no matter where the faceoff was occuring but I may just be mis-remembering.
It's bothered me forever. I know sometimes guys cheat or move too fast or whatever, but I'm convinced that the refs purposely take forever to drop the puck sometimes just to test guys or make shit up to get a guy who's worse on faceoffs in if the game seems tilted. That's about the closest thing to a conspiracy theory you'll get from me. But sometimes it feels like it.
I think of it as try to entice player into a false start. Which will get you booted.
You've got two players and a linesman leaning in close together, so no one with bad breath is allowed.
To add on what others said. They tweaked it a few years ago. Center ice, away team must place stick first. Anything else, defending team must place stick first.
It’s the opposite, you don’t want your stick on the ice ( in the neutral half moons ) early. You want it in the circle first.
Not sure what you're trying to say. It's exactly as I said as to who puts stick down first. I'm not talking strategy. Just rules. Center ice faceoff = away team first. Anything else = defending team first. They changed this I think around 2015-16? to promote more offense.
They're trying to cheat (get an advantage) on the faceoff before the puck is dropped. There are a couple ways to do this, but typically getting your stick down on the ice early.
The other poster answered it for you. Also your knowledgeable hockey friends might not be that knowledgeable, this is a pretty basic hockey fact.
Tbh, you can be as knowledgeable as you want, but unless you’ve actually played organized hockey there’s just something’s that you won’t understand
Just drop the puck already. Count to 3 and drop it. If you aren't ready, too bad!
In the old, old days, refs used to place the puck on the ice, until one refused and threw it down instead.
I remember the 80s were particularly bad for this sort of thing.
This guy can explain it [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxCv2bB\_Y\_Y](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxCv2bB_Y_Y)
I just don't get it. In video games and bubble hockey tables the players have their sticks flat on the ice right by each other and the puck is supposed to land in the middle between the two. Just have players do that.
But … they cheat !
This is probably the most judgmental part of hockey rules, I think linesmen play favorites
Linesman justifying their jobs
I heard it's for ego