The PWHL has not been afraid to innovate, and make rules that they believe improve the quality of play. While these new rules are fun, sometimes new fans to the league have questions. We hope this page explaining the PWHL’s rules, from the “Jailbreak” to the “No Escape,” how bodychecking was brought back into women’s hockey, and how the playoff and draft orders are finalized help. If you have a question about another PWHL rule, feel free to send your questions.

PWHL Rules Explained

In Game Rules

Jailbreak Rule

This rule comes into effect when a team takes a penalty. The team that took the penalty will be playing with one (or two) fewer players on the ice. This is often referred to as being “shorthanded.” Usually, it’s the team who did not take the penalty, who has an extra player (or two) on the power play, who is expected to score. Sometimes, the team with fewer players on the ice scores a “shorthanded” goal. In the PWHL, when this happens, it’s called a “jailbreak.” If the shorthanded team scores, the player who took the penalty is allowed to leave the penalty box, ending the penalty. The rule incentivized offensive attacks while playing shorthanded.

This rule applies when a team scores after being assessed a “minor,” two-minute penalty (eg. tripping, hooking, delay of game). It does not apply when a player is assessed a “major,” five-minute penalty. Traditionally, the only way for a penalty to end is if the team on the power play scores, or the penalized team kills off the assessed time. The jailbreak rule provides another, fun, option.

No Escape Rule

Implemented ahead of the PWHL’s second season, the “No Escape Rule” states that any player on the ice when their team takes a penalty, must stay on the ice to start the penalty kill. Often when a penalty is assessed, the offending team sends on penalty kill specialists, who are defensive players. Similarly, they’ll often put on a line that has not been on the ice so they aren’t tired to begin a penalty kill.

The no escape rule forces those tired players to stay on the ice. At times, it also forces skaters to play a position they are not accustomed to. For example, if the center takes a penalty, a player who does not typically take face-offs will need to take the first draw. Similarly, if a defender is penalized, a forward may be forced to temporarily play defence. The rule is similar to the No-Player-Change Rule that follows an icing.

Bodychecking Rule

Bodychecking is back! That’s right, bodychecking in women’s hockey was the norm until the 1992 World Championships. After Sweden’s top league re-instated bodychecking in 2022, the PWHL became the second major women’s league to bring back bodychecking.

The PWHL’s bodychecking rule allows players to “angle their opponent,” using their body to separate an opponent from the puck. The rule states players must be moving in the same direction as their opponent. Also, any player who “holds her position on the ice with the puck carrier approaching her shall be permitted to enter into contact with her opponent with no penalty to be assessed.” It’s often this second point that causes on-ice confusion for fans and onlookers. An “illegal hit” in the PWHL is defined as a player making “deliberate contact with an opposing player with opposite-directional force, when a player leaves their skating lane to make contact, or when a player extends an arm, shoulder, or hip after angling an opponent.”

Bodychecking in the PWHL is allowed when the clear intention is to gain possession of the puck. Similarly, players are allowed to push and lean into each other as long as possession of the puck remains their sole objective. But also, the league has the exception of “holding their ground” meaning no player is required to move out of the way of a collision as long as they’ve established their stationary position. In this case, it’s the responsibility of the puck carrier to get out of the way of the defensive player.

While these are the rules, it’s important for fans to realize these situations are still called subjectively by the officials on the ice. In the PWHL, you’ll still see hits involving moving players travelling in opposite directions go unpenalized. It’s the combination of a player angling toward their opponent, attempting to gain the puck, and at times holding their ground that are weighed in. Even the most experienced fan can find a bit of confusion here, and you might as well, so just embrace the fun and physicality and join the debate. It’s one of the best parts of being a fan.

Shootouts

If a regular season PWHL game ends in a tie, a five-minute 3-on-3 overtime will ensue. When a goal is scored during overtime, the game is over. If no goal is scored, the game moves to a shootout. Each team will get (at least) five attempts. After five shots, the team with the most goals wins. If no winner is decided after five shots, the teams alternate in a first to score wins situation.

Points, Playoffs, and Picks

Point System

In most North American hockey leagues, teams get two points for a win, and one point for a tie, overtime loss, or shootout loss. The PWHL is rewarding teams who win in regulation with more. In the PWHL, teams that win regulation get three points. A team that wins in overtime or a shootout, gets two points. Finally, if a team loses in overtime or a shootout they get one point. Lose in regulation? No points. For new fans to the league, you may see frequent changes to the standings, as regulation wins can pile up points quickly.

Playoff Rules

The biggest rule difference in the PWHL as it relates to playoffs, is that the team who finishes first overall in the regular season gets to pick their opponent. Typically the first place team plays the last playoff qualifier, the second place team plays the second last playoff qualifier, and so on. In the PWHL however, the first place teams gets to pick their opponent. Why would they do that you ask? Well, the last playoff team may have won 10 straight coming into playoffs. Or the first place team may have fared poorly against the team they’d be matched up against in a traditional sense, and beat a different team all season.

Gold Plan

What is a gold plan? It’s a system to decide who gets the first overall pick in the PWHL Draft each year. Traditionally, some leagues give the first pick to the last place team, while others use a “lottery” featuring non-playoff teams. In the PWHL however, the league has adopted the Gold Plan. How does it work? As soon as a team is mathematically eliminated from the playoff race (ie. there is no possible way they can make the playoffs), they’re obviously no longer playing for playoff points. Instead, every point they earn from a win or overtime/shootout loss after being eliminated, counts toward earning the first overall pick. The team who collects the most points after being eliminated from playoff contention “wins” the first overall pick.

Rosters

Plenty of people ask questions about PWHL rosters. Currently, the PWHL requires each team to have 23 players signed to their full time roster. Each team is also allowed to have up to three players signed as “reserves.” Since the PWHL does not have a development or affiliate league, reserve players are usually called upon following an injury to help a roster. Most rosters in the PWHL feature three goaltenders, seven defenders, and 13 forwards.

Teams can also temporarily sign reserve players to 10-day contracts if a short term injury occurs to a regular player. This does not impact their 23 player roster. A team could have more than 23 players on their roster with players signed to 10-day contracts. If a team is forced to place a player on long term injured reserve, they must instead sign a player to a full time contract. This ensures they maintain the 23 player roster.

Have a question about league rules that we can add to this page? Send us an email.