Rolling Out 2025-26 OHL Rule Changes

The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Board of Governors has recently approved a series of six playing rule changes for the 2025-26 season.

With the OHL partnering with Spiideo for enhanced in-venue video technology that includes faster incident analysis and a total of seven different camera angles league-wide, the following rule changes pertaining to disciplinary matters as well as coach’s challenge scenarios are being implemented for this season.

Rule 38.4 – Expanded Coach’s Challenge/Video Review

Previously, a coach’s challenge was only able to be utilized to review potential instances of interference on the goaltender leading to a goal, provided that team had a timeout remaining.

Effective for the 2025-26 regular season, coach’s challenges may be issued in the following scenarios, regardless of remaining timeouts:

• Scoring plays involving potential interference on the goaltender
• Potential offside play leading to a goal
• Missed game stoppage event in the offensive zone leading to a goal (ie; missed high stick by attacking team in offensive zone)
• Penalty situations for delaying the game (ie; puck over glass)
  • team may only challenge if a penalty is assessed on the play

An unsuccessful coach’s challenge in any of the above scenarios where the original call is not overturned will result in a minor penalty for delaying the game.

In the final minute of regulation and throughout overtime, the video goal judge will initiate the review of any scenario that would otherwise be subject to a coach’s challenge.

Rule 52 – Slew-Footing

Previously, a player guilty of slew-footing an opponent could only be assessed a match penalty, or have the infraction entirely overturned by way of video review.

Effective for the start of the 2025-26 season, players may now be assessed a four-minute double-minor for slew-footing.

Should the opposing player land dangerously on the ice or into the boards, a match penalty will be assessed.

All slew-footing infractions (both double-minor or match penalties) trigger a post-game review for possible supplementary discipline by the OHL Department of Player Safety.

Rule 63.8 – Delaying the Game

If a goalpost was accidentally dislodged by a defending skater, causing a stoppage in play, the ensuing face-off would occur inside the defending team’s zone, and no line changes would be permitted.

Effective for 2025-26, defending goaltenders have been added to the above criteria, preventing that goaltender’s team from making a line change should he accidentally dislodge the net.

Rule 76.4 – Faceoff Violations

Previously, on a faceoff following an icing call, the defending centreman would receive a warning for a faceoff violation, and the second infraction committed by the defending centreman would result in a minor penalty. The centreman for the attacking team would be ejected following his first faceoff violation.

Effective for 2025-26, both centremen on a faceoff following an icing will receive a warning following a faceoff violation, and the second violation by that same centreman will result in the offending team being assessed a minor penalty.

On all other faceoff scenarios, either centreman will be ejected from the faceoff circle following an infraction without warning. On a team’s third faceoff violation, they will be assessed a minor penalty.

Rule 75.2: Unsportsmanlike Conduct – Sitting on the Boards

In the interest of player safety, any player who sits on the boards (with skate(s) exposed) during play will be warned by the referee. The offending team (coach and players) will receive one warning. After one warning, a minor penalty will be assessed for any subsequent violation.

Rule 84.4 – Shootout Scrape

Previously, during the break between overtime and a shootout, the ice resurfacing machine would make four passes to clean 22-24 feet of the ice surface. Effective for 2025-26, only an ice cleaning crew will remove snow from the goal crease area without the need of the ice resurfacing machine.