The Motorpoint Elite League will expand the use of Coach’s Challenges during the 2026/27 season, bringing all games fully in line with the IIHF Rule Book.

Last season, additional Coach’s Challenge situations were possible in the Challenge Cup Semi-Finals and Final, as well as Playoff Finals Weekend.

Alongside challenges for goalkeeper interference, coaches were able to challenge plays they believed involved an offside (play leading to a goal), or a missed stoppage in the attacking zone. This included situations such as a hand pass, the puck being played with a high stick or the puck going out of bounds.

Coaches were also able to challenge a minor penalty for Delaying the Game when a player was penalised for shooting the puck directly out of the playing surface. A challenge for ‘Delaying the Game – Puck Over the Glass’ can only be made when a penalty has been called on the ice. The opposing coach cannot challenge a play in order to have a penalty assessed.

For the 2026/27 season, these challenges will be available in every regular-season game in both the Motorpoint Elite League and Challenge Cup.

This means that all plays covered under Rule 38.2, Situations Subject to a Coach’s Challenge, will be available to coaches in every game.

“What is really important, and something we have explained to the coaches, is that they need to see clear evidence on the video before challenging a play,” said Liam Sewell, Head of Hockey Operations for the Motorpoint Elite League.

“A Coach’s Challenge is not an opportunity to ask the officials to take another look because a team isn’t sure what happened, or they think they saw something live that they want to look at. The coach needs to have seen something on the available video showing that there is clear conclusive evidence to overturn the on-ice all.

“If the evidence is not visible on the video, the officials will not be able to overturn the original on-ice call.”

In accordance with the IIHF Rule Book, an unsuccessful Coach’s Challenge, including any review determined to be inconclusive, will result in a two-minute penalty for Delaying the Game. A coach may challenge other plays later in the same game, but would then receive a four-minute penalty for Delaying the Game if the challenge is again unsuccessful, and so on.

A penalty assessed for an incorrect challenge for ‘Delaying the Game – Puck Over the Glass’ is an additional penalty to the one already being called. Both penalties go on the clock and the team loses an additional skater.

All challenges are available to coaches in pre-season if they choose to use them.