Section Four: Disconnection Procedure

Section Four: Disconnection Procedure

The following section provides information for player(s) to understand how to handle in-game disconnections.

4.1 Player Loses Connection
This section outlines what is to occur when a single player loses connection during a game, or prior to a game starting.

4.1.1 Player Loses Connection Prior to the Game's Start

If a player loses connection before the game starts, that player is given a maximum of ten minutes to reconnect and re-join the game session.
During that allotted time, the team who had the player disconnect has the option to replace that player with an ECU or a roster substitute.
If that decision is made, the player who lost connection is ineligible to return for play.

Recommended Best Practice

Follow the process outlined for additional time in Article II, Section 3.3.1.

4.1.2 Player Loses Connection on the Opening Face-Off

If a player loses connection prior to/or during the ﬁrst face-off of a game, the game is to be stopped immediately, and all players (both teams) are to back out of the game.
- The easiest way would be to have the goaltender leave the game, or the EASHL Pro Club member (if only one) leave the game.
The game is to then be restarted. There is no penalty issued to either team.

Recommended Best Practice

Restart the game as soon as possible so that the game can start as close to on-time as possible.

4.1.3 Player Loses Connection During a Game

If a player loses connection after the opening face-off of a game, the play will continue up until the very next stoppage in play.
- The teams will take note of the time the disconnection occurs as it will come into play for the restart.
- Approximately 02:30 minutes of in-game time will need to be added to the disconnection time.
  - This additional time is only added on if the disconnection occurs in Period 2 or 3 (explained further below).
  - However, if the disconnection procedure is followed and another disconnection occurs after teams reset and add the original 02:30 minutes of in-game time, both teams are not required to add any additional time as the 02:30 minutes of in-game time would have been added with the prior disconnection.
All plays including goals, penalties, etc — up until the very next stoppage in play count and will be honored!
Once the stoppage has occurred, both teams are to have their goaltenders leave the game session which will prompt the game to end immediately.
- Prior to the game restarting, teams are to determine the added time to the game to compensate for the player's disconnection.
- Upon the game restarting, at the opening face-off the team which had a player lose connection to the game shall win the face-off and maintain possession of the puck.
- That team will retain possession of the puck until the in-game score clock reaches approximately the same time plus 02:30 minutes added (if needed) in which both teams left the previous game.
- At that said time, the team with the puck possession is to take a "delay of game" minor penalty, by dumping the puck over the glass from within their own defensive zone.
- This penalty is taken due to the fact the team had a player lose connection during the game.

Additional Information

In the above section, "approximately the same time" refers to the time and Period in which the game was stopped after the disconnection (Period 2 or 3).
- As an example, if a player loses connection ten minutes into the 2nd Period, and the play continues until the 10-minute mark of the 2nd Period prior to both teams backing out.
- The game will be required to resume play from the 12:30-minute mark of the 1st Period.
  - This time is calculated from the 10:00 minutes plus the 02:30 minutes from the player disconnection.
For a further explanation, please reference the information below for when a player disconnects.
If a disconnection occurs and play continues after the ﬁrst whistle, all stats will be deemed invalid after that point.
When resetting a scenario prior to a disconnection, make sure all player(s) remain in the neutral zone to prevent the Stamina | Full Pressure meter going up.

1st Period Disconnection:

If a player(s) disconnects in the 1st Period, teams are required to play until the next whistle or stoppage of play.
Once the stoppage has occurred, both teams are to have their goaltenders leave the game session which will prompt the game to end immediately.
The team that had the disconnection occur will be required to take a minor penalty upon restarting the game.
- This time is determined as the exact time a player(s) disconnects from the game.
- Once the approximate time has been reached, the team with possession of the puck will dump the puck into the benches to signal another face-off draw at center ice. The game will then resume as normal and continue until there is a winner.
No additional time will be needed to add to the in-game clock.

2nd Period Disconnection

If a player(s) disconnects in the 2nd Period, teams are required to play until the next whistle or stoppage of play.
Once the stoppage has occurred, both teams are to have their goaltenders leave the game session which will prompt the game to end immediately.
The team that had the disconnection occur will be required to take a minor penalty upon restarting the game.
- This time is determined as the exact time a player(s) disconnects from the game.
- Once the approximate time has been reached, the team with possession of the puck will dump the puck into the benches to signal another face-off draw at center ice. The game will then resume as normal and continue until there is a winner.
An additional 02:30 minutes of in-game time will be added to the time of the disconnection.
- If the disconnection occurs between 20:00 and 17:30 of the 2nd Period, teams are required to add 02:30 minutes of in-game time to the start of the 3rd Period.
  - If a disconnection occurs and gameplay continues after the ﬁrst whistle, all stats will be deemed invalid after that point.
  - If a disconnection occurs during the extra 02:30 minute window of the 3rd Period (to compensate for the ﬁnal minute lost), teams will be required to use the custom intervals listed below in the 3rd Period Disconnection section.
- If the disconnection occurs between 17:29 and 00:00 of the 2nd Period, the 02:30 minutes of in-game time will need to be added.

3rd Period Disconnection

If a player(s) disconnects in the 3rd Period, teams are required to play until the next whistle or stoppage of play.
Once the stoppage has occurred, both teams are to have their goaltender leave the game session which will prompt the game to end immediately.
The team that had the disconnection occur will be required to take a minor penalty upon restarting the game.
- This time is determined as the exact time a player(s) disconnects from the game.
- Once the approximate time has been reached, the team with possession of the puck will dump the puck into the benches to signal another face-off draw at center ice. The game will then resume as normal and continue until there is a winner.
An additional 02:30 minutes of in-game time will be added to the time of the disconnection.
- If the disconnection occurs between 20:00 and 00:31 of the 3rd Period, the 02:30 minutes of in-game time will need to be added.
- If the disconnection occurs between 00:30 and 00:00 of the 3rd Period, a custom interval of time is to be added.
  - Disconnections between 00:25 and 00:30 will require 02:30 of added time. Teams are required to run down the clock until the 02:30 mark in the 1st Period.
  - Disconnections between 00:19 and 00:24 will require 02:00 of added time. Teams are required to run down the clock until the 02:00 mark in the 1st Period.
  - Disconnections between 00:13 and 00:18 will require 01:30 of added time. Teams are required to run down the clock until the 01:30 mark in the 1st Period.
  - Disconnections between 00:07 and 00:12 will require 01:00 of added time. Teams are required to run down the clock until the 01:00 mark in the 1st Period.
  - Disconnections between 00:01 and 00:06 will require 00:30 of added time. Teams are required to run down the clock until the 00:30 mark in the 1st Period.

Recommended Best Practice

This is where having an ECU on-call can be helpful. If the player(s) cannot return, it can result in a forfeit. Therefore, the best option is always to have an ECU ready to ﬁll in.

4.1.4 Unable to Return

If for any reason, a player(s) is unable to connect in order to ﬁnish a game that has started, that player(s) must be replaced with an ECU, not another roster player(s).
The game will register as both a game played for the player(s) who lost connection and the ECU replacement. All stats are to be recorded for both players.
The team is given a maximum of ten minutes to get an ECU player(s) to replace the original player(s). Failure to do so results in the other team being permitted to take a forfeit. The ten minutes will start from the time that the game is stopped.

4.1.5 In-Game Black Screen Glitch

On a rare occasion, a glitch in the game will occur where a player’s screen will be completely black. While this occurs, a player will only be able to see the on-screen scorebug and player indicators.
If this black screen glitch occurs, the player may leave the game and request that their team also leave the game as soon as it occurs.
When this scenario occurs, a team/player must provide proof of stream or screenshots of the issue. If proof is provided, then the team will not need to take an in-game penalty for a disconnection.
However, any goals or plays that occur while the glitch is active (until the next whistle or team leaves fully), will count.

Recommended Best Practice (for players)

Always be ready to capture a screenshot, clip or stream when the issue occurs.
- Make sure to have your VODs set to on and viewable by anyone.
Be sure to leave the game as soon as the issue occurs to prevent any issues of scoring or penalties in-game, and present the case to the League Staff for further assistance.
- Once proof is provided, the League Staff can determine the outcome.

4.2 Goaltender or Multiple Player Disconnections
This section outlines what is to occur in situations where a goaltender or multiple players disconnect at the same time.

Goaltender Disconnections
- If the goaltender for either team loses connection, the game should end immediately due to how the game is programmed. If the game does not end immediately after the goaltender disconnects, the game will continue up until the next whistle!
- All plays up until the next whistle will count. Once the play stops, the game is to be paused, stat pictures are to be taken, and all players are to leave the game.
- Upon restart, both teams proceed to their ends of the ice and wait until the clock reaches the time in which the last game session ended.
- Once the time is reached, the team’s goaltender that lost connection is to take a delay of game penalty (default penalty taker for goaltenders is considered the right-winger) by skating into their own end and ﬂip-dump the puck over the glass, creating a delay of game penalty, any other necessary penalties are to be applied, then the game is to resume.

4.2.2 Multiple Player Disconnections Disconnections

If any combination of two or more players (regardless of what team or combination of teams) lose connection during the game after the puck is dropped to start a Period, the game is to be played out until the next whistle. All plays up until the next whistle will count.
Once the play stops, the game is to be paused, stat pictures are to be taken, and all players are to leave the game. If an equal number of players on each team lose connection, their disconnection penalties cancel out.
If two or more players disconnect on only one team, those players must all take disconnection penalties upon restart.

4.3 Restitution Penalties

Restitution penalties are taken once a game restarts after a disconnection. In order to take the penalty quickly and effectively, the team required to take the penalty is to be allowed to win the face-off. Once they win the face-off, the team is to give the puck to their player, who is required to take the penalty.
Once that occurs, and the player has possession of the puck, that player is to skate into their own end and ﬂip-dump the puck over the glass, creating a delay of game penalty.
This is to be repeated in situations where multiple penalties are required.
In a situation where a 05:00-minute major penalty occurs in-game, the scenario is almost near impossible to replicate. To compensate for this, the player who initially had a 05:00-minute major penalty is to take a delay of game penalty, and then upon returning to the ice, is to take another delay of game penalty to make it a 5-on-4 for 04:00 minutes (split). This will at best compensate for the 05:00-minute major penalty.
- The other alternative would be to have the opposing team win the face-off, then the player goes for a charging penalty, and then either goes for a boarding penalty or tripping penalty to make it a 5-on-4 for 04:00 minutes.

Recommended Best Practice

The team that needs to take the penalty should be allowed to win the draw. Then the puck should be given to the player who is required to take the penalty. Once that player has possession, a delay of game penalty is the quickest and more effective penalty to take.

4.4 Coincidental Penalties
In situations where both teams have an equal amount of penalties, both teams are not required to take restitution penalties.

Recommended Best Practice

Common sense states that if both teams are to take an equal amount of disconnection penalties, then no penalties are required to be taken by either team. This will allow for the game to be played more eficiently.

4.5 Restarting Process
After a disconnection occurs, a restart of the game session is required.

Additional Information

In a situation where a goaltender disconnects or multiple player disconnections occur during a power play, once the game is restarted, the original power play must be honored.
Once the clock reaches the time that was remaining in the original penalty, then the additional restitution penalty can be taken.

4.7 Timeout Usage

Each team will only get one timeout usage per game.
If a game disconnects and a timeout was used prior to the disconnection, the team(s) that used their timeout will not get another one back upon the restart.

Section Four: Disconnection Procedure

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