For the 2019/20 season, the rule changes for the professional leagues DEL and DEL2 will also apply to everyone DEB leagues taken over. Six modifications will be implemented for the new season. All changes to the rules are intended to speed up the start of the game or to ensure the safety of the players. Due to the adjustments, the rules may deviate from the IIHF rules and regulations.
1. Lost stick
Previously, a lost club could only be brought to the stickless player by a fellow player in a hand-to-hand action. Pushing the stick was not permitted and was punished with a two-minute penalty. From now on, the stick can be pushed flat on the ice to the teammate again. However, this must not be done in the direction of the puck and the opposing team must not be hindered.
2. faceoff
If the face-off rules were violated, the center of the offending team was sent away from the face-off. From now on, the linesman will warn the offending team and the same center will repeat the pass. If a further violation of the rules is committed during the same face-off, a penalty will be assessed by the referee as usual.
3. Time out after icing
As of the 2019/20 season, a team that causes an icing (illegal long shot) is no longer allowed to take a timeout during the following interruption.
4. Procedure for ten-minute disciplinary sanctions
If a ten-minute disciplinary penalty is imposed and the player is unable to return from the penalty box due to playing time in the current third, the player in question will be sent to the locker room. At the beginning of the following period of play, the player takes a seat in the penalty box and returns to the game when the penalty expires.
5. Punished but injured players
If a player who has been penalized is unable to play due to injury, a substitute does not need to be appointed to serve the penalty as long as the penalty does not enter the clock. It is the team's responsibility to ensure that the player in question is not substituted on until the first interruption after the penalty has expired. This also applies if a player is unable to serve his disciplinary penalty due to an injury.
6. Losing the helmet on the ice
Previously, a player who lost his helmet during the game had to immediately go to the dugout and was not allowed to put his helmet back on. In the interests of safety, the player will be allowed to collect and put on his helmet again from the 2019/20 season. However, as usual, the player must immediately go to the bench and may not take part in the game in any way. Participation in the game counts as follows:
- play or direct the puck
- Make contact with the opponent carrying the puck
- block/restrict the path of the opponent carrying the puck
- close/restrict the lane for any pass
- block/restrict the path of an opponent who is not in possession of the puck
- If contact with a puck or opponent happens accidentally, this does not count as participation in the game.