Hextall's Rule

Hextall’s Rule is a guideline used in ice hockey to determine whether a player who scores an own goal should be credited with a goal. It states that if a player intentionally knocks the puck into their own net with control, their own goal count is awarded to the opposing team’s scorer. Conversely, if the player’s own goal results from accidental contact or deflection without deliberate intent, the goal is not credited to them but counts as an own goal. This rule helps maintain fairness and clarity in official goal scoring decisions.