Scott Anderson raised the question:
 
Scorekeeper uncertain after a penalty, so sounds the horn to
attract the ref's attention.  Succeeded (!) since he sounded the
horn whilst the puck was on its way towards (and eventually
into) the net from a shot after a pass from the face-off.
Goal, or no goal?  (With rule references to USA Hockey.)
 
Good question (ie I don't have a definitive answer!).
 
Rule 614 (Goals and Assists) (Note) "It is the responsibility of
the Referee to award goals and assists, and his decision in this
respect is final."
 
Rule 506 (Official Scorer) says nothing about sounding the horn.
 
Rule 507 (Game Timekeeper) (d) "The Game Timekeeper shall not sound
the horn or buzzer during play to notify the Referee .... ."
Though he is not subject to any penalty if he does!
 
Rule 111 (Signal and Timing Devices) talks about automatic goal
goal lights, in which case green signals the end of a period and
"A goal cannot be scored when a green light is showing."  Though
in talking about the connecting of the red light to the timing
device so that it can't be turned on once the period ends, it does
say "However, the fact that the Goal Judge may not be able to turn
on the red light does not necessarily mean that no goal has been
scored.  The determining factor is whether or not the puck
completely crosses the entire goal line before the period ends."
There are comments about goals vis a vis buzzer not sounding yet
clock ending the period, and also clock stopping near the end of
a period; but these don't apply since the buzzer did sound.
 
So far, the horn was improperly sounded, the period had not ended,
the puck had crossed into the goal.  So there is no _rule_ preventing
the awarding of a goal.
 
I haven't found a rule or manual reference to the instruction we get
at clinics to blow the whistle on hearing the horn at the end of a
period, however, that is what I've heard at each clinic I've attended,
and what most refs I've done games with tend to do.  So one could
argue that play must stop on hearing a whistle, but not on hearing
the horn alone.
 
If I'd been reffing that game (be thankful I wasn't !!!!), it would
have depended on whether I thought the goalie had had time to relax on
hearing the buzzer (thus admitting the puck), or whether the goalie
was still trying fully to prevent the goal.  (Also on whether it was
late in the game with the goal being important or not!)  If I had any
feeling that the goalie had eased up because of the horn I'd disallow
the goal, otherwise it would stand.
 
I don't have the current interpretations manual with me, so if anyone
else has it (and it says anything helpful), or if anyone has other
opinions ..........
 
Graeme.