The player who plays the highest value card, which must also be higher than the Ref card, begins with control of the puck. If neither player has a card that is high enough, another ref card must be drawn, and the face off continues from there. If the players tie, they must throw a second card as a tie-breaker. The player controlling the puck then begins play. After a Save, both players burn another card, for the value.
Highest value has possession.
The Referees are another part of hockey. Cards from the Referee deck are dealt when a player plays a card, or an uninterrupted succession of cards, that totals more than 10. You draw the top card from the Ref Deck. If the card is the same color as the last card played that triggered the referees, then the penalty is against the player who dealt that card. If it is the other color, it is against the opposing player.