Penalty (ice hockey)

A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behaviour. A referee makes all penalty calls. A linesman may call only obvious technical infractions such as too many men on the ice. The statistic used to track penalties is called penalties in minutes (PIM).

Related Topics:
Ice hockey - Punishment - Behaviour - Referee - Linesman

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During a penalty, the player who committed the infraction is sent to the penalty box. In most cases, the penalized team cannot replace that player and is thus shorthanded for the duration of the penalty. Normally, hockey teams have five skaters (excluding the goaltender), so if one penalty is called, play becomes five-on-four.

Related Topics:
Penalty box - Shorthanded - Goaltender

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This is called a power play for the attackers and a penalty kill for the defenders. A team is far more likely to score on a power play than during normal play. If the penalized team is scored on during a minor penalty, the penalty immediately ends.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When a penalty is called, play is not stopped until the penalized team gains control of the puck. Thus, deliberately taking a penalty will not stop an offensive onslaught by the opposing team. During delayed penalties, the other team's goaltender will often leave the ice to add an extra attacker, as it is almost impossible for the opposition to score. The opposition cannot propel the puck into the net in any way, however it is possible for the team in control of the puck to accidentally score on its own net.

Related Topics:
Extra attacker - Accidentally score on its own net

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When a goaltender draws a penalty, he does not go to the penalty box. His penalty is served by a player that was on the ice at the time of the infraction. A bench minor – a penalty assessed to the team as a whole or a team official – is also served by a player on the ice at the time of the infraction. The coach may choose which player he wishes to serve the penalty in either of these situations.

Related Topics:
Goaltender - Coach

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~