When a player commits a penalty infraction there are serveral differant outcomes for the player. It is at the discretion of the referee to determine the outcome.

 

Minor Penalty

 

 

A minor penalty is the most common infraction call in ice hockey (see table). Players have to leave ice for 2-4 minutes. This makes their team short handed(4 on 5 etc). If a goal is scored the player maybe allowed to return to the ice making the play even handed again (5 on 5). If the opposing team scores a goal the player who recieved the penalty can return to the ice if their team team is short-handed. If the team has multipul penalties called on them at the same time, the players can only return to the ice when there is a stoppage in play.

A bench minor penalty is against the team and can be for a number of resons: Too many players on the ice, time wasting.

 

 

Major Penalty

 

 

A major penalty is given for an action more severe than an infraction that incurs a minor penalty. Fighting will automatically recieve a major penalty. A player who receives a major penalty will serve 5 minutes of play off the ice, the players team will be short-handed. A major penalty does not end if a goal is scored against the short-handed team.

 

If major penalties are given to one player from each team at the same time, it is termed as a coincidental penalty. The offending players serve the penalty but the teams are allowed to subsitute the player leaving a 5 on 5 game play. The players remain in the penalty box until the next stoppage in play after serving the timed penalty. The coincidental penalty usually occurs with major penalites for fighting.

 

An automatic game misconduct penalty is given to a player who recieves three major penalties in a game. If a number of nfractions occur that result in a major penalty, a game misconduct is also automatically given. Calls for a major penalty include: fighting, spearing, butt-ending, charging and boarding.

 

 

Misconduct Penalty

 

 

A player will recieve 10 minutes for incurring a misconduct penalty. The player may be subsituted on the ice unless a minor penalty is incurred for the same incident. In this case another player "sits" the 2 minute minor penalty and can return to the ice when the 2 minutes has expired. The player serving the misconduct penalty can return to the ice at the first stoppage after the expiry of the penalty. Misconduct penalties include checking from behind and slashing.

 

Game Misconduct Penalty

 

 

A player or goalkeeper who incurrs a game misconduct is immediately ejected from the game and sent to the teams changing room and will take no further part in the game. The player can be subsituted on the ice. Game misconduct penalties are usually given along with a 5 minute major penalty. The major penalty is served by another player on the team.

 

Match Penalty

 

 

A player or goalkeeper who recieves a match penalty is ejected from the game. A player is chosen to serve the 5 minute major penalty, during this time the ejected player may not be substituted. A match penalty is given for deliberately injuring or attempting to injure another player

 

Penalty Shot

 

 

When a scoring opportunity is lost due to a deliberate infraction, a penalty shot is given. A player on the ice is chosen by the team to take an unchallenged scoring opportunity on the opposing goalkeeper.

 

An infraction which may result in a penalty shot being awarded include:- being tripped or hooked while on a breakaway, or a player covering the puck with thier hand inside the crease.