The rules in ice hockey are quite complicated to understand. There a five different types of penalty calls: minor, major, misconduct, game misconduct and match. By clicking on the on the link above you will find see a more indepth explanation.

 

At the start of the game the play is even handed (5 on 5). When a penalty is called on a team they become short handed which means that due to the penalty, the team shall be below the numerical strength (4 on 5, 3 on 5, 3 on 4) of the opponent on the ice.

 

	Players		Goalkeepers		Remarks
Penalty	Player out for	Served on the bench by	Goalkeeper out for	Served on the bench by	Record on game sheet	Observations	Coincidental penalties   (A player from each team recieves a penalty at the same time)
Minor (2)	2 minutes	Offender	-	Player on the ice	2 Minutes	May expire on goal	May apply
Bench Minor (2)	2 minutes	Any Player	N/A	N/A	2 Minutes	May expire on goal	May apply
Major (5)	Balance of the game	Offender for 5 minutes plus any player for 2 minutes	Balance of the game	Player on the ice for 5 minutes	5 Minutes	-	May apply
Misconduct (10)	10 minutes	Offender	-	Player on the ice	10 Minutes	-	-
Game Misconduct (GM)	Balance of the game	-	Balance of the game	-	20 Minutes	Report	-
Match (MP)	Balance of the game	Any player except the offender for 5 minutes	Balance of the game	Player on the ice for 5 minutes	25 Minutes	Report	May apply
Penalty shot (PS)	-	-	-	-	Penalty shot	-	-

 

 

Penalty Shot

A penalty shot is only awarded if a scoring opportunity was lost as a result of an infraction e.g. being tripped or hooked while on a breakaway. The player who was deprived of the scoring opportunity or another player on the ice at the time of the infraction is allowed one unchallenged opportunity to score a goal against the opposing goalkeeper. All players apart from the penalty shot taker and the goalkeeper must leave before the penalty shot is taken. The player who commited the infraction may be awarded a minor penalty.

 

Penalty Shot Procedure

1. All palyers apart from the goalkeeper and penalty shot taker leave the ice.

2. Referee places the puck on the centre spot.

3. The goalkeeper must stay in the crease untill the player touches the puck.

4. On the referee's whistle the player shall play the puck and proceed towards the goal and attempt to score.

5. Once the puck has been shot the penalty shot is over even if the shot didn't result in a goal. No second shot is allowed.

6. The player is not allowed to cross the goal line, stop moving or move backwards during the penalty shot.

7. If a goal is scored a faceoff is taken at centre ice.

8. If no goal is scored a faceoff takes place at either end zone faceoff spot.