These are the different terms and reasons a ref would give a player or a team a penalty (either resulting in two minutes, four minutes or five minutes in the penalty box, where the team cannot replace the player being punished and must play a player down, or the player himself is out of the game.)
There are about eight different types of penalties:
MINOR PENALTY- it is most commonly assessed for minor infractions, players who receive a minor penalty will remain off the ice, in the penalty box for TWO or FOUR minutes, if a goal is scored while the team is short handed the penalty ends, and the player may return to the ice (back to five on five).
-- example: cross-checking, high-sticking, holding, holding the stick, interference, roughing, slashing, delay of game, tripping
POWER PLAY- When a team is one or two players down due to a penalty the other team has a power play, meaning they have one more player on the ice than the opposing team because the opposing team has a player who has received in a penalty (5 on 4, or 5 on 3).
MAJOR PENALTY- It is a stronger degree of penalty (punishment) for a stronger degree of an infraction of the rules; most major penalties are more severe instances of minor penalties however FIGHTING will always draw a major penalty. The player who receives the major will remain off of the ice for FIVE minutes. Unlike a minor penalty a major penalty will not end when the opposing team scores a goal, they will continue to play short-handed until the five minutes are up.
If a major penalty is given on one player on each team, (for example in instances of fighting) the player may be substituted for so the teams are not playing four on four, however they players cannot return to the ice until the first stoppage of play following the end of the penalty.
Three major penalties = an automatic game misconduct penalty.
-- example: spearing, fighting, butt-ending, charging, boarding
Misconduct Penalty- A player who receives a misconduct will remain off of the ice for TEN minutes, however he can be substituted for, and the team will not play a player down, he may return to the game after the first stop of play after his penalty has expired.
Game Misconduct Penalty- The player who receives a game misconduct penalty is immediately EJECTED from the game, and sent to the team’s locker room. The player can either be a skater or a goaltender, They player may be substituted for on the ice, however most of the time with a game misconduct penalty a major FIVE minute penalty is also give which must be served by another player, then the team can return to full force on the ice (during the time that the five minute major penalty is served the team will be one player down) .
A player who is given three game misconduct penalties in an NHL season is given a one-game ban, and may receive more, salary los will also incur with a missed game and that money is then donated to a league-supported charity,
--Example: getting out of the penalty box before the entire penalty has been served.
Match Penalty- A player who receives a match penalty is EJECTED from the game (or match as it is most called in ice hockey). A match penalty happens when a player deliberately injures another player, or attempting to injure another player, (or goaltender) going to the penalty box.
Penalty Shot- A penalty shot is given who a player loses a scoring opportunity because of an infraction. (Example: being tripped or hooked in a
breakaway, or a player other than the goaltender covers the puck with their hand inside the crease.) Either the player whose shot was violated or a player chosen by the team is allowed one unchallenged (meaning only the o ne player shooting vs., the goalie) shot. (Penalty shots are also used to resolve ties in many regulation games that go beyond OT (overtime))
Gross Misconduct Penalty- even though Gross Misconduct Penalties were eliminated from the NHL rulebook in 2007, there were for any action of extreme unsportsmanlike conduct, such as abuse of officials or spectators, and they could be issued to team officials as well as players, they now are considered a Game Misconduct Penalty.
Stacked Penalties- a stacked penalty occurs when two players on one team are in the penalty box at the same time. (Making it into a 3 on 5 situations). If another penalty is incurred, it will be served after one of the players have finished serving their penalty, there can be no less than three players on ice at all times not including the goalie)
List and Explanation of all Penalties:
-Abuse of Officials- ‘arguing, insulting, using obscene gestures or language directed at or in reference to, or deliberately making violent contact with any on or off-ice official. This generally issued in addition to other penalties or as a bench penalty against a coach or off-ice player, and is grounds for EJECTION under a game misconduct or match penalty in most leagues including the NHL. ‘ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penalty_(ice_hockey) this answers one of my first blog questions! Yes, Mike Green could have received a penalty for mouthing off to the referee.
Aggressor Penalty- this is the penalty given to the player who more aggressive during a fight (given to the “aggressor”)
Attempt to Injure- Deliberately trying to harm an opponent, whether successful or not, and this penalty will automatically result in a match penalty.
Boarding- ***** “PUSHING AN OPPONENT VIOLENTLY INTO THE BOARDS WHILE THE PLAYER IS FACING THE BOARDS” ***** these occur very frequently and now we know what they mean!!! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penalty_(ice_hockey).
Butt-ending (or stabbing)- jabbing an opponent with the end of the shaft of the stick, this is a major penalty and a game misconduct.
Charging- when more than three strides are taken before hitting into an opponent.
Checking from Behind- hitting an opponent from behind, this is an automatic minor penalty and misconduct; it is only a major penalty and a game misconduct if the player is inured. In the NHL checking from behind is usually allowed as long as the car is not violently thrown into the boards (boarding.)
Clipping- a check below the knees of the opponent, if the player is injured a major and a game misconduct penalty will be given.
Cross- checking- “Hitting an opponent with the stick when it is held with two hands and no part of the stick is on the ice.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penalty_(ice_hockey)
Delay of Game- stalling the game,
Example: shooting the puck out of play, holding the puck in ones hand (only if you are not a goalie), refusing to send players out for a faceoff, or even repeated deliberate offside’s.
“As part of the rule changes following the 2004-2005 NHL lockout, NHL officials also call an automatic delay of game penalty to goaltenders that go into the corners behind the goal line (outside the trapezoid-shaped area just behind the net) to play the puck. Some delay of game offenses, such as taking too long to send players to take a faceoff, are not punished with a penalty: instead, the official may choose to eject the center of the offending team from the face-off circle and order him replaced with another player already on the ice.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penalty_(ice_hockey) this is why when you watch hockey games so many different players are taken in and out of the face-offs.
Diving (“Embellishment” or what I call the Crosby, or what BL calls DRAMA LANA) – embellishing what normally what would have not been a penalty dramatically falling on the ice while attempting to draw a penalty.
Elbowing- hitting an opponent with your elbow.
Fighting (Fisticuffs)- “Engaging in a physical altercation with an opposing player, usually involving the throwing of punches with gloves removed or worse. Minor altercations such as simple pushing and shoving, and punching with gloves still in place is generally considered ROUGHING.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penalty_(ice_hockey)
Goaltender Interference – screening, or standing in front of the goalie blocking their view, or checking the goalie.
Goaltender Leaving Crease- “ A goaltender may not leave the vicinity of his crease during an altercation. Once he has left the crease he can be checked. This is the only penalty in which the goaltender is sent to the penalty box and replaced with an extra attacker.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penalty_(ice_hockey)
Head- butting – this will result in a match penalty, when a player hits an opponent with his head.
High- sticking- “Touching an opponent with the stick above shoulder level.”(Which will result in a minor penalty, if blood is drawn it will usually, but it is not automatic, and result in a double minor penalty (4 MINUTES)
Holding- grabbing an opponent’s equipment, body or clothing with hands or stick, usually this will result in a minor penalty.
Holding the Stick – grabbing and holding an opponent’s stick, it is also called when a player deliberately wrenches a stick from the hands of an opposing player or forces the opponent to drop it by any means that is not any other penalty such as SLASHING. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penatlty_(icehockey)
Hooking – Using a stick as a hook to slow an opponent.
Illegal Equipment – when a player uses equipment that does not meet regulations, by size, number, or other guidelines (ie: a goalie can no longer use a “Jason” style face mask, apparently that is an actual thing.)
Instigator Penalty- Being the obvious instigator in a fight, called in ADDITION to the FIVE for FIGHTING major.
Interference – impeding an opponent who does not have the pick, or impeding any player from the bench. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penalty_(icehockey)
Joining a Fight - “3rd Man In” rule, the first person to join into a fight, but was not part of the original fight is given an automatic game misconduct (regardless of the reason for joining the fight), in addition to whatever penalties they receive for fighting.
Kicking- when a player kicks an opponent with their skate or skate blade. Kicking will result in a MATCH PENALTY if done with intent to injure; otherwise it results in a MAJOR PENALTY and a GAME MISCONDUCT.
Kneeing – hitting an opponent with one’s knee.
Playing with Too Many Sticks – this is when a player plays with more than one stick. If a player loses a stick and another player attempts to bring it back to the player (without the stick) he CANNOT ATTEMPT TO PLAY a live puck with too many sticks.
Roughing – Pushing and shoving after the whistle has been blown or checking an opponent with hands in their face.
Slashing – Swinging a stick at an opponent.
Slew Footing – “Rarely called, as it is easily concealed. Tripping an opponent by using your feet. Most of the time simply called as “Tripping”; Slew footing, as a penalty in fact does not exist in the USA Hockey rulebook as of 2005-2006. In the final minute of a 2009 game between the Washington Capitals and the Atlanta Thrashers, Alexander Ovechkin committed a slew foot against Atlanta’s Rich Peverly. The slew foot was called as a tripping penalty. Ovechkin was fined, but not suspended for his actions.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penalty_(icehockey)
Spearing – stabbing an opponent with the blade of the stick, this will result in an automatic MAJOR PENALTY and GAME MISCONDUCT.
Substitution infraction (Illegal Substitution) – this is a very rare penalty however this happens when a substitution or addition is attempted during a stoppage of player, after the linesmen have signaled no more substitutions, this will result in a MINOR PENALTY, or when a team pulls their goalie and attempts to have the goalie re-enter the game during any other time than during a stop of play. Ex: “too many men on the ice” or “starting the wrong lineup.”
Starting the Wrong Lineup- “This very rare bench minor penalty is called when the offending team fails to put the starting lineup on the cie at the beginning of each period, the exception being injuries. For this penalty to be called, the captain of the non-offending team must bring this breach of the rules to the referee’s attention immediately at the first stoppage of play. Also the penalty may be given if a player is not put on the scoresheet at the beginning of the game and plays. The only way for this to be called is if the official scorer notifies the referee of this oversight.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penalty_(icehockey)
Too Many Men on the Ice- having more than SIX players in the ice (including the goalie) on the ice involved in play at any given time.
Tripping – using a stick or one’s body to trip an opponent.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct – arguing with a ref, using slurs against an opponent or teammate, playing with illegal equipment, making obscene gestures or abusing an official. Depending on the gravity of the infraction the penalty will reflect the severity.
If you've got any questions feel free to leave comments I will do my best to figure them out for you! The info for this post comes from of course my awesome brother, NHL on the Fly, wikipedia and Never Been Kissed, had i never seen that I would have never looked up Gordie Howe!
Gordie How played for the Detroit Red Wings, and was famous for never being caught for his infractions!
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