The Best Thing About Hockey : Penalties, Of Course
Sports
Jan 9, 2002, 17:40
By Kelly Reynolds Staff
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Hockey penalties are separated into four general categories with time allocations for each hockey penalty depending on the nature and severity of the infraction. The four types of penalties a hockey player can incur during the course of a game are minor penalties, major penalties, misconducts, and game misconducts. In hockey a minor penalty lasts for either two minutes or until a member of the opposing team scores, whichever occurs first. A hockey player that receives a major penalty must remain in the penalty box for five minutes, regardless if a member of the opposing team scores a goal. While both minor and major penalties require that the hockey team play shorthanded while their player sits in the penalty box, a misconduct or game misconduct allows the offending team to substitute a hockey player for the duration of the penalty. A misconduct penalty carries a time of ten minutes, and a game misconduct causes the offending hockey player to be ejected from the remainder of the hockey game in progress. Several of the most common hockey penalties incurred by players include checking from behind, clipping, roughing, and unsportsmanlike conduct.
Checking from behind is an infringement of the hockey rules that can lead to very serious injury. Checking from behind takes place when a hockey player, who has his back to his opponent, is unaware of the oncoming hit. Resulting in a five - minute major penalty and a game misconduct, any player who receives two penalties for checking from behind during a hockey season will automatically be suspended for one game.
Clipping transpires when a hockey player intentionally hurls his body across an opponent’s knees. If no injury occurs as a result of the clipping, a two – minute minor penalty will be issued. However, if injuries are sustained the offending hockey player will procure a five – minute major and a game misconduct.
Roughing, which warrants a two – minute minor penalty, is generally given to hockey players if a full-blown fight is not the result of the dispute. Generally, players who receive roughing penalties during a hockey game engage in a shoving match that does not escalate any further.
Both hockey coaches and players can acquire an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. This two – minute minor penalty is usually called when there is excessive argueing with the officials about calls made during the hockey game.
Whether a penalty issued by a hockey game official warrants a minor penalty, major penalty, misconduct, or a game misconduct depends on the degree of the rule broken. While the game of hockey is generally violent by nature, there are some rules that are not meant to be broken. If a hockey official catches a player checking from behind, clipping, roughing, or participating in unsportsmanlike conduct he will spend time in the penalty box.
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