Are you ever confused by the referee’s calls during an ice hockey game? Here's a breakdown of one of the more nuanced aspects of the game: delayed penalties.
A delayed penalty occurs when the referee signals a penalty against a player on the team *not* in possession of the puck. The referee extends an arm above the head to indicate that a penalty has been committed.
The play isn't immediately stopped. Instead, it continues until the non-offending team loses possession of the puck. This situation can lead to strategic plays, such as the goaltender of the non-offending team going to the bench for an extra attacker.
Here are some common referee signals related to penalties:
- Rotated clenched fists in front of chest: Fighting.
- Pounding the closed fist of one hand into the open palm of the other hand: Body checking.
- A forward and backward motion with fists: Interference.
- Tapping the elbow with the opposite hand: Elbowing.
- Holding both fists clenched, one above the other at the side of the head: Head-butting.
- Clasping the wrist in front of the chest: Holding.
- Tugging motion with arms: Hooking.
- Crossed arms in front of chest with fists closed: Illegal check to the head.
- Both hands placed on hips: Kicking.
- A thrusting motion with the arm extending from the side: Kneeing.
- Chopping with one hand across the opposite forearm: Slashing.
- A jabbing motion with both hands in front of the body: Spearing.
- Striking the right leg with the right hand, below the knee: Tripping.
- With two flat hands, form a “T” by placing the fingertips of one hand under the other hand: Delay of game.
Delay of Game in Hockey is when it is determined by the referee that a team, or individual player, was intentionally attempting to stall the game.
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There are a few different circumstances that will permit the referee to call a Delay of Game penalty.
Referee places hand across the chest, palm open facing down. Then fully extends arm in an outward movement directly in front of the body.
Almost all the causes for a Delay of Game penalty will result in a two-minute Minor Penalty.
However, a Bench Minor Penalty will be called on a team if a team sends out too many players onto the ice. This can also be called when objects are thrown onto the ice, causing the game to stop. A Bench Minor Penalty would then be assessed to the home team.
Penalty Shots can also be called as well. If a player is on a breakaway, and the opposing goalie intentionally knocks the net off its moorings, the player will be awarded a Penalty Shot.
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The Official NHL Delay of Game Rule Text (Rule 63) A player, goalkeeper, or a team may be penalized when, in the opinion of the referee, is delaying the game in any manner.
The 8 Most Common Delay of Game Causes As alluded to earlier, there are a variety of different causes that will call for a Delay of Game penalty to be called by the referee. The most common causes are listed below.
A player or goaltender intentionally shoots or throws the puck out of the playing area.
A defensive player in the defensive zone shoots the puck directly (without being deflected) over the glass. The penalty only applies if the player shoots it over the glass. If the puck is shot into the bench, no penalty is assessed.
A player or goaltender intentionally knocks the nets goalpost off its moorings, which stops the play. If the net is intentionally knocked loose during a breakaway, the breakaway player is awarded a penalty shot.
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If a puck is shot over the glass and out of play by a player in their defensive zone, a Delay of Game penalty will be called.
Where the issues lie is that before this rule was implemented, players were rarely intentionally shooting it over the glass. Fast-forward to today, this means that players are penalized for an accident or bad luck (shooting it over the glass).
Furthering the controversy are all the exceptions that go into this rule. If the puck grazes the glass, goes over the benches, or deflects off another player, it is not a penalty. These are just a few of many exceptions associated with this rule. And depending on the situation, this can make or break an outcome of a game.
A great example of another exception was recently seen in the gold medal game, Canada versus Russia, at the most recent World Junior Championship tournament.
Minutes to go in the game, Canada held onto a 4-3 lead over Russia.
Canada would take a penalty late in the game, resulting in a 5-4 powerplay for Russia.
As the video starts, you can see the Canadian player (black jersey, right side of the screen) attempt to backhand the puck out of his defensive zone.
The puck was on its way over the glass until it hit a broadcasting camera and bounced back onto the ice.
The play was stopped and was initially called a penalty for Delay of Game.
The referees then talked it over and determined that the camera was “in-play” therefore reversing the call on the ice.
A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for an infringement of the rules.
Most penalties are enforced by sending the offending player to a penalty box for a set number of minutes.
During the penalty the player may not participate in play.
Penalties are called and enforced by the referee, or in some cases, the linesman.
The offending team may not replace the player on the ice (although there are some exceptions, such as fighting), leaving them short-handed as opposed to full strength.
When the opposing team is said to be on a power play, they will have one more player on the ice than the short-handed team.
The short-handed team is said to be "on the penalty kill" until the penalty expires and the penalized player returns to play.
The statistic used to track penalties is called "penalty minutes" and abbreviated to "PIM" (spoken as single word "pims").
PIM is an acronym for "penalties in minutes," though the full term is rarely used today.
The first codified rules of ice hockey, known as the Halifax Rules, were brought to Montreal by James Creighton, who organized the first indoor ice hockey game in 1875.
Two years later, the Montreal Gazette documented the first set of "Montreal Rules", which noted that "charging from behind, tripping, collaring, kicking or shinning the ball shall not be allowed".
It was not until 1904 that players were ruled off the ice for infractions.
At that time, a referee could assess a two-, three- or five-minute penalty, depending on the severity of the foul.
By 1914, all penalties were five minutes in length, reduced to three minutes two years later, and the offending player was given an additional fine.
When the National Hockey League (NHL) was founded in 1917, it mandated that a team could not substitute for any player who was assessed a penalty, thus requiring them to play shorthanded for the duration.
A minor penalty is the least severe type of penalty.
A minor penalty is two minutes in length.
The offending player is sent to the penalty box and in most cases, his team will play shorthanded.
A team with a numerical advantage in players will go on a power play.
If they score a goal during this time, the penalty will end and the offending player may return to the ice.
In hockey's formative years, teams were shorthanded for the entire length of a minor penalty.
The NHL changed this rule following the 1955-56 season where the Montreal Canadiens frequently scored multiple goals on one power play.
Coincidental (or "matching") minor penalties occur when an equal number of players from each team are given a minor penalty at the same time.
The permission of a substitute player depends on the league and the situation at the time of the infractions.
In some leagues, such as the NHL, the teams will play four-on-four for the duration of the penalties if they occurred when both teams were at even strength.
In some cases, a referee can impose a double or triple minor. The infraction is counted as two or three separate minor penalties.