Understanding the Spearing Penalty in Ice Hockey

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.

Are you new to hockey games? Being new can make it confusing when the referee calls a penalty that you don’t understand. This can be confusing when you don’t know every different offense and penalty that can occur during a game, but it’s easy to learn more about them. Several different penalties can be called in hockey.

Ice hockey is a sport with a lot of body contact and can seem quite harsh. Nevertheless, the players are actually well protected, not only from padding but also strict rules.

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Hockey is unique in that, several times during a game, both teams will be forced to play shorthanded when one or more of its players are put in the penalty box. However, no team is forced to play more than two men below full strength (six men) at any time. If a third penalty is called, it is suspended until the first penalty expires.

When penalties reduce a team's strength, it changes its style of play to concentrate on defense. Meanwhile, the opponent loads its lineup with offensive players in an effort to capitalize on superior numbers.

The supervisor and official authority of the game. He calls the penalties, determines goals and handles the faceoffs at center ice taht start each period of play. Officials wear a black and white vertically-striped shirt when on the ice and have solid orange armbands.

There are two linesmen that are responsible for calling offsides and icing and handling all faceoffs that do not take place at center ice. One judge sits off-ice behind each goal and signals when a goal has been scored by turning on a red light above his station.

Types of Penalties in Ice Hockey

Here's a rundown of the different types of penalties in ice hockey:

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• Minor Penalty: 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.
• Coincidental Minor Penalties: 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.
• Double or Triple Minor Penalties: In some cases, a referee can impose a double or triple minor. The infraction is counted as two or three separate minor penalties. If a team scores a power play goal during such a penalty, only the current block of two minutes being counted down is cancelled; the penalty clock is then reset to the next lowest interval of two minutes (e.g. a goal with a double-minor penalty clock at 3:45 is reset to 2:00).
• Major Penalty: A major penalty is a stronger degree of penalty for a more severe infraction of the rules than a minor. Most infractions which incur a major penalty are more severe instances of minor penalty infractions; one exception is fighting, which always draws a major. A player who receives a major penalty will remain off the ice for five minutes of play during which his team will be short-handed. A major penalty cannot end early even if a goal is scored against the short-handed team, unless the goal is scored during an overtime period (which ends the game). If major penalties are assessed to one player on each team at the same time, they may be substituted for, and teams will not be reduced by one player on the ice. The penalized players will remain in the penalty box until the first stoppage of play following the end of the penalties.
• Misconduct Penalty: Verbal or physical altercations between opposing players or on-ice officials, may lead to a misconduct penalty. A player who receives a misconduct penalty will remain off the ice for ten minutes. The player may be substituted for on the ice and may return to the ice at the first stoppage in play following the expiration of the penalty (unless other penalties were assessed); however, in practice, misconduct penalties are normally assessed along with two minute minor penalties (resulting in a penalty combination colloquially called a "two-and-ten").
• Game Misconduct Penalty: A player (whether a skater or goaltender) or any member of any team's coaching staff who receives a game misconduct penalty is ejected and is sent to the team's dressing room. The player may be immediately substituted for on the ice; however, in practice, game misconduct penalties are often assessed as an addition to a particularly egregious infraction that has also earned the player a two-minute minor penalty or (more often) a five-minute major penalty, in which case another player will serve this penalty in place of the ejected player. Regardless of the time during the game that the penalty is given, the player is charged with ten penalty minutes (twenty in the IIHF rules) for statistical purposes for the game misconduct. In most leagues, the referee has the discretion to call a game misconduct on a player charged with boarding due to the likelihood of injury to the boarded player. Any player who is dismissed twice for stick infractions, boarding or checking from behind, or dismissed three times for any reason, in a single NHL regular season incurs an automatic one-match ban, and further discipline is possible for subsequent ejections. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty, the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game.
• Match Penalty: A player who receives a match penalty is ejected. A match penalty is imposed for deliberately injuring another player or attempting to injure another player. Many other penalties automatically become match penalties if injuries actually occur: under NHL rules, butt-ending, goalies using blocking glove to the face of another player, head-butting, kicking, punching an unsuspecting player, spearing, and tape on hands during altercation must be called as a match penalty if injuries occur. The team of the offending player must choose a substitute player to place in the box from any of the eligible players, excluding the goaltender. The substitute serves a five-minute penalty similar to a major penalty (except in overtime, goals scored against the penalized team do not end the penalty early). In most cases, offending players are suspended from the next game their team plays, and often face hearings with the possibility of a lengthier ban. In the NHL, a match penalty and a game misconduct are virtually identical in application. Match penalties can also be used in cases where severe unsportsmanlike conduct has occurred, such as taunting that is offensive on the basis of race, sexual orientation, etc., as well as acts that are exceptionally disrespectful to an opponent or official regardless of whether or not an injury occurred.
• Penalty Shot: A penalty shot is a special case of penalty for cases in which a scoring opportunity was lost as a result of an infraction (like being tripped or hooked while on a breakaway; or a player other than the goaltender covers the puck with his hand inside the crease). The player who was deprived of the opportunity (in cases the infraction was against him, for example, on breakaways), or one chosen by the team (in cases where the infraction is not against a specific player), is allowed an unchallenged opportunity to score on the opposing goaltender as compensation. If the infraction occurred when the penalized team has pulled their goalie and the infraction occurs during a breakaway, a goal is immediately awarded to the other team rather than a penalty shot. Regardless of whether or not the penalty shot is successful, the penalty is now treated as if a goal had been scored during that penalty; a minor penalty is negated, and a double-minor is reduced to a regular minor.

In addition to the penalties described above, here are some other penalties in ice hockey:

• Holding: Holding is called when a player uses his hands, arms, legs, skates or stick to prevent an opponent from skating freely.
• High-Sticking: A high stick is called when a player deliberately moves his stick over shoulder height and places it against a player. Contact is not required.
• Too Many Players on the Ice: A team may only have six skaters on the ice. As soon as a team has 7 or more skaters, a penalty is called for too many men on the ice.

Similar to a game misconduct in severity, gross misconduct penalties have been eliminated from the NHL rulebook. It was imposed for an action of extreme unsportsmanlike conduct, such as abuse of officials or spectators, and could be assessed to any team official in addition to a player. Infractions which garnered a gross misconduct now earn a game misconduct. The penalty had last been assessed in 2006 on Atlanta Thrashers coach Bob Hartley due to post-game comments made regarding referee Mick McGeough's blown call during a game versus Edmonton. However, this penalty is still in effect in Canadian hockey.

Spearing: A Detailed Look

Spearing in hockey is when a player uses the blade of his stick to “jab” an opposing player, usually in the stomach or legs. This is considered to be one of the dirtiest infractions in hockey because, while most stick infractions are usually accidental, Spearing is one that is usually seen as more deliberate.

A Spearing penalty can also be called when a player intentionally uses his stick in a lifting motion to strike an opponent in the groin area.

In the NHL, a Spearing infraction can have one of two outcomes, based on the seriousness of the infraction:

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• A 4-minute double major penalty will be called if a player clearly attempts to spear an opponent but does not make contact.
• A 5-minute Major Penalty and game misconduct is assessed when a player spears an opponent and does make contact. Anytime a 5-minute Major Penalty is called, a game misconduct penalty must also be imposed.

Here is an example of spearing:

The Sharks player (teal jersey) is seen on the right side of the screen skating towards the bench. As he is skating away, the Blues player (white jersey) skates behind him and gives him a tap on the pants with his stick.

The Sharks player then turns around and uses his stick blade to intentionally jab the Blues player in the stomach area.

Referee Signals

Confused by the referee’s calls? Understanding the signals can help:

• Delayed Penalty: Referee extends his arm above his head to indicate that a penalty has been committed by a player of the team not in possession of the puck.
• Holding: Clasping the wrist in front of the chest.
• Hooking: Tugging motion with arms.
• Cross-Checking: A jabbing motion with both hands in front of the body.
• Tripping: Striking the right leg with the right hand, below the knee.
• Holding the Stick: Crossed arms in front of chest with fists closed.
• Interference: Crossed arms in front of chest with fists closed.
• High-Sticking: Chopping with one hand across the opposite forearm.
• Spearing: Jabbing motion with both hands parallel in front of the body, moving outwards.
• Boarding: Pounding the closed fist of one hand into the open palm of the other hand.
• Charging: A thrusting motion with the arm extending from the side.
• Elbowing: Tapping the elbow with the opposite hand.
• Roughing: Rotated clenched fists in front of chest.

The official will initially put an arm in the air to signal a penalty; the official will stop play only once the offending team has control of the puck, or play is stopped by normal means. A delayed penalty is one in which the penalty is called but play is not yet stopped because the non-offending team retains the puck.

Once the offending team touches the puck and the play is stopped, the referee will signal the specific infraction.

Serving Penalties: Rules and Procedures

The offending player or players are sent to the penalty box where they must remain until the penalty has expired. Typically a team will not be allowed to replace the penalized player on the ice; the player will return directly to the ice once the penalty has expired. This creates a power play during which the penalized team will have one player fewer than their opponent and is said to be "short-handed". If two players on a team are in the penalty box at the same time, the situation is called a "five on three" (as is customary, the goalies are not counted in this expression) or "two-man advantage".

Additional players may be penalized, but a team will never play with fewer than three skaters on the ice. In leagues which play with a shorthanded overtime (with only three or four attackers on the ice), should a team be penalized with only three players on the ice, the penalized player may be immediately substituted by the offending team, but an additional skater is then allowed on the other team to create an advantage, until a five-on-three is produced. If a penalty in this situation expires without a goal being scored, the penalized player will be allowed back on the ice and will play normally until there is a stoppage; both teams will then be reduced back to the correct numbers.

While goaltenders can be assessed penalties, a goaltender cannot go to the penalty box and the penalty must be instead served by another player from their team who was on the ice at the time of the infraction (the PIM will be charged to the goaltender). While a team is short-handed, they are permitted to ice the puck as they wish, without having the icing infraction called against them. This allows short-handed teams to relieve pressure more easily when defending with fewer skaters than their opponents.

A team must have a minimum of three skaters on the ice at all times. If an accumulation of penalties would otherwise force a team to fall below this minimum, the situation becomes known as "stacked penalties". This means that the new penalty will start when one of the already-penalized players causing the disadvantage is allowed back onto the ice, whether the time expires or the opposing team scores on the power play. This also means that the player whose penalty expires first out of the three must wait for a stoppage in play, or the expiration of the second penalty, before leaving the penalty box so that it is appropriately 5 on 3, 5 on 4, and 5 on 5 in succession for each respective situation.

Penalties that allow for immediate substitution (certain coincidental penalties and misconduct penalties) do not produce a disadvantage and thus do not count for stacked penalties.

Historical Context

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.

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.

Penalty Shot Conditions

A penalty may only be imposed if the following five conditions are met:

1. The offence did not occur in the own defensive zone.
2. The fouled player had possession of the puck.
3. The foul was committed from behind.
4. The foul foiled a credible chance to score a goal.

Beginning 2010, the fouled player takes the penalty shot himself. Once the player has fouled, the shot is deemed to have been taken. Additional shots are then no longer possible.

Infamous Incidents

In the Stanley Cup playoffs, Billy Coutu, the Boston Bruins left wing, beat referee Jerry LaFlamme. As a result, he was banned from the National Hockey League (NHL) for life. This was the first and only lifetime ban ever imposed in the NHL.

In a game between the Niagara IceDogs and the Kitchener Rangers in 2011 Ice hockey legend Tom Kühnhackl races into opponent Brian Murphy. Murphy, who played for the Kitchener Rangers, suffers a severe concussion during the impact and remains on the ice before leaving visibly dazed. Kühnhackl was ejected from the game.

Ice hockey player Stephan Daschner from the Hannover Scorpions is currently defending the DEL league record for the longest penalty. In a match between the Hannover Scorpions and the Straubing Tigers in 2012, Daschner racked up the longest penalty ever recorded.

IIHF Rule Clarifications

The following rules are specified as "No" under IIHF rules:

• Checking the head or neck will always be penalized. There is no "clean" check against the head and neck area.
• A high stick is called when a player deliberately moves his stick over shoulder height and places it against a player. Contact is not required.

Penalties and Man Advantage

Here's a breakdown of how different penalties affect the game and the man advantage:

Penalty Type	Man Advantage	Additional Info	Affect on Game
Minor Penalty	The penalized team plays with 1 less skater for 2 minutes.	The penalty is not directed at a single player, but against the entire team. This means that no specific player is penalized.	After 2 minutes, he returns to the ice.
Major Penalty	The team with the penalty is down a man for 5 minutes.	Goalies are excluded from this penalty. If a player commits 2 major penalties in a game, the player may be subject to suspension and is thrown out of the game.	After 5 minutes, he returns to the ice.
Misconduct Penalty	N/A	For certain offences (e.g. check to the head, checking from behind), referees usually impose a minor penalty in addition to the misconduct penalty. An extra player must sit in the penalty box for the minor penalty while the original offender must remain on the bench for the 10 minutes.	The player can be replaced immediately by another player.
Game Misconduct Penalty	N/A	The misconduct penalty does not automatically suspend a player. However, the referee may suspend the player if he chooses.	The player must leave the rink.
Match Penalty	A substitute player must go to the box for 5 minutes.	Description: Immediate ejection.	The ejected player is replaced on the ice.
Penalty Shot	N/A	A penalty shot is awarded when a player in a break away is fouled.	N/A

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