Penalty (ice hockey) points being awarded. Penalty (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
Match penalty 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; under IIHF rules, "kneeing" and "checking to the head or neck area" must be called as a match penalty if injuries occur. Match penalty Match penalty is a term used in some sports for a player having committed such a serious offence that he or she is being sent off for the rest of the game. The term is used in bandy, floorball,