Match Penalty Enforcement Clarifications

Tony Mariconda provided the following clarifications of potential Match Penalty situations. These situations were discussed during a question and answer session at a recent Northeast Ice Hockey Officials Association meeting:

Match Penalty to a Coach or Other Team Official

If a Coach or other Team Official receives a Match Penalty during the game, that team must immediately place a player who was on the ice at the time of the infraction in the Penalty Box to serve 5 full minutes. No substitution of this player is permitted, even if the non-offending team scores a goal(s) during the penalty.

Match Penalty Situations for Attempt to Injure

There seems to be some confusion about penalties to be assessed for what could be a Major + Game Misconduct but instead is going to be correctly called an Attempt to Injure. This could include Butt-Ending (Rule 608), Head Contact (Rule 616), Kicking (Rule 623), Spearing (Rule 634).

There are two separate options for these infractions:

1. Major + Game Misconduct
2. Match

Some officials have been recording Major + Match, and that is not a possible penalty assessment for a single infraction.

If Attempt to Injure is the penalty to be assessed, then a Match Penalty is the correct call. The offending team must immediately place a player (not the substitute goalie) in the Penalty Box for the full 5 minutes. No substitution of this player is permitted, even if the non-offending team scores a goal(s) during the penalty.