Faceoff and penalties in ice hockey
Ice hockey starts with "face-off." When the play starts, or is set for a face-off, the referee drops the puck between opposing forwards. During face-off all players are positioned on the defensive side of puck. The face is used to start play after any stoppage. There are none designated face-off points painted on the ice.
There are many occasions when penalty is awarded in the game. There are two types of penalties viz - minor penalty and major penalty. The distinction between a legal check and a penalty is subject to interpretation.
- Minor penalties - a player charged with a minor penalty is set off the Ring for two minutes. No substitution is allowed during this time. The penalty ends immediately if the opposing team scores a goal.
Minor penalties are awarded if an opposing team player is obstructed. Such obstruction may include:
- Tripping with stick or knee
- Folding with stick or hands
- Hooking by stick
- Interference - obstructing a player without the puck
Dangerous use of the stick also invites penalty. These include
- Slashing
- Spearing
- High sticking - hitting an opponent in head or face
- Cross checking
- Hitting the opponent with the shaft of the stick
Penalties are awarded for dangerous physical fouls like:
- Checking a player from behind
- Elbowing the opponent
- Kneeing
- Roughing - usually involves shoving
Major penalties
- Most common major penalty is fighting
- At referees discretion a minor penalty can be increased to a major penalty
- In case of major penalty involving serious injury, the player can be ejected out of the game
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