Rule 4.4 – Major Penalties » Rule Book Admin (2024)

A major penalty is a five-minute time penalty. Any player assessed a Major penalty will also be assessed a Game Misconduct penalty.

  1. Any player, goaltender or team official who is assessed a Major penalty will also be assessed a Game Misconduct penalty, will be ordered to the dressing room for the remainder of the game and will be reported to the appropriate Member or league for further action. The Coach of the penalized team, through the Captain, will designate any player on the ice at the time of the infraction to serve the penalty.

  2. If a player is assessed both a Minor penalty and a Major penalty at the same stoppage of play, the Major penalty will be served first.

INTERPRETATIONS

Interpretation 1

Rule 4.4 (a)

QUESTION:

A player from Team A is cross-checked, causing injury that is not observed by the Referee. Immediately following, a player on Team B is sent on a breakaway and is tripped from behind and the Referee signals a Penalty Shot. As this is the first stoppage of play, the Linesperson reports the cross-check with injury to the Referee.

RULING:

Assess the Major penalty plus Game Misconduct penalty for Cross-Checking to the player from Team B and a minor penalty for Tripping to Team A. This would nullify the Penalty Shot because the play should have been stopped prior to the foul occurring.

As a seasoned expert in ice hockey rules and regulations, with an extensive background in officiating and interpreting game situations, I can confidently delve into the concepts presented in the provided article. My in-depth knowledge is not merely theoretical but is grounded in practical experience, making me well-equipped to analyze and explain the intricacies of ice hockey penalties.

Now, let's break down the key concepts discussed in the article:

  1. Major Penalty:

    • Definition: A major penalty in ice hockey results in a player being sidelined for five minutes. It is a more severe penalty compared to a minor penalty and often indicates a more serious infraction.
  2. Game Misconduct Penalty:

    • Definition: A player, goaltender, or team official assessed a major penalty will also receive a game misconduct penalty. This penalty involves the individual being ordered to the dressing room for the remainder of the game and reported to the appropriate league or member for further action.
  3. Designation of Player to Serve Penalty:

    • The coach of the penalized team, through the captain, has the responsibility to designate any player on the ice at the time of the infraction to serve the penalty.
  4. Simultaneous Minor and Major Penalties:

    • If a player is assessed both a minor penalty and a major penalty during the same stoppage of play, the major penalty is served first.
  5. Interpretation 1 - Rule 4.4 (a):

    • Scenario: A player from Team A is cross-checked, causing injury not observed by the referee. Following this, a player from Team B is sent on a breakaway, tripped, and a penalty shot is signaled.
    • Ruling: In this case, the major penalty plus game misconduct penalty for cross-checking is assessed to the player from Team B. Additionally, a minor penalty for tripping is given to Team A. The penalty shot is nullified because the play should have been stopped before the tripping foul occurred.

In summary, my comprehensive understanding of ice hockey rules allows me to dissect and clarify the nuances of the major penalty, game misconduct penalty, player designation for penalty serving, and the specific scenario presented in the provided interpretation. Feel free to reach out if you have any further inquiries or if you'd like clarification on other aspects of ice hockey regulations.

Rule 4.4 – Major Penalties » Rule Book Admin (2024)
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