When we began our teaching pieces about the most popular sport of Ice Hockey, we focused on the first part of the terminology on the generic and the relevant to play terms. Now, we will expand to the issue that most often determines the outcome of a confrontation between two sides. The penalties.
There is a reason why every sport includes officials to determine if the players follow the rules, try to bend them, or outright break them. In an era where everything is sacrificed for the victory, their presence is paramount.
Punishing a player
In this sport, there are 2 categories to separate. The first one determines the level of punishment to be delivered according to the seriousness of the infraction. The second is based upon the action itself:
On the first we have:
- Minor Penalties
The infraction is not serious while the player is expelled from the match for 2 minutes. The player is not replaced in the field. - Major Penalties
The offense is of a serious nature resulting in a 10 minute expulsion. The team plays one man short for the duration. - Misconducts
This punishment is limited to the player and not the team. They are expelled for 10 minutes but they are replaced so that the team does not play shorthanded. - Delayed Penalties
The infraction is not causing a stopage of play. It will not be called until the side in error touches the puck. Should a goal be scored before the penalty is called, then the penalty is declined. - Game Misconducts
This is a most serious infraction that will result in the complete dismissal of the player or players involved from the match. - Matching Penalties
Players from both teams get involved in the same infraction and all of them are penalized.
Actions that are punished:
- Butt Ending:
A major penalty called when a player hits their opponent with the rear end of the hockey stick. - Charging:
A minor penalty called when a player takes more than two steps to check an opponent. - Cross Checking:
A minor penalty called when a player drives his stick into an opponent while still holding onto it with both hands. - Delay of Game:
A minor penalty called when a player deliberately delays the game. Also called when a player is using an illegal stick. - Elbowing:
A minor penalty called when a player strikes another with his elbow. - Fighting:
A major penalty called when players drop gloves and start fighting. - High Sticking:
A minor penalty called when a player carries their stick above the level of the shoulder or hits an opponent with it. - Icing:
A non-penalty infraction called when a player shoots or passes the puck from his team’s side of the ice to the opponent’s goal line without the puck being touched by anyone. - Kick Shot:
An illegal shot where the player kicks the blade of his stick as it carries the puck. However, it’s not illegal to actually kick the puck itself, as long as the kick does not result in a goal. - Roughing:
A minor penalty called when a player makes an unnecessarily rough play. - Spearing:
A major penalty called when a player jabs the blade of their stick at the opponent.
To bet in any sport the first step is to understand it. Otherwise it is just pure luck and instinct to win. By now, after our two-part terminology presentation, punters should be able to base their selections more solidly. Now, you should be ready to open an account at the best betting software.and make some serious money.