Penalty (ice hockey) facts for kids

A referee signals a penalty for high sticking

A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment when a player breaks rules during a game. A referee or a game official will decide the penalty. Normally it is done by placing the person in a penalty box for a certain amount of time. After that the player can go back into the game. There are several types of penalties. Some are more serious and some are less.

Images for kids

• 

  The referee (top-left) signals a delayed penalty by raising an arm, and prepares to blow the whistle when a player from the team to be penalized (in white) gains control of the puck. Goaltender Jere Myllyniemi can be seen (right) rushing to the bench to send on an extra attacker.

• 

  A player from the Ferris State Bulldogs men's ice hockey team being escorted to the penalty box.

• 

  Rob Scuderi of the Pittsburgh Penguins sitting in the penalty box during a Detroit Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins game at Joe Louis Arena.

• 

  Verbal or physical altercations between opposing players or on-ice officials, may lead to a misconduct penalty, such as this one between a UMass player (red) and a Northeastern University player (white). The player in white was given the misconduct.

• 

  The Joe Louis Arena scoreboard showing multiple penalties for the Anaheim Ducks during a Ducks/Red Wings game.