USA Hockey is an organization that governs ice hockey in the United States on the National level. It was founded in 1936-37, and oversees various leagues and hockey programs across the country. USA Hockey has rules for every aspect of the game, including penalties.
Penalty Definition
A penalty in hockey occurs when a player breaks one of the game's rules and is seen by the referee. The penalized player must leave the ice and sit in the penalty box for two-minutes for a minor penalty. Minor penalties are called for minor infractions such as hooking, tripping, slashing or elbowing. A major penalty, such as fighting, calls for the penalized player to sit in the penalty box for five minutes. In a minor penalty, the penalized player comes back on the ice if the opposition scores while he's in the box. With a major penalty, the player must stay in the box no matter how many times the opposition scores.
Delay of Game Penalty
Hockey is a fast-paced game, and the officials and rule makers like to keep it that way. Frequent stoppages in play make the game less exciting to watch, so they are kept to a minimum. If a player delays the game intentionally or unnecessarily in the referee's estimation, he is assessed a delay of game penalty and is sent to the penalty box for two minutes. A delay of game penalty can take several forms, and can be given to forwards, defensemen or goalies.
Player Infractions
According to the USA Hockey Summary of Penalties document, forwards and defensemen can be called for delay of game for a variety of reasons. Infractions include removing your helmet or facemask during a game, deliberately shooting the puck over the boards and out of play, skating with the puck in your hand or freezing the puck against the boards with your skate and not moving it when the referee tells you to. Fatigue is often a reason for a player delaying the game, or if his team is under a lot of pressure and he just wants to relieve it.
Goalie Infractions
The goalies are subject to the delay of game call just like the other players. If a goalie removes his helmet or mask, or any other piece of equipment during play, he may be called. If a goalie skates out of his crease and over the center line into the play, he might be called for delay of game. If a goalie holds the puck for more than three seconds when the ref tells him to move it, he may be called. If a goalie feels pressure by the opposition and intentionally knocks his net off the pegs, he might be called for delay of game.
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