Over the course of a hockey game, incidents occur in which one player hits another player with his stick, even though this action is illegal. If you hit a player with your stick raised above your shoulders, you can receive a high-sticking penalty. These penalties range in severity, depending on the injury suffered by the opponent and your intent.
High Sticking an Opponent
You will receive a high-sticking penalty if you raise your stick above your shoulders and hit an opposing player with it. In most cases, high-sticking penalties come from careless use of the stick, although players are expected to maintain control of their sticks at all times. You also must keep your stick down when you hit an opposing player, as bringing your stick up toward him can result in a high-sticking penalty. The only time you may make accidental contact with an opposing player with your stick comes during the windup or follow-through of a normal shooting motion.
Minor or Double Minor Penalty
Any time you hit an opponent with your stick above your shoulders, you will automatically receive a two-minute minor penalty from the referee. If your opponent receives an injury because of this contact, which includes drawing any blood, you will receive a four-minute double minor penalty. Linesmen do not normally call penalties but can call a double minor penalty that the referee has missed on plays where an injury occurs.
Match Penalty
If the referee determines that you have deliberately attempted to hurt an opponent with a high-stick, you will receive a match penalty. A match penalty causes your team to play shorthanded for the next five minutes and suspends you for the remainder of the game. The league reviews all match penalties, so you might receive an additional suspension, depending on the severity of the incident.
High-Sticking the Puck
If you make contact with the puck with your stick above your shoulders and you or a member of your team touches the puck first following the infraction, it results in a high-sticking the puck call. You do not receive time in the penalty box for high-sticking the puck. The referee will call for a face-off either where you high-sticked the puck or where your teammate touched the puck, whichever provides the least territorial advantage for your team. If an opposing player touches the puck first following the high-stick, the referee will not call the infraction and play will continue. If you high-stick the puck above the cross bar and it goes into the net, the goal will not count and the face-off will occur outside of your offensive zone.
References
- "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hockey"; Malcolm Kelly, et al.; 2001
- National Hockey League; Official Rules 2010-2011
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