Ice hockey is a contact sport and being in physical contact with the puck or an opponent is unavoidable. Sometimes a fight breaks out or there’s an accident on the ice and players must be subbed out or get medical attention. This is why the rules were written the way they were. However, even the experts get penalties sometimes and this is where things can get a bit dicey. Sometimes a player gets a five minute minor penalty for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This happens more than you’d think and it can be a bit frustrating. Knowing what the five minute minor penalty in hockey means can help you minimize the impact it has on your game and increase your fun factor. Here’s a quick breakdown of what a five minute minor penalty in hockey means and why it’s on the books in the first place.
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Why Do They Use The Five-Minute Minor Penalty In Hockey?
The NHL’s five-minute minor penalty is in place to keep the pace of the game moving. The idea is to stop overly aggressive players from taking the game too seriously. At the same time, it also forces more skilled players to have to work harder for the puck because they’re less likely to get a break if they stand around too long. While fighting and checking from behind are illegal, occasional brawls break out and players can get injured, requiring them to be subbed out or receive medical attention. This is all part of the game and learning to accept it is part of growing up. Most players realize the need for the rule and know how annoying it can be when they overuse it. This is why they try to keep their personal fouls to a minimum and only use it when they really need to.
The Penalties In A Five-Minute Minor Offense Are Pretty Self-explanatory
The offensive player receives a minor penalty and the defending team is allowed to kill the puck or take a shot at the net. This is one of the simpler parts of the rule. In many ways, it’s a way of the NHL trying to keep things fair for the players. It’s only a minor penalty so there’s no major effect on the player’s game. The offensive player is simply required to leave the ice for a few minutes or until the end of the period. This is usually enough time for the opposing team to move the puck and gain some momentum.
How Does This Affect My Game?
The five-minute minor penalty will slow down your gameplay significantly, especially if it’s during a crucial part of the game. You’re not going to be able to push your team to the next level with extra minutes on the clock. A lot of times, this can mean the difference between winning and losing. The fact that it’s a minor penalty also means there’s no major effect on your personal stats. You’ll just have to wait until the end of the period to find out how many minutes you had been frozen. This, of course, is assuming you’re not already at the end of the period when the foul was committed. If you are, then you’ll have to wait until the end of the game to find out how many minutes you were actually given. This is one of the most frustrating aspects of the rule. You have no control over whether or not the penalty actually happens. At least with some of the more annoying offences, you know exactly what the penalty is going to be. This makes it easier to plan your next play. In most cases, it’s not a difficult decision for the referees to decide whether or not to call one. This is why they get so many calls wrong sometimes.
Accepting The Rules
If the rules are meant to be followed, then there’s not much that can be done to change them. However, sometimes these things happen and it’s frustrating when you don’t understand why. Most players try their best to keep their temper and personal fouls to a minimum because they know they’re not going to be able to control the aggressive instinct that comes with playing a contact sport. They also try to accept that things like fights and injuries are a part of the game. Most hockey players are very lucky to have a job they enjoy. This is because there’s a ton of competition for spots on the roster. Also, a lot of smart players realize the importance of developing a winning attitude. It’s already in their heads that this is going to be a bumpy ride, but they still enjoy the game and look at it as a positive learning experience. You may be wondering if or when the NHL will remove this rule. At the moment, it remains and it seems to be working as intended. In fact, there’s an entire sub-category of YouTube videos dedicated to documenting the 5-minute minor penalty.