There comes a time when every fan has to wonder… how can that happen?
Twice this weekend I had to witness a referee make a grave mistake regarding the release of players from the penalty box, decisions going in favour of the away team and done at the screaming demands of the away coach.
I was under the impression that referees controlled the game, not protesting coaches. I was also under the impression that coaches had to keep their mouths shut and not talk back to a referee. Of course I also thought that you had to be able to read and count too but after this weekend’s games I’m left to wonder.
How can such a grave mistake happen as the release of a player from the penalty box 58 seconds before the 2 minute penalty is up? And how can the ref take the word of a coach over the scorer or the penalty box attendant whose jobs it is to keep track of these things!
This type of mistake ruins the experience for the fans of both teams. No one likes to be cheated and no one likes their team to cheat.
Man up refs and rule the game fairly and squarely.
Referees use hand signals to help control the play of game. The following is a list of referee signals used in regular hockey matches.
| DELAYED PENALTY | ICING | |||
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Delayed calling of penalty or other violation. Arm extended fully above head (hand without whistle). |  |
The back referee of linesman signals a possible icing by fully extending his arm without the whistle over his head. The front referee or linesman indicates the icing is completed by extending his arm over his head. The back referee or linesman will then blow his whistle and skate to the face the spot. When he is standing on the face-off spot, he extends his arms to indicate the icing. | |
| MATCH | HANDPASS | |||
 |
Flat part of hand patted on head. |  |
Open part of hand displayed in a pushing motion. | |
| PENALTY SHOT | GOAL | |||
 |
PENALTY SHOT Arms crossed above head, giving signal of stoppage in play. |
 |
Referee points into the net. | |
| HOLDING | SLASHING | |||
 |
Clasping either wrist with the other hand in front of the chest. |  |
A chopping motion with the edge of one hand across the opposite forearm. | |
| CHECKING FROM BEHIND | HIGH STICKING | |||
 |
A forward motion of both arms, with the palms of the hands open and facing away from the body, fully extended from the chest at shoulder level. |  |
Holdings both fists clenched, one immediately above the other at the height of the shoulders. | |
| ROUGHING | TRIPPING | |||
 |
Fist clenched and arm extended out of the side of the body. |  |
With both skates on the ice striking right leg with the right hand below the knee. | |
| CHARGING | WASHING | |||
 |
Rotating clenched fists around one another in front of the chest. |  |
No goal or no icing. | |
| BOARDING | POSSIBLE ICING | |||
 |
A cross motion of the forearms, one passing under the other. |  |
Pass out of defensive zone. | |
| INTERFERENCE | SPEARING | |||
 |
Crossed arms with closed fists stationary in front of the chest. |  |
A jabbing motion with both hands thrust out directly in front of the body. | |
| HOOKING | BUTT-ENDING | |||
 |
A tugging motion with both arms, as if pulling something from in front of the stomach. |  |
A cross motion of the forearms, one passing under the other. | |
| KNEEING | CROSS CHECKING | |||
 |
Slapping either knee with the palm of the hand whilst keeping both skates on the ice. |  |
A forward motion with both fists clenched extending from the chest. | |
| ELBOWING | ||||
 |
Tapping either elbow with the other hand. | |||
Hockeyology – Hock-ee-olo-gee
n.
1. All things hockey
2. To do with, and about hockey
Hockyology is designed to help educate and inform people of the rules of the great sport that is Hockey. Follow the links to read individual sections.
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