How to Draw a Penalty Purposely in Ice Hockey

Sometimes in a hockey game taking a penalty can be used as a strategy to get the team fired up, open the ice up or keep an opponent from scoring a goal. In addition, a player may take a penalty in order to take another player off the ice in coincidental minors. Here's how to do it.

Instructions

    • 1

      Start a fight. In the NHL, if a player clearly instigates a fight, he is assessed an instigator penalty in addition to the fighting major penalty. Fights are often used to get players and fans excited and turn the momentum of the game from one team to another.

    • 2

      Impede a player when she has a clear shot at the goal. Many players will take an intentional penalty in order to prevent a good scoring chance. Teams with a good penalty kill unit may feel that taking away a great scoring opportunity and making the opposing team work for their goal is a good trade off.

    • 3

      Delay the game. Players can deliberately delay the game to change the tempo of the game, give players a rest or keep opposing players from getting a good scoring chance. To do so, players or the goalie can lay on the puck longer than needed or move the goal posts.

    • 4

      Commit a penalty to get an opposing player off the ice. Generally, the penalty will have to be one that will make the opposing player retaliate and also get called for a penalty. Some teams will use this strategy to get an opposing star player off the ice during a critical time in the game.

    • 5

      Make sure that the referees see you if you plan to take a penalty on purpose and want to be called for it. In some cases, as when an opposing player is streaking to the goal, the penalty will generally be caught. In other cases, you may need to be more obvious about the penalty.