Hooking is a penalty in ice hockey and ringette. This article deals chiefly with ice hockey.
The National Hockey League defines it in Rule 55 as "the act of using the stick in a manner that enables a player or goalkeeper to restrain an opponent."
Hooking in the rules
[edit]The NHL covers hooking in Rule 55, which defines it as "the act of using the stick in a manner that enables a player or goalkeeper to restrain an opponent." It goes on to specify that "when a player is checking another in such a way that there is only stick-to-stick contact, such action is not to be penalized as hooking." The NHL groups hooking with other "Restraining fouls" such as holding, interference and tripping.[1]
The IIHF covers hooking in Rule 533, defining a player guilty of hooking as one "who impedes or seeks to impede the progress of an opponent by hooking him with the stick."[2]
Both codes allow for hooking to be penalized with either a minor or major penalty; the latter is imposed for injuring an opponent by hooking, and carries with it an automatic game misconduct.
Emphasis in NHL
[edit]Following the 2004–05 NHL lockout, the NHL made "Zero tolerance on Interference, Hooking and Holding/Obstruction" its top priority for game officials.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ "Rule 55". NHL Rulebook. Retrieved March 6, 2010.
- ^ "Section 5" (PDF). IIHF Rulebook. Retrieved March 6, 2010.
- ^ "Collective Bargaining Agreement FAQ". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 6, 2010.