Rule 4.2 – Minor Penalties

A Minor penalty is a two-minute time penalty. Any player, except the goaltender, assessed a Minor penalty will be removed from the ice and placed in the Penalty Bench for two minutes of playing time.

For a Minor penalty, any player, except a goaltender, will be ruled off the ice for two minutes actual playing time, during which time their team will be play shorthanded.
If the opposing team scores a goal while a team is shorthanded because of one (1) or more Minor or Bench Minor penalties or when a team would otherwise become shorthanded due to a delayed Minor or Bench Minor penalty, the Minor penalty with the least amount of time remaining will automatically terminate. In the case of a player who has received a double Minor penalty, their first Minor penalty will be terminated.

Note 1: For the purposes of terminating penalties under this rule, a delayed Minor or Bench Minor penalty is treated as a penalty with two minutes remaining.

If a team scores a goal while playing shorthanded and a delayed time penalty is signaled against the opposing team, the delayed penalty is still assessed because the team that is scored upon is not shorthanded.

When a goal is scored on a Penalty Shot against a team that is shorthanded, as outlined above, no player of the shorthanded team will return to the ice upon the scoring of the goal.
Coincidental Minor penalties to both teams do not cause either team to be shorthanded. (see Rule 4.5 – Coincidental Penalties)

INTERPRETATIONS
Interpretation 1	Rule 4.2 (a) When a goal is scored and penalties are being served, the Referee would ask the following questions: Is the team scored on playing shorthanded? Is it because of a Minor or Bench Minor penalty? ACTION: If the Referee answers YES to both questions, then the Minor or Bench Minor penalty with the least amount of time remaining would be terminated. The only exception would be if the goal was scored during a Penalty Shot, in which case no player would return. Note 1: Coincidental penalties do not cause a team to be shorthanded and are never terminated by a goal.
Interpretation 2	Rule 4.2 (b) When a goal is scored (excluding on a Penalty Shot) and time penalties are being served or signaled on delay, the Referee must ask the following questions: Is the team scored on playing shorthanded or to become shorthanded due to a delayed time penalty? Is it because of a Minor or Bench Minor penalty? ACTION: If the Referee answers YES to both questions, then the Minor or Bench Minor penalty with the least amount of time remaining would be terminated. The only exception would be if the goal was scored during a Penalty Shot, in which case no penalty would terminate. Note 1: In situations where time penalties are already being served, while an additional time penalty or penalties are on delay, officials must factor that time penalty into their evaluation as to whether the team being scored on is shorthanded. When a delayed penalty is signaled on the stoppage of play where a goal is scored by the non-offending team, officials should envision the delayed penalty time being placed on the time clock. This will assist officials in identifying the minor penalty with the least amount of time remaining for termination. Note 2: Coincidental penalties do not cause a team to be shorthanded and are never terminated by a goal.
Interpretation 3	Rule 4.2 (b) A8 – 2 5:00 Delayed penalty B6 – 2 4:00 A scores 4:00 No player returns and the delayed minor penalty to B6 is assessed, as Team B is not shorthanded.
Interpretation 4	Rule 4.2 (b) A8 – 2 5:00 B3 – 2 4:30 Delayed penalty B6 – 2 4:00 A scores 4:00 The minor penalty being served by B3 terminates. Upon the scoring of the goal team B would become shorthanded by way of the delayed minor penalty and thus Team B3’s minor penalty has the least amount of time remaining.
Interpretation 5	Rule 4.2 (a) If the officials neglect to place a player in the Penalty Bench and the team continues to play shorthanded, no further action is required until it is noticed and the player is placed in the Penalty Bench or the penalty time expires. However, if the penalized player actually enters the game, that player is on the ice illegally and any goals scored while the player is on the ice will be disallowed. Note 1: The player would not be penalized further, as it was the officials’ error by not placing them in the box. They would only need to serve the remainder of their original penalty, as applicable.