Reporting a penalty so the box gets it right

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Craft note: practice advice, not a rule.

Most penalty-clock mistakes start with a rushed report. Stop, face the penalty bench and the scorekeeper, and give the same four things every time: team colour, player number, the infraction, and the length.

Then watch it go on the clock before the face-off. If two penalties start at the same stoppage, say the order out loud. For a goalkeeper's penalty, make sure the box and the scorekeeper know who is serving and that the minutes go against the goalkeeper (407, p. 91).

Ten seconds here saves ten minutes of sorting it out at the next intermission.

Rules mentioned: 407, USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey. The rulebook (PDF)