Penalty shot on a breakaway: all five conditions must be met
Rule numbers: NFHS 4-7-9 NFHS 7-16-4
Not every foul on a breakaway is a penalty shot. NFHS lists five tests, and every one has to be met: the skater has the puck under control; he is past the blue line he was defending; no opponent is between him and the goalkeeper; the foul comes from directly behind; and it takes away a reasonable chance to score. A defender who has an angle and fouls from the side still gets the penalty, just without a penalty shot. Likewise, if the skater can still get a good shot away after the foul, there is no penalty shot. Under 7-16-4, when the goalkeeper had been pulled and a foul from behind stopped an obvious, imminent goal, the referee awards the goal instead.
- On the ice
- All five met: penalty shot. Any one missing: call the regular penalty.
Example
A defender with an angle hooks a breakaway skater from the side, and the puck is lost. The referee calls the hooking minor; there is no penalty shot, because the foul did not come from directly behind.
Common mistake: Giving a penalty shot for a foul from the side, or when the skater still had a good scoring chance after the foul.
Sources
- 2024-25 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book, Rule 4-7-9, p. 25
- 2024-25 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book, Rule 7-16-4, p. 38
Verified