Captain's choice: who serves, and whose record it goes on
Rule numbers: NFHS 2-2-6 NFHS 4-2-8
Several NFHS team penalties, such as too many players or a stalled line change, are served under 'captain's choice of players'. The captain must then send someone who was on the ice when the whistle blew, and never a goalkeeper. That player serves the time, but the penalty is not charged to him, so it does not count toward his five-penalty total or any personal record a league keeps. Coaches and other team staff can also draw penalties served this way.
- On the ice
- The chosen skater serves the time.
- Scoresheet
- Do not charge the penalty to the player serving it; record it as a team penalty per your scoresheet's convention.
Example
A team is caught with an extra skater. The captain sends a forward who was on the ice at the whistle; he sits for two minutes, but the minor is not added to his personal total.
Common mistake: Letting the captain send a player who was on the bench, sending the goalkeeper, or charging the penalty to the player who serves it.
Sources
- 2024-25 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book, Rule 2-2-6, p. 12
- 2024-25 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book, Rule 4-2-8, p. 23
Verified