Goalkeeper penalties in USA Hockey, NFHS, NCAA and ACHA rules
Who goes to the box when the goalkeeper is penalized changed for NCAA in 2026-28 and is now the opposite of NFHS.
USA Hockey Goalkeeper penalties under USA Hockey rules
USA Hockey 2025-29 rules (2026-27 season)
Who serves a goalkeeper's major or misconduct
A teammate who was on the ice at the moment of the foul serves every goalkeeper penalty; the penalty is charged to the goalkeeper.
USAH 407(a), (b) pp. 91-92 USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey
Rule of the Week cards
- The goalkeeper never serves time in the penalty box USAH 407(a), USAH 407(b), USAH 407(c)
NFHS Goalkeeper penalties under NFHS rules
NFHS 2026-27 (page cites from the 2024-25 book where noted)
Who serves a goalkeeper's major or misconduct
The goalkeeper serves his own major or misconduct and a substitute goalkeeper goes in. For a major, another player also goes to the box and comes out when the major ends.
NFHS 4-3-2; 4-4-3; 4-8-2 pp. 23, 26 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book 2024-25 (page cites; the 2026-27 book is sold by the NFHS)
Rule of the Week cards
- Goalkeeper penalties: who sits for what NFHS 4-8-1, NFHS 4-8-2, NFHS 4-3-2, NFHS 4-4-3
NCAA Goalkeeper penalties under NCAA rules
NCAA 2026-28 rules (IH28)
Who serves a goalkeeper's major or misconduct
Changed in 2026-28: a teammate who was on the ice when play stopped serves a goalkeeper's major or misconduct. A goalkeeper's minor is served by a teammate on the ice when the offense happened.
NCAA 28.1; 28.2 p. 45 NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28)
Rule of the Week cards
- Goalkeeper's major or misconduct is now served by a teammate NCAA 28.1, NCAA 28.2
ACHA Goalkeeper penalties under ACHA rules
ACHA 2026-27 (NCAA Men's D-I rules + ACHA additions)
Who serves a goalkeeper's major or misconduct
Same as NCAA; the ACHA additions repeat the change.
NCAA 28.2 ACHA additions p. 2 ACHA: 2026 NCAA Major Ice Hockey Rule Changes and ACHA Additions (updated 8/27/2026)
Rule of the Week cards
- Goalkeeper's major or misconduct: a teammate serves it NCAA 28.1, NCAA 28.2, ACHA Additions 28.2
Side by side
| Topic | USA Hockey | NFHS | NCAA | ACHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who serves a goalkeeper's major or misconduct | A teammate who was on the ice at the moment of the foul serves every goalkeeper penalty; the penalty is charged to the goalkeeper. USAH 407(a), (b) pp. 91-92 USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey |
The goalkeeper serves his own major or misconduct and a substitute goalkeeper goes in. For a major, another player also goes to the box and comes out when the major ends. NFHS 4-3-2; 4-4-3; 4-8-2 pp. 23, 26 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book 2024-25 (page cites; the 2026-27 book is sold by the NFHS) |
Changed in 2026-28: a teammate who was on the ice when play stopped serves a goalkeeper's major or misconduct. A goalkeeper's minor is served by a teammate on the ice when the offense happened. NCAA 28.1; 28.2 p. 45 NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28) |
Same as NCAA; the ACHA additions repeat the change. NCAA 28.2 ACHA additions p. 2 ACHA: 2026 NCAA Major Ice Hockey Rule Changes and ACHA Additions (updated 8/27/2026) |