Hockey 101 – Hooking (Rule 55)
Hooking, broken down is … “Impeding the progress of another player by “hooking” them with the blade of your stick.” I could stop there – however, this is another one of those “interpretation” rules. Its up to the on ice official if a player has impeded another player by hooking them with the blade of his stick. I have had this called on me quite a few times in error (Looking at you Highfield!) In my defense, I believe there IS a difference in “impeding” and “manipulating the play” – allow me to explain!
If I were to take my stick and use it as a “hook” to either slow down the player with the puck or maneuver the player with the puck, then I would happily pat the referee on the shoulder and commend him for making a good call on the ice while I skate over to the penalty box. HOWEVER, if I am attempting to gain control of the puck and my stick “accidentally” touches the other player then why should I be punished? I am only trying to play a good and honest game of Hockey … and with that … the Persecuted Rests!
Now – back to hooking! A hooking call can also be called if a player uses the shaft of the stick above the upper hand to hold or hook the opponent. A good rule of thumb is if you take your stick off of the ice and use it as a tool to help you gain control over an opponent you will get a whistle. As with any of these “soft penalties” there is room for interpretation … is the blade of your stick pointing down or up, is the shaft between the opponents’ body and stick, you also need to be aware of the other player and his ability to project a non-penalty and make the ref think differently. Like when you are attempting to gain control of the puck and your stick “accidentally” gets caught under the opponents arm and they clamp down on your stick so you get called for hooking … yea, it has happened before – but I am not bitter!
Most of these “soft penalties” (Holding, Hooking, Interference and Tripping) are all dependent on the position of the ref, the angle of infraction and the ability of one player to sell it! The season starts on October 1 … check out a game or two and see if you can spot the penalty or the Oscar winning performance.
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Bill … if you were merely trying to play the puck with you stick, and if your blade is on the ice, then you wouldn’t be hooking. If, on the other hand, your blade is NOT on the ice, then you are NOT trying to play the puck, no? Instead, your stick either contacts the player either on his hands, or on his body, neither of which is legal if it impedes his ability to control the puck.
From USA Hockey …
A player cannot use his/her stick against an opponent’s body
(puck carrier or non-puck carrier) to gain a positional advantage.
Examples include:
• tugs or pulls on the body, arms or hands of the opponent
which allows for the space between the players to diminish
• placing the stick in front of the opponent’s body and locking
on – impeding the opponent’s progress or causing a loss of
balance.
• stick on the hand/arm that takes away the ability for the
opponent to pass or shoot the puck with a normal amount of
force
Invariably, these type of penalty comes from the laziness or fatigue of the offending player. Players stay out on shifts WAY too long, they grow fatigued, and when confronted with an opponent about to go by them, they “reach out”, and hook or trip. From my experience, each and every time you’ve been called for hooking (and you’re more of a tripper, not a hooker, lol) it’s been because you’re at the end of a shift and tired. Like many hockey players, they come up with a burst of energy when they have the puck and they’re trying for a goal, but the second they lose possession, that adrenaline rush dies out, and before you know it they’re reaching out with that stick, latching on, and bingo, they get called.
So the moral of the story? KEEP YOUR BLADE ON THE ICE, and you’ll never get called for hooking.
Just tripping, which is your normal modus operandi. LOL.
Oh, and you had BETTER play next season when we expand to four teams, and I play, and I’ll show you how to back check
Contrary to public opinion on Monday nights, back checking is NOT the face off at center ice after a goal. LOL.
1. I dont trip – players skate over my stick while I dangle the puck in front of them right before I bury it TOP SHELF (Where Mrs. Brister keeps the peanut butter!) If a player happens to fall down while skating over my stick – how can that be my fault?
B. Maybe if a certain coach would NOT completely destroy us during a “clinic” we might have a small fraction of energy that would assist me in watching out for those other players who like to skate over my stick. Lets not forget – I am an overweight 40 year old who loves hockey … take it easy on the big guy!
Thirdly. I am hoping to get back into the swing of things soon … whats the matter? Nobody tripping over the blue line since I left?
Thanks for the added info in your first comment … regarding your second comment – hey, maybe if we had decent goalies I could work on my back check!
Ahh Boooyah!