How do delayed penalties work, and what happens if a goal is scored?
Rule- Canada
- Hockey Canada
- Playing rules
- Officiating
- All divisions
- 2026-27
- Playing Rules 2026-2028
- Referees
Team in possession (Rule 4.15 (a)): if a player on the team with the puck commits an infraction calling for a Minor, Bench Minor, Major, Match, Misconduct, Game Misconduct or Gross Misconduct, the referee blows the whistle immediately and assesses the penalty.
Team not in possession (Rule 4.15 (b)): the referee signals a delayed penalty by extending an arm straight up, and blows the whistle and stops play immediately when the offending team gains possession and control of the puck.
If the non-offending team scores before the whistle:
- Delayed Minor or Bench Minor: the Minor is not assessed.
- Delayed Major, Match, Misconduct, Game Misconduct or Gross Misconduct: it is assessed in the normal manner regardless of the goal.
- If the offending team is already shorthanded from Minor or Bench Minor penalties (or would be shorthanded because of the delayed penalty), the goal counts and the Minor or Bench Minor with the least time remaining terminates; the signalled penalty is still assessed and served. A delayed Minor is treated as having two minutes remaining for this purpose (Rules 4.2 (b), 4.15 (b) Note 2).
- If a team scores while shorthanded and a delayed penalty is signalled against the opposing team, the delayed penalty is still assessed, because the team scored upon is not shorthanded (Note 3).
Other points:
- If the referee is about to whistle for a penalty and the offending team scores before the whistle reaches the referee's mouth, the goal is not allowed (Rule 4.15 Interpretation 1).
- The referee may stop play immediately for a Match penalty regardless of possession (Rule 4.15 (c)).
- If the referee cannot identify the offender's number, the referee and captain choose a player who was on the ice to serve it (Rule 4.15 (d)).
- Before play resumes, the referee may alter or correct a decision, even if the penalty has been announced or shown on the clock (Rule 4.15 (e)).
Source: Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2026-2028, Rules 4.2 and 4.15. https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Officiating/Downloads/2026-28-hc-rulebook-e.pdf
Added 25 Oct 2026