Introduction
Charging is a penalty in ice hockey that occurs when a player skates or jumps into an opponent with excessive force or speed. It is a dangerous play that can result in serious injuries and is penalized by the officials to maintain a safe and fair game.
What is Charging?
Charging is defined as a player taking more than three strides or traveling a significant distance to deliver a body check to an opponent. The intent of the rule is to prevent players from using excessive force to gain an advantage over their opponents.
Examples of Charging
- A player skating from the other end of the rink to deliver a hit on an unsuspecting opponent
- A player leaving their feet to deliver a hit
- A player using their stick or elbows to deliver a hit
Case Studies
In a recent game, Player A charged towards Player B with such force that Player B suffered a concussion and had to leave the game. The officials immediately penalized Player A for charging and he received a game misconduct penalty.
Statistics
According to the latest data, charging penalties have decreased by 15% compared to the previous season. This shows that players are becoming more aware of the dangers of charging and are taking steps to avoid committing this penalty.
