Open-ice body checks are among the most exciting plays in hockey but fans can also be treated to some excellent hits and rub-outs along the boards. This isn’t quite as common though as players need to make sure they don’t cross the line when it comes to the rules and get nailed for a boarding penalty.
I will explain exactly what boarding is so you can understand the reason for the call while you watch your next NHL game or to make sure you’re not penalized for it when taking an opponent out too close to the boards yourself.
What Is a Boarding Penalty In Hockey? (NHL Boarding Rule Explained)
Boarding is a physical penalty and is covered by rule 41 of the NHL’s rule book.
A boarding penalty occurs when a player pushes, checks, or makes physical contact with a defenseless or vulnerable opponent and sends him dangerously or violently into the boards.
Like most penalties, this is a judgment call by the referee. Boarding can also be called if a player hits an opponent into the boards during an obvious offside or icing call as this is deemed to be unnecessary contact.
How Long is a Boarding Penalty?
The length of penalty time dished out for a boarding penalty is at the discretion of the referee and it will depend on how severe, violent, or dangerous he views the incident and if the player was injured when being run into the boards.
If the impact was a mild one the referee will typically assess a two-minute minor penalty. However, the referee also has the power to hand out a five-minute major if he deems the impact with the boards to be severe or violent.
In addition, if the official believes the perpetrator intentionally attempted to injure his opponent he may call a match penalty, which also comes with an automatic major penalty. If the player receives an injury to his head or face when making contact with the boards, the attacking player will receive a major penalty along with an automatic game misconduct.
Video Examples of Boarding in the NHL:
Can You Get Suspended for Boarding?
In cases where injuries occur due to a boarding incident or it’s particularly vicious, the player may receive further punishment from the league in the way of a monetary fine and/or suspension. The league may decide to investigate a boarding incident on its own, or a team may request it to do so, but investigation must be initiated within 24 hours of the completion of the game in which the infraction took place.
When Did Boarding Become a Penalty in the NHL?
The boarding penalty was introduced into the NHL with most of the league’s other rules when the league began play in 1917/18. In 2011, the rule was slightly altered as it added the word “pushes” when it comes to describing the penalty.
The previous rule stated that boarding occurred when a player checked an opponent into the boards, but since 2011 it states that the infraction takes place if a player is checked or pushed into the boards by an opponent.
What’s the Difference Between Boarding and Checking?
Body checking in hockey is allowed and is not penalized, it simply means to use your body to stop an opponent legally.
When it comes to a clean body check, the attacking player makes physical contact with a player who is in possession of the puck and doesn’t skate more than three strides to hit him or send him crashing into the boards. In addition, the recipient isn’t in a defenseless or vulnerable position when impact is made.
Boarding can happen during a body check, it just means the check was a number of feet away from the boards and the player that was hit was sent into the boards viciously.
For boarding to occur, remember it doesn’t have to be a body check. It can be a push or any physical motion to make the play go into the boards in a defenseless manner.
What is the Referee Signal for Boarding?
The referee’s signal for a boarding penalty is covered by rule 29.1 of the NHL rule book and describes it the following way:
The referee will strike the clenched fist of one of his hands into the open palm of his opposite hand in front of his chest.
See the featured image above for the referee signal for boarding in hockey.
Why is Boarding an Important Rule in Hockey?
The boarding penalty has been placed in the rule book as a way to help save players from suffering serious injuries during the course of a game. To avoid being hit with a boarding penalty the attacking player must be sure his opponent isn’t in a defenseless or vulnerable position on the ice in proximity of the boards.
If he is, then contact shouldn’t be made with the player. There are times, however when contact can’t be avoided due to the pure speed of the game and when the opponent puts himself in a vulnerable position at the very last moment before impact or as the hit is taking place (typically this is a minor penalty).
The referee must take all of this into consideration when deciding if a boarding penalty for excessive force is warranted and if so if it should be a major, minor, or match penalty.
Boarding is a very dangerous play that can result in serious injuries including broken bones, spinal cord problems, and concussions and that’s one reason why the rule has always been and always will be a penalty. It’s also one of the reasons most hockey leagues make helmets mandatory and have also increased the height of the boards.
Jamie is the founder of Hockey Response and he is the chief writer/ lead editor. Jamie has been playing hockey for over 20 years. He was the defenseman of the year in NL and has played Jr A level hockey. Jamie has coached several kids hockey camps and he was the assistant coach of the Western Kings.