The great Gordie Howe was known as ‘Mr Hockey’ due to the tremendous skills he displayed on the ice, but he was also notorious for his wayward elbows.
A player’s elbows can cause quite a bit of pain and damage when connecting with an opponent’s head, especially when wearing rigid elbow pads. Using your elbow to make contact with an opponent is a breach of the rules, and in this article, I will explain the elbowing infraction and provide some video examples of it.
What is Elbowing in Hockey?
Simply put, elbowing occurs when a player uses his elbow to make contact with an opponent, usually in the head area. The wrongdoer’s elbow is typically extended in a forceful forward, sideways or backward motion when making contact.
NHL Elbowing Rule/Penalty Explained:
The NHL deals with elbowing infractions with rule 45 of the league’s rule book and states:
A penalty shall be called if a player hits an opponent with an extended elbow regardless if he’s injured or not.
How Long is an Elbowing Penalty?
The majority of elbowing penalties in the NHL are two-minute minors but the referee may decide to hand out a five-minute major if he believes the incident was particularly violent.
However, a major penalty must be dished out if the player who is elbowed receives an injury to the head or face. In addition, a referee has the power to assess a match penalty if he believes the perpetrator intentionally tried to injure or did injure the opponent with his elbow. All match penalties are immediately reviewed by video by the on-ice officials and they have the power to confirm the original call or to change it to a two-minute minor.
Rule 45.5 also adds that an automatic game misconduct penalty will be given if the instigator receives a five-minute major for elbowing due to a facial or head injury of the opponent. According to rule 23.6 a player may be fined or suspended due to a serious elbowing infraction even if a penalty wasn’t called on the play.
Also, rule 28 enables a team to ask the NHL to investigate an incident if it contacts the league in writing within 24 hours of the conclusion of the game. The league may also decide to look into the incident by itself without a team requesting a review.
The Importance of the Elbowing Penalty
Like most rules and penalties in the NHL, the punishment for elbowing an opponent is meant to hopefully deter it from happening.
Players can suffer serious injuries if struck in the head with the force of an opponent’s elbow, including concussion.
And while players sometimes elbow an opponent due to a mistimed body check, it still results in a penalty if the elbow makes contact with the player.
NHL Elbowing Examples:
Here are some well-known elbowing penalties that have happened in the NHL over the years, some are great examples and some are infamous elbows that are still talked about today.
Tie Domi 2000-2001 Playoffs
One of the most infamous elbowing incidents took place in the 2000/01 playoffs when winger Tie Domi of the Toronto Maple Leafs nailed New Jersey Devils’ defenceman Scott Niedermayer.
The brutal infraction took place with just seven seconds remaining in game four of their second-round series in Toronto which saw the Leafs tie the proceedings at two games apiece thanks to their 3-1 win. Although no penalty was originally called, Domi ultimately received a major penalty when the video was reviewed by off-ice officials at the arena.
Domi was then suspended for the remainder of the postseason as well as the first eight games the following season. Niedermayer was rendered unconscious on the play and missed the next four playoff games due to his injury. Niedermayer also claimed to the media that Domi had threatened retaliation on him for a high-stick Domi received earlier in the series on a play in which no penalty was assessed.
Erik Cernak 2019 & Again in the 2023 Regular Season
Cernak was also suspended for two games in November, 2019 for this elbow on Rasmus Sandin, also of the Sabres
Erik Cernak of the Tampa Bay Lightning was suspended two games in February, 2023 for this elbow on Kyle Okposo of the Buffalo Sabres
Brendan Lemieux 2019 Regular Season
Brandon Lemieux received a 5-minute major penalty for elbowing Antoine Roussel of the Vancouver Canucks, who needed help off the ice after the incident.
11 Minutes of NHL Elbowing Examples:
Read about our related NHL penalties:
- NHL Checking from Behind Rule Explained: The Ultimate Guide
- NHL Instigator Rule Explained (The Ultimate Guide)
- What Is A Charging Penalty in Hockey? (NHL Charging Rule)
- NHL Interference Rule Explained (The Ultimate Guide)
- NHL Slashing Rule Explained (The Ultimate Guide)
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.
