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> In hockey, you have a lot of leeway in terms of physicality and you can push, shove, lock the stick of your opponent, and do a number of other things that are

> In hockey, you have a lot of leeway in terms of physicality and you can push, shove, lock the stick of your opponent, and do a number of other things that are completely penalized in basketball or soccer. The result was that opposing players became hesitant to get too close to the net, thus solving the problem somewhat. Also the goalie is given waaay more leeway. The goalie can get away with things that would definitely result in the penalty box for anyone else. I don’t know whether is is by convention, or because penalizing the goalie is such a heavy disadvantage that it isn’t done lightly.

jamiek88 6y ago
Same in football (soccer) as well. The goalkeeper is protected and can simultaneously get away with more contact. Historically its because goalkeepers have been vulnerable when in the air and outfield players leading with their feet when reaching for a contested ball.
remarkEon 6y ago
I think it’s also kind of an unwritten rule. Been watching hockey for 25 years now and it’s rare to see the goalie go to the box, but when they do it’s for a particularly egregious slashing penalty (usually to the ... swimsuit area). I agree with the general point of the article though, which I thought was well written. Hockey, especially over I’d say the last 5-6 years or so has gotten a lot more “run and gun” than before that imo.
- miskin 6y ago
  I'm not sure how referees are handling this in Canada or the USA, but in Europe, if the goalie hits any other player with blocker to head area, it is the game penalty for him. If the goalie starts a fistfight (without gloves), it is also the game penalty.
  - remarkEon 6y ago
    Where in Europe are you? I've been trying to find more hockey to watch that's not US based. In the NHL it's extraordinarily rare for a goalie to get into a fight (also fighting in hockey should definitely not be banned ... it's part of the art and culture of the sport).
    - miskin 6y ago
      I'm in Slovakia. I think problem with watching hockey in TV is not only about quality of players, but also production of the broadcasting. Here NHL shines and it is big difference. When I was on live match, it was quite watchable (even Slovak league ;), but in TV it lacks the action that is provided by good broadcast production - a lot of cameras, cuts, etc. Also around here it is quite uncommon for goalies to fight, but especially goalies coming from Canada tended to "payback" in some brawls around crease with blocker and paid dearly for it, as they had to leave the crease during important play-off game afterwards.
    - Delk 6y ago
      I haven't been following hockey in a couple of decades but fighting used to be much less common in European leagues AFAIK than it is (or was) in the NHL. Goalies getting involved would have been even rarer. But if fights do occur, they are (or at least used to be) penalised more strictly, in line with fighting not being considered a part of the game the way it is in North America.
  - garmaine 6y ago
    A lot of fighting is legal or results in a minimal slap on the wrist in the NHL. Different culture.
  - JohnBooty 6y ago
    Yeah it's an automatic game penalty in the NHL -- Rule 51.3 Match Penalty - If, in the judgement of the Referee , a goalkeeper uses his blocking glove to punch an opponent in the head or face in an attempt to or to deliberately injure an opponent, a match penalty must be assessed. https://cms.nhl.bamgrid.com/images/assets/binary/319997074/binary-file/file.pdf https://cms.nhl.bamgrid.com/images/assets/binary/319997074/b...
deleted 6y ago
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miskin 6y ago
When a goalkeeper is given a penalty, one field player is going to the penalty box instead of the goalie.
- Delk 6y ago
  I was about to comment on that, too, but I then came to think GP might have meant game misconducts (in case of getting actually physically violent) which would usually be a greater loss in case of a primary goalie than in the case of a random skater. Still there's probably plenty of area where the penalty could be a two-minute minor (served by another player instead of the goalie), and where goalies are still permitted to defend their crease with means that would be considered roughing or something similar if done by skaters.

jamiek88 6y ago

Same in football (soccer) as well. The goalkeeper is protected and can simultaneously get away with more contact. Historically its because goalkeepers have been vulnerable when in the air and outfield players leading with their feet when reaching for a contested ball.

remarkEon 6y ago

I think it’s also kind of an unwritten rule. Been watching hockey for 25 years now and it’s rare to see the goalie go to the box, but when they do it’s for a particularly egregious slashing penalty (usually to the ... swimsuit area). I agree with the general point of the article though, which I thought was well written. Hockey, especially over I’d say the last 5-6 years or so has gotten a lot more “run and gun” than before that imo.

miskin 6y ago
I'm not sure how referees are handling this in Canada or the USA, but in Europe, if the goalie hits any other player with blocker to head area, it is the game penalty for him. If the goalie starts a fistfight (without gloves), it is also the game penalty.
- remarkEon 6y ago
  Where in Europe are you? I've been trying to find more hockey to watch that's not US based. In the NHL it's extraordinarily rare for a goalie to get into a fight (also fighting in hockey should definitely not be banned ... it's part of the art and culture of the sport).
  - miskin 6y ago
    I'm in Slovakia. I think problem with watching hockey in TV is not only about quality of players, but also production of the broadcasting. Here NHL shines and it is big difference. When I was on live match, it was quite watchable (even Slovak league ;), but in TV it lacks the action that is provided by good broadcast production - a lot of cameras, cuts, etc. Also around here it is quite uncommon for goalies to fight, but especially goalies coming from Canada tended to "payback" in some brawls around crease with blocker and paid dearly for it, as they had to leave the crease during important play-off game afterwards.
  - Delk 6y ago
    I haven't been following hockey in a couple of decades but fighting used to be much less common in European leagues AFAIK than it is (or was) in the NHL. Goalies getting involved would have been even rarer. But if fights do occur, they are (or at least used to be) penalised more strictly, in line with fighting not being considered a part of the game the way it is in North America.
- garmaine 6y ago
  A lot of fighting is legal or results in a minimal slap on the wrist in the NHL. Different culture.
- JohnBooty 6y ago
  Yeah it's an automatic game penalty in the NHL -- Rule 51.3 Match Penalty - If, in the judgement of the Referee , a goalkeeper uses his blocking glove to punch an opponent in the head or face in an attempt to or to deliberately injure an opponent, a match penalty must be assessed. https://cms.nhl.bamgrid.com/images/assets/binary/319997074/binary-file/file.pdf https://cms.nhl.bamgrid.com/images/assets/binary/319997074/b...

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

miskin 6y ago

When a goalkeeper is given a penalty, one field player is going to the penalty box instead of the goalie.

Delk 6y ago
I was about to comment on that, too, but I then came to think GP might have meant game misconducts (in case of getting actually physically violent) which would usually be a greater loss in case of a primary goalie than in the case of a random skater. Still there's probably plenty of area where the penalty could be a two-minute minor (served by another player instead of the goalie), and where goalies are still permitted to defend their crease with means that would be considered roughing or something similar if done by skaters.