PENALTIES:  A team plays shorthanded when one or more of its players is charged with a penalty.

No team is forced to play  more than two players below full strength (six players [5 players plus goaltender]) at any time. Whenever a third  penalty is called, it is suspended until the penalty with the least amount of time expires (delayed penalty).

For goaltender penalties (MINOR, MAJOR or MISCONDUCT), a teammate must serve her time in the penalty box. 

“MINOR PENALTY,” any player, other than a goalkeeper, shall be ruled off the ice for 2 minutes during  which time no substitute shall be permitted. 

“BENCH MINOR”     one player shall be ruled off the ice for a period of 2 minutes, during which time  no substitute shall be permitted. Any non-penalized player of the team who was on the ice at the time of the  infraction, except the goalkeeper, may serve the penalty by the Manager or Coach through the  playing captain, and such player shall promptly take his place on the penalty bench. 

“MAJOR PENALTY” in any one game, any player, except the goalkeeper, shall be ruled off the ice for  five minutes, during which time no substitute shall be permitted. For the second major penalty in the same game  to the same player or goalkeeper, that player shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty in addition to the  major penalty. The player or goalkeeper shall be suspended for his team’s next two games. This two-game  suspension is in addition to any other required suspensions incurred during the same incident. 

“MISCONDUCT”      Involves the removal of a player, from the game for a period of 10 minutes with immediate substitution taking place on ice. A player whose misconduct penalty has expired  shall remain on the penalty bench until the next stoppage of play. 

“GAME MISCONDUCT” penalty involves the suspension of a player or Team Official for the balance of the game  with immediate substitution taking place on ice. A player or Team Official incurring a game misconduct penalty  shall also be suspended for his team’s next game (the game already appearing on the schedule of that team at the  time of the infraction), except that when such penalty is imposed under Rule 403(b) (Second Major in Game) there  shall be a minimum two-game suspension. 

“MATCH” penalty involves the immediate removal of a player or Team Official for the balance of the game and  a five minute time penalty shall be assessed. A player or Team Official incurring a match penalty shall be  suspended from participating in any USA Hockey games and practices until his case has been dealt with by the  proper authorities. 

“PENALTY SHOT” is a free shot, unopposed except by the goalkeeper, given to a player who is illegally impeded  from behind when in possession of the puck and with an opponent between her and the goal except for the goalie.  The team which commits the offense is not penalized beyond the penalty shot, whether it succeeds or not. There  are additional infractions that call for a penalty shot (i.e. player throwing her stick in the defensive end zone)