It's my understanding that a penalty shot is awarded under (3) specific circumstances: 1) The most common is when a player with the puck, and has "clear progress" to the net from the red line, is kept from having "a reasonable scoring" attempt, by an illegal act. So, by hooking, holding, slashing or tripping the player, that action keeps the player from having the scoring opportunity that one would have on a clear breakaway. 2) If any player (including goalies) throws his/her stick at the puck, which is controlled or shot by the opposing player. I don't think it matters if it is an accident. [This has happened this year already in a Wisconsin game, where the opposing goalie lost control of his stick while trying to poke check the puck away. A penalty shot was awarded to Wisconsin.] 3) If a player (other than the goalie) covers the puck up in the goal crease, while the goalie is in the goal crease. If the goalie is in his/her crease, only that person may cover the puck up. I think thats it. Terry E. Tuschen Jr. ****************************************************************************** University of Wisconsin-Madison WISCONSIN BADGERS Space Science and Engineering NCAA DIV. 1 Mens Ice Hockey Champions McIDAS Archive 1973, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1990, 1997?! [log in to unmask] "A great day for hockey!" http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/~terryt/ssec.html ****************************************************************************** HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.