5x5 or 4x4 after matching penalties

[RefWEB]

Originally Posted by OnDeck

I am a baseball umpire and a LONG time follower of college hockey...and I have ALWAYS been confused by this: when both teams receive minor penalties on the same play, what determines if play restarts "5 on 5" or "4 on 4"? I used to think it had to do with whether the infractions occurred during play or after the whistle...or that it was different when infractions were simultaneous as opposed to one being retaliation...but after seeing several hundred games over the years, I've never been able to figure this out.

It all depends on what rulebook you're using.

NCAA rules follow the "professional" Model......if the penalty box is empty, and one player on each team get a minor at the same stoppage, teams will restart 4 on 4. If there are players currently in the box, or if there are more than one player per team getting minors, then the coincidental penalty rule will apply (NCAA Rules 4.2 e, f and g).

In games played under USAH or Hockey Canada rules (for example), the coincident penalty rules ALWAYS apply.