Clipping (ice hockey)

Lore & Background

Clipping was instituted as a rule in the National Hockey League in 2002, following a low hit on April 26 by Toronto Maple Leafs forward Darcy Tucker on New York Islanders captain Michael Peca. The hit occurred during a Stanley Cup playoff matchup between the two teams, and Peca was unable to play for the remainder of the season. When the NHL added the new rule, the videotape distributed by the league showed the hit as an example of a clipping penalty that would result in an automatic game misconduct.

Clipping should not be confused with hip checking, where one player hits an opponent with his hips, although occasionally a hip check will result in a clipping call. A player is generally assessed a minor penalty for clipping, unless an injury is caused, in which case a major penalty and a misconduct or game misconduct will result. Historically, players penalized for clipping are labeled as 'dirty' players, as clipping is nearly always viewed as an attempt to injure an opponent.

Additionally, Rule 639(a) of the USA Hockey Rulebook states: 'Any player who deliberately leaves his feet and contacts an opponent with any part of his body thereby causing the opponent to trip or fall shall be assessed a minor penalty (Clipping). (Note 3) This rule does not apply to a player who has dropped to his knee(s) to block a shot.'

Reader's Guide

Clipping holds a distinct place in ice hockey as a penalty that is both rarely called and heavily stigmatized. Its rarity in enforcement contrasts with the severity of its potential consequences: while a standard infraction draws a minor penalty, any injury resulting from a clipping hit escalates the punishment to a major penalty plus a misconduct or game misconduct. This structure reflects the league's intent to deter dangerous low hits that target an opponent's knees. The rule's origin in the NHL is directly tied to a specific incident—a low hit by Darcy Tucker on Michael Peca during a Stanley Cup playoff game—which left Peca unable to play for the remainder of the season. The league used video of that hit as an instructional example of a clipping penalty warranting an automatic game misconduct. The rule's language in the USA Hockey Rulebook clarifies that deliberately leaving one's feet to contact an opponent and cause a trip or fall constitutes clipping, though dropping to a knee to block a shot is exempt. The penalty's association with 'dirty' play and intent to injure has cemented its reputation as one of the most controversial and consequential infractions in the sport.

Did You Know?

• A major penalty and misconduct or game misconduct is assessed if clipping causes an injury.
• The NHL instituted the clipping rule in 2002 after a hit by Darcy Tucker on Michael Peca.
• USA Hockey Rule 639(a) exempts a player who drops to a knee to block a shot from a clipping call.