RULE 154 – LEAVING THE PENALTY BOX 
PREMATURELY

DEFINITION: 
Only the penalty-box attendant is allowed to open and close
the door to the penalty box during a game. A skater is not
allowed to leave the penalty box except at the end of a period
or after the expiration of his penalty.
i. A penalized skater who leaves the penalty box by his own 
error prior to the expiration of his penalty will be assessed a 
minor penalty in addition to having to serve the remainder of 
his existing penalty.
ii. A skater who leaves the penalty box prematurely because 
of an error by the penalty-box attendant will not be penalized,
 but he must return to the penalty box to serve the remaining 
time of his penalty.
iii. A skater who leaves the penalty box prior to the expiration 
of his penalty for the purpose of challenging the ruling of an 
on-ice official will be assessed a minor penalty and game-
misconduct penalty.
iv. A skater who leaves the penalty box prior to the expiration 
of his penalty for the purpose of entering a confrontation or 
joining or precipitating a fight will be assessed a minor penalty
and game-misconduct penalty.