What is hooking in hockey?

In ice hockey, hooking is a penalty that occurs when a player uses their stick to impede or slow down an opponent by hooking around their body or stick. This can happen in several ways, such as using the blade of the stick to grab onto an opponent's body or stick, or using the stick to pull an opponent off balance.

Hooking is considered a minor penalty in hockey, resulting in the offending player being sent to the penalty box for two minutes. However, if the hooking is deemed to be especially egregious or intentional, the penalty could be called as a major penalty, resulting in a player being off the ice for five minutes.

Hooking is often called by referees when a player uses their stick in a way that is outside the rules of the game and gives them an unfair advantage over their opponent. It is important for players to use their sticks appropriately and not engage in hooking to ensure fair play on the ice.