Hockey Canada Officiating Program
The Hockey Canada Officiating Program (sometimes abbreviated HCOP or less commonly CHOP) is the governing body for on-ice officials for all ice hockey games played under the jurisdiction of Hockey Canada. The Hockey Canada Rulebook provides in-depth explanation and examples of all rules governing hockey in Canada. The Hockey Canada Officiating Program guides the development and utilization of Officials through all levels of hockey governed by Hockey Canada. The 6-tier level system, is the foundation for the training and development of amateur hockey officials across Canada. Designations of Levels I through III allow  the officiating of most minor hockey. Designation of Levels IV though VI allow the officiating of international, semi-professional, and professional levels of hockey. Hockey Canada has categorized the hockey into four basic streams, each with different priorities. They include: Penalties. A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes during which the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice, leaving them short-handed (as opposed to full  strength) or penalty killing until the penalty expires and the player returns to the ice. The opposing team is said to be on a power play, having one player more on the ice than the short-handed team. While standards vary somewhat between leagues, most leagues recognize several common degrees of penalty, as well as common infractions. The statistic used to track penalties was traditionally called Penalty Infraction Minutes (PIM), although the alternate term Penalties in Minutes has become common in recent years. The referee(s) make most penalty calls. Linesmen generally may call only certain obvious technical infractions such as  too many players on the ice. When a penalty is called, the official will put an arm in the air; the official will stop play only once the offending team has control of the puck, or play is stopped by normal means. A delayed penalty is one in which the a penalty is called but play is not yet stopped because the opposing team retains the puck. The goaltender of the non-offending team will often go to the players' bench upon seeing the arm signal to allow an extra attacker on the ice until the play is stopped. List  of infractions. Under most jurisdictions of hockey, you will see these penalties being called in almost every aspect of the game. Other leagues typically assess penalties for additional infractions. For example, most adult social leagues and women's hockey leagues ban all body checking (a penalty for roughing or illegal check is called), and in most amateur leagues, including Hockey Canada, any head contact whatsoever results in a penalty (Checking to the Head). Annual Certification. All On-Ice Officials in Canada are required to register for a clinic and pass an exam in order to be eligible to officiate Hockey  in Canada. Clinics can be found and registered for on the Hockey Canada Clinic website. This is required for all levels of Officials. Affiliated Organizations. The Hockey Canada Officiating Program has many regional branches across the county, which are associated with Hockey Canada: HCOP also sanctions the officials of these governing bodies at the Major Junior and Junior "A" levels: See also. Hockey Canada