What Does PIM Mean in Hockey?
By the TheyShoot editorial team. Updated
PIM stands for penalty minutes. It is the total number of minutes in penalties given to a player or team. A minor penalty adds 2 PIM, a double minor 4, a major (such as fighting) 5, and a misconduct or game misconduct 10.
What does PIM mean in hockey?
Every time a referee calls a penalty, the minutes are added to the player's PIM total on the score sheet. PIM is kept for single games, seasons and careers, so you'll see it in box scores, player profiles and standings for team discipline.
How many penalty minutes is each penalty?
| Penalty | PIM | Common examples |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | 2 | Tripping, hooking, slashing, holding, interference |
| Double minor | 4 | High-sticking that draws blood |
| Major | 5 | Fighting, some boarding or charging calls |
| Misconduct | 10 | Abuse of officials, unsportsmanlike conduct |
| Game misconduct | 10 | Ejection from the game |
PIM example
A defenceman takes a tripping minor in the first period and drops the gloves for a fighting major in the third. His PIM for the game is 2 + 5 = 7. Add a 10-minute misconduct after the fight and the total becomes 17.
Does PIM mean a power play?
Not always. Minor and major penalties usually put the other team on the power play. A misconduct does not: the player sits out 10 minutes but the team stays at full strength, so a high PIM total can come from misconducts that never cost the team a goal.
Why PIM matters in hockey pools
Some hockey pools and fantasy leagues award points for PIM, which makes physical players valuable even if they score little. Check your pool's scoring rules before the draft; in a PIM league, enforcers and agitators rise up the rankings.
FAQs
What does PIM stand for?
PIM stands for penalty minutes: the total minutes of penalties a player or team has been assessed.
How many PIM is a fight?
A fighting major is 5 penalty minutes. Extra penalties, such as an instigator minor or a misconduct, add to the total.
Is PIM good or bad?
For a team, fewer penalty minutes usually means fewer short-handed situations. In some fantasy hockey and pool formats, PIM earns points, so high-PIM players are valuable there.