Hello all,

I'm a screenwriter and am having troublt researching the history of ice hockey rules for a feature film that I'm writing. Can anyone tell me when the sin bin rule was introduced roughly?

I'd really appreciate any help to my enquiry.

Oscar

I think you'll probably find it hard to pin down an exact date, or possibly even a year. The first rules were introduced in 1877 (see here, here and here). It's likely the idea of penalties and penalty boxes was toyed with by the different leagues that existed early in Ice Hockey's history several times before any set rules were defined.

As Ice Hockey became fairly professional before the end of the 19th century, I would assume that it was around this time that it was introduced - certainly, by the beginning of the 20th century, Ice Hockey was at a mature enough stage that penalties would certainly have been necessary.

On a side note, they're far more commonly known as a "penalty box" than a "sin-bin", which is more of a Rugby term.

Thanks heaps Wardy,

That's a great help. I hadn't actually used the term 'sin bin' in my film, it's just action of a referee throwing the fighting players off the ice. But I'm glad you let me know that else I would never have known.

Thanks again,

Oscar