Slashing is a penalty in ice hockey that is called when a player swings their stick at an opposing player, regardless of contact, or breaks an opposing players stick with their own). Any forceful or powerful chop with the stick on an opponent’s body, the opponent’s stick, or on or near the opponent’s hands that, in the judgment of the referee, is not an attempt to play the puck, shall be penalized as slashing). Non-aggressive stick contact to the pant or front of the shin pads should not be penalized as slashing). The penalty for such an infraction ranges from a minor penalty to a match penalty, depending on the seriousness of the injury to the opposing player). A player may also receive a game misconduct penalty if the referee deems that there was intent to injure.