Jäähyjä

Jäähyjä is a Finnish term that literally translates to "farewells" or "goodbyes." It is commonly used in the context of ending a game or competition, particularly in sports like ice hockey. When a player commits a penalty, they are sent to the penalty box for a period of time, and this temporary removal from play is often referred to as "jäähy" or the plural "jäähyjä."

The duration of a "jäähy" varies depending on the severity of the infraction and the rules of the specific sport. Minor penalties typically result in a two-minute exclusion, while more serious offenses can lead to longer penalties or even ejection from the game. During their "jäähy," the penalized player is not allowed to participate in the game and must remain in the penalty box. The team of the penalized player often plays shorthanded during this time, meaning they have fewer players on the ice than their opponents.

The concept of "jäähyjä" is a fundamental aspect of many sports, serving as a mechanism to enforce rules and maintain fair play. While the term is most prominently associated with ice hockey in Finland, the underlying principle of temporary removal from play for rule violations exists in various sports globally. The Finnish word "jäähy" itself originates from the verb "jäädä," meaning "to stay" or "to remain," reflecting the player's state of remaining in the penalty box.