Icing in hockey is a rule violation called when a player shoots or sends the puck from behind the center red line (on their own side of the ice) all the way across the opposing team’s goal line without the puck being touched by anyone. When icing is called, play stops and the faceoff moves back to the offending team’s defensive zone. In the NHL and many other leagues, the team that iced the puck also cannot change players before that faceoff. A team that is shorthanded because of a penalty is usually allowed to ice the puck without a whistle, and linesmen can wave icing off in several situations. The rule exists to stop teams from simply firing the puck down the ice to relieve pressure or waste time.
Why icing exists
Without an icing rule, a team under pressure or protecting a lead could repeatedly shoot the puck the length of the ice with no penalty. That would slow the game, reduce skill and create a lot of dead time. Icing forces teams to make plays to move the puck out of their zone. Because the icing team must take the next faceoff in its own zone, often with tired players on the ice, icing carries a real cost. That cost encourages controlled breakouts and rewards teams that pressure well.
How icing works
For icing to occur, a few conditions generally must be met. The puck must be shot or sent from the team’s own side of the center red line. It must cross the opponent’s goal line, the red line at the end of the rink, without being touched by any player. And the play must not fall under one of the exceptions described below. The linesman signals possible icing by raising an arm, and once icing is confirmed, blows the whistle and crosses the arms over the chest to signal it. If the icing is waved off, the linesman lowers the arm and play continues.
Key icing rules at a glance
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where the shot starts | From the offending team’s side of the center red line |
| Where it must go | Across the opponent’s goal line untouched |
| Faceoff location | In the icing team’s defensive zone |
| No line change | The icing team cannot change players (NHL and many leagues) |
| Shorthanded | A team killing a penalty can usually ice the puck without a call |
| Waved off | If the puck is touched, goes into the net, or the linesman judges it playable by the defending team |
| Hybrid icing | The linesman judges a race to the faceoff dots (NHL since 2013 to 2014) |
When icing is waved off
Several situations cancel an icing call. The exact wording differs by league, but common exceptions include:
- The puck is touched. If any player, including a defender, touches the puck before it crosses the goal line, there is no icing.
- The puck goes into the net. A goal counts.
- The goalie plays the puck. If the goalie leaves the crease and moves to play the puck, icing is typically waved off.
- The defending team could have played it. If the linesman judges that a defending player (other than the goalie) could have played the puck before it crossed the goal line but chose not to, icing may be waved off.
- The shorthanded team ices it. In most leagues, a team killing a penalty is allowed to ice the puck.
Hybrid icing, touch icing and no-touch icing
Leagues have used different versions of icing over the years. Under touch icing, the old NHL system, a defending player had to physically touch the puck after it crossed the goal line for icing to be called, which led to dangerous races into the end boards. Under no-touch icing, the whistle blows as soon as the puck crosses the goal line, which is safer but removes races. Hybrid icing blends the two. The linesman watches the race, and if a defending player would reach the end-zone faceoff dots first, icing is called immediately. If an attacking player would reach the dots first, icing is waved off and play continues. The NHL adopted hybrid icing starting in the 2013 to 2014 season, primarily to reduce injuries from high-speed collisions in the corners, and many other leagues use similar systems.
What happens after icing
After icing, the faceoff takes place at one of the end-zone faceoff dots in the offending team’s defensive zone. In the NHL, the team that iced the puck cannot make a line change, which means tired players must stay on for the defensive zone faceoff. The NHL also prevents the icing team from using its timeout at that stoppage. Recent NHL rules also give the non-offending team the choice of which end-zone faceoff dot is used. These consequences make icing a costly mistake late in shifts and late in games.
How to avoid icing as a player
- Make a play. Look for a pass to a teammate or skate the puck out instead of shooting it blindly.
- Use the boards. Chipping the puck off the boards past the blue line can relieve pressure without icing.
- Get past the red line. If you carry the puck across center, dumping it in is legal.
- Lift it out when shorthanded. On the penalty kill, clearing the puck the length of the ice is usually allowed.
- Communicate. Call for the puck so teammates know you are available.
Icing strategy
Teams sometimes ice the puck deliberately when under heavy pressure, accepting a defensive zone faceoff to stop play and reset. However, because the icing team cannot change lines, tired players are often trapped on the ice, which opponents try to exploit by putting fresh skaters out for the faceoff. Coaches often use their best faceoff player and strong defensive players in these situations. On the attacking side, a team that forces icing gains a valuable offensive zone faceoff, so a strong forecheck that pressures defenders into rushed clears is a common tactic.
Rulebook note
Icing rules vary between the NHL, the IIHF, the NCAA, junior leagues and amateur bodies such as USA Hockey and Hockey Canada. Details such as hybrid versus no-touch icing, whether shorthanded teams may ice the puck at youth levels, and faceoff procedures can differ. Always check the current rulebook for your league.
Common misunderstandings
- That icing is a penalty. It is a violation that stops play, not a penalty that puts a player in the box.
- That any long shot is icing. Shots from past the center red line are not icing.
- That a shot on goal is icing. If the puck goes in, the goal counts.
- That shorthanded teams can never be called for icing. Most leagues allow it, but some youth levels have different rules.
- That icing always requires a race. Some leagues use no-touch icing.
Frequently asked questions
Why is icing a rule in hockey?
To stop teams from simply shooting the puck down the ice to relieve pressure or waste time, which keeps play flowing and rewards skilled puck movement.
Can a shorthanded team ice the puck?
In most leagues, yes. A team killing a penalty can ice the puck without a whistle, though some youth levels have different rules.
What is hybrid icing?
A system where the linesman judges a race to the end-zone faceoff dots. If a defender would get there first, icing is called; if an attacker would, play continues.
