What is Icing in Hockey? Hockey Icing Rule Explained
Icing is a rule that has been in place in hockey since the 1930s. It is considered a major infraction and can result in punishment to the offending player.
The purpose of the icing rule is to prevent teams from gaining an advantage by dumping or shooting the puck from one end of the rink to the other.
The NHL began making changes to its icing rules in 2013, including hybrid icing, which replaces touch-up icing with a race for possession between players on opposing teams.
This article will explore what icing is, why it was introduced, what are the new NHL rules regarding it and what consequences face those who violate them.
What is Icing Rule in hockey?
In hockey, icing is a rule that involves shooting the puck from one’s own side of the center red line down past the opponent’s goal line. This results in an automatic stoppage in play. If a player on his team ice the puck, then icing is called. This leads to a faceoff in the zone of the team that iced it.
This rule has been modified slightly with hybrid and no-touch icing varieties. These variations allow for certain modifications regarding whether or not a player must touch the puck before it crosses over into enemy territory for icing to be called.
Icing remains an important part of ice hockey as both teams aim to score goals while attempting to prevent their opponents from doing so by using this rule.
Key Facts
- Power play icing benefits the team by allowing play to continue without stoppage and giving them the opportunity to maintain possession and keep up offensive pressure, increasing their chances of scoring goals.
- Icing infractions are penalized with a faceoff in the defensive zone, usually on the side of the icing team. The shorthanded team committing icing must remain in their own end for at least one minute or until a goal is scored.
- Icing penalties can have serious consequences on the game outcome and should be avoided whenever possible. When an icing penalty occurs with two minutes or less left in a period, it results in a minor penalty, preventing intentional icing late in periods to kill time.
Why is icing illegal in hockey?
Throwing a puck down the ice in order to delay play and preserve a lead is prohibited in the National Hockey League due to its potential to stifle the excitement of the game. The Icing Call is initiated when a player shoots or passes the puck from his own defensive zone across two red lines without being touched by another player before reaching the opponent’s goal line.
When there is Potential Icing, both teams race for the Puck and if it is determined that it was shot down by the team that iced it, an official will Call Icing. There are two types of icing: regular and hybrid. Regular icing requires no physical contact with an opposing team member whereas hybrid icing allows physical contact during a race for possession of the puck.
By introducing this rule, NHL has attempted to improve quality of play and make hockey more enjoyable to watch by eliminating low-percentage stretch passes and shooting pucks down field when under pressure.
Why was the icing rule introduced?
The introduction of the icing rule in 1937 was a response to teams shooting the puck down the ice as a means of stalling play in order to preserve a lead. Icing is when a player shoots or passes the puck across two red lines past the opposing team’s goal line without it being touched by another player. If this occurs, an icing infraction is called and play is stopped with a faceoff at one of the dots on the opposing side. Depending on if there are any players between where the puck was shot and where it crosses over both red lines, either standard or hybrid icing will be called. This penalty can also result in a power-play situation for other team if intentional or careless behavior is deemed to have caused an icing infraction. During hockey games, players need to be aware that if they shoot or pass the puck from their defensive zone all way down to their offensive zone, they risk committing an icing infraction and risking giving up a power-play opportunity for their opponent.
| Infraction | Description |
|---|---|
| Icing | When a player shoots/passes the puck past two red lines without being touched by another player |
| Standard Icing | When there are no players between where the puck was shot and where it crosses over both red lines |
| Hybrid Icing | When there are players between where the puck was shot and where it crosses over both red lines |
What are the new NHL icing rules?
Icing is a rule in hockey where the team in possession of the puck shoots it across two red lines without any interference from an opponent.
The NHL has recently adopted new icing rules that distinguish between Hybrid Icing, Touch Icing, No-touch Icing, and Power Play Icing.
Hybrid icing is a variation of touch icing that allows the defending players to make contact with an attacking player at their offensive blue line before play is stopped.
Touch icing requires the defending players to make contact with the attacking player first in order for play to be stopped.
No-touch icing requires that no contact be made by either team at all and if so, play continues.
Lastly, power play icing states that if a team commits an infraction while on a power play they must clear their zone prior to making changes.
What is Hybrid Icing Rule
Hybrid icing combines elements of touch and no-touch icing to provide a unique system for evaluating potential icing calls in professional hockey leagues. This rule involves the defensive team having to make a line change, then getting to the hash marks before the puck crosses the goal line on their side of center red. If they succeed, the play will continue without being called for icing.
On the other hand, if an opposing player can reach the hash marks first, it is considered an infraction and icing is called. In the NHL and other pro leagues, hybrid icing is used as it allows teams to ice the puck while still keeping game flow going. It was introduced as a solution between both touch and no-touch icing rules when one of them was deemed too restrictive or slow for play.
Icing occurs when a player shoots or bats the puck across two red lines without any player from either team touching it before it crosses over past the goal line. Whether icing is called or waived off depends on which team touches the puck first at their opponent’s defensive zone blue line hash marks when traveling all the way down from their own end zone.
Icing can also still be called if there are concerns about keeping the game going without any stoppages in play due to an infraction like icing. The NHL has always been strict about its rules in hockey, so hybrid icing was introduced as a compromise that keeps players safe while allowing fair play for both sides involved in any given matchup.
What is Touch icing rule
The touch icing rule is a system used to evaluate potential icing calls in professional hockey leagues. It allows the team that has potentially iced the puck to have a chance at having the call waived off by touching the puck first before an opposing player.
If a defensive player is able to reach the puck before it crosses the goal line, even if an opposing player could potentially score a goal, it is still considered icing and can be waived off. This rule differs from no-touch icing, which does not allow any player to touch the puck before it crosses the goal line.
The touch icing rule provides an additional opportunity for teams to avoid being penalized for icing. This hybrid approach helps ensure that all potential icings are evaluated fairly and accurately, making it one of the most important regulations in hockey today.
What is No-touch icing rule
No-touch icing is a system of evaluating potential icing calls in professional hockey leagues that eliminates the opportunity to waive off an icing call by touching the puck first.
In no-touch icing, once the puck crosses the goal line, an icing will always be called. Icing is not waived if a player touches it first before it crosses the goal line.
Examples of when an icing can be called include when a defenseman shoots or passes the puck from behind his own blue line to any point across the other team’s red line without being touched by another player before crossing said goal lines.
No-touch icing has increased in popularity due to injuries being suffered after races for the puck in leagues using touch icing.
What is Power Play Icing rule
The Power Play Icing rule is a specific rule in hockey that applies when a team on a power play ices the puck. Unlike the regular icing rule, which results in a stoppage of play and a face-off in the offending team’s defensive zone, the Power Play Icing rule allows play to continue without a stoppage. Instead, a face-off is conducted at one of two points depending on the circumstances.
If the team on the power play has five skaters or more, the face-off will take place in their defensive zone. This means that the team on the power play has the opportunity to regain possession of the puck and continue their offensive pressure. On the other hand, if the team on the power play is short-handed, the face-off will occur in their offensive zone. This gives the short-handed team a chance to maintain possession and potentially create scoring opportunities.
The Power Play Icing rule is advantageous for the team with the man advantage as it allows them to keep up pressure on their opponents and maintain possession of the puck. This increases their chances of scoring goals while on the power play and makes it more challenging for opposing teams to transition from defense to offense quickly.
In summary, the Power Play Icing rule is a rule in hockey that benefits the team on a power play by allowing play to continue without a stoppage when they ice the puck. It gives them the opportunity to maintain possession and keep up offensive pressure, ultimately increasing their chances of scoring goals.
What is the punishment for icing?
Icing infractions are penalized with a faceoff brought back into the defensive zone of the team who iced the puck, typically on the side they iced it from.
In addition to this, if an offending team is shorthanded and commits an icing infraction, they must remain in their own end for at least one minute or until a goal is scored. This rule was implemented by the NHL in 2005 to discourage teams from intentionally icing the puck when shorthanded.
Additionally, any icing penalty called after two minutes left in period play will result in a minor penalty being assessed against the offending team. This rule was put in place to prevent teams from purposely committing an icing infraction late in periods as a strategy to kill time off of the clock.
As such, these penalties can have serious consequences on the outcome of a game, and should be avoided whenever possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between icing and offsides in hockey?
Icing in hockey is when a player on the defending team shoots the puck across both the red center line and the opposing team’s goal line, without it being touched by another player. Offsides occurs when a member of the attacking team enters their opponent’s zone before the puck has crossed over the blue line.
What happens if a player touches the puck while icing is being called?
If a player touches the puck while icing is being called, play is stopped and the face-off is moved to the defending zone of the team that committed the icing. Depending on league rules, a minor penalty may also be given.
Are there any exceptions to the icing rule?
Icing occurs when a player shoots the puck across two red lines without it being touched by another player. Exceptions to the icing rule include if the goal line is crossed first, or if a defending player touches the puck before it crosses the goal line.
How do referees decide if a play is an icing or not?
Referees must determine if the puck has been shot from behind the center red line and across two goal lines without being touched. If so, it is an icing call unless another player beats the defending player to the spot. The referee also considers factors such as possession or interference.
Does the icing rule apply to all levels of hockey?
Icing is a rule that applies to all levels of hockey. The rule states that the puck cannot be shot across two red lines without being touched by another player on either team. If the puck is shot across both lines in this manner, play will stop and a faceoff will occur at the offending team’s defensive zone.
