Icing the Puck

Icing the puck is the action of a player shooting, batting, kicking, or deflecting the puck from their own half of the ice, as divided by the centre red line, down and across the goal line in the opposing team’s defending zone. If the puck enters the net on such a play, then it is not icing.

1. When any player of a team, equal or superior in numerical strength to the opposing team, shoots, bats, kicks, or deflects the puck from their own half of the ice, beyond the goal line of the opposing team, icing will be called.

2. Icing will not be called and play will continue if the team shooting the puck is below the numerical strength of the opposing team at the instant the puck is shot.

   Note 1: A team will no longer be considered shorthanded once the penalty time expires, irrespective of whether or not the penalized player has left the Penalty Bench.

3. Icing will not be called under the following circumstances:

   1. If the puck touches any part of an opposing player’s body, stick, or skates at any time prior to crossing the goal line.
   2. If the puck touches any part of any player’s body, stick, or skates, between the time the puck crosses the centre red line and the time it crosses the goal line.
   3. If, in the opinion of the Official, a player of the opposing team, except the goaltender, is able to play the puck but chooses not do so.
   4. If the action that causes the icing is directly from a player taking the face-off.
   5. When the puck is shot and rebounds from the body or stick of an opponent in their own half of the ice and crosses the goal line of the player shooting.

4. In categories of U18AAA, Junior and Senior, Members will have the option to apply the ‘no-change on icing’ rule. When this rule has been adopted the following will apply:

   1. A team that commits an icing violation will not be permitted to make any player substitutions prior to the ensuing face-off, with the following exceptions:

   1. To replace a Goaltender that has been substituted for an extra attacker.
   2. To replace an injured player.
   3. When a penalty or penalties have been assessed to either team, a change of players will be permitted.

   2. The determination of players on the ice will be made when the puck leaves the offending player’s stick.

   3. Either team is permitted to take their time-out, as per Rule 6.18 – Time of Game, following an icing, but during that time out, the team in violation of icing will not be permitted to make player substitutions.

5. In categories of U18 AAA, Junior and Senior, Members will have the option to implement the ‘Hybrid-Icing’ rule. When this rule has been adopted the following will apply:

1. When there is no ‘race’ for the puck on an icing, icing will not be called until a Defending player (excluding the Goaltender) crosses the threshold of defending zone face-off spot(s) and the puck has completely crossed the goal line.
2. Should there be a ‘race’ for the puck during an icing, there are two (2) judgements a Linesperson must make when applying the ‘hybrid-icing’ rule.
   1. First, the Linesperson’s must determine if the puck will in fact cross the goal line in the attacking zone. If it is determined that the puck will NOT cross the goal line then the icing will be waved off. However, if it is determined that the puck will cross the goal line the Linesperson should proceed to the second judgment for hybrid-icing.
   2. The Linesperson’s second judgment is to determine whether a defending skater or attacking skater would be first to potentially touch the puck after crossing the goal line. This decision must be made no later than the instant the first of the players crosses the threshold of the end zone faceoff spot(s), although the decision may be made earlier. If a defending skater is determined to be the first player to potentially touch the puck, then hybrid-icing will be called and play should be stopped. If an Attacking skater is determined to be the first to potentially touch the puck, then hybrid icing will be waved off and play will continue.
      

      Note 1: Should icing be called, the Linesperson that stops play should blow the whistle and then raise their non-whistle arm to indicate that icing has occurred.

3. Should the puck be shot or propelled in such a manner that it travels around the boards or bounces off the end zone boards (behind the goal line), the Linesperson must determine which player would be potentially first to touch the puck, under these new conditions. If the puck comes above the goal line, the Linesperson will not stop play unless a defending player is the first to actually touch the puck. If the attacking team is first to touch the puck, the icing will be waved off.

4. If a race for the puck is too close to determine which player would potentially touch the puck first, then hybrid-icing must be called. Linespersons must err on the side of player safety with close plays, in the favour of stopping play for icing.

5. During a hybrid-icing situation where play has been stopped, there must be strict enforcement of rules regarding avoidable contact between players, leading up to or after the icing call has been made. Referees must penalize unnecessary contact.

6. If a Goaltender leaves their crease with both skates, moving in the direction of the puck, the Linesperson will wave off the hybrid-icing. However, if the Goaltender is out of the crease prior to icing being initiated (e.g. retrieving a stick or leaving for an extra attacker etc.) and the Goaltender skates back toward their crease, the hybrid-icing will remain in effect.