Hockey Icing Rules Explained: What Is Icing, When Is It Called, and Why Does It Exist

By Sarah Miller · May 30, 2026

What Is Icing in Hockey?

Icing is one of the most common stoppages in ice hockey. It occurs when a player shoots, bats, or deflects the puck from their own half of the ice (behind the center red line) all the way past the opposing team goal line without being touched by any player. When icing is called, play stops and a faceoff occurs in the offending team defensive zone.

History of the Icing Rule

The icing rule was introduced in the NHL in 1937 to prevent teams from simply shooting the puck down the ice to waste time. Before the rule, trailing teams in the final minutes would repeatedly clear the puck the length of the ice, making the game boring for spectators and unfair to the attacking team.

Types of Icing

No-Touch Icing (Automatic Icing)

Used in international hockey (IIHF rules) and most amateur leagues. The moment the puck crosses the goal line, icing is automatically called — no player needs to touch the puck.

Hybrid Icing

Used in the NHL since the 2013-14 season. The linesman blows the play dead if the defending player is ahead in the race to the faceoff dots. If the attacking player is ahead, play continues.

Exceptions to Icing

Icing is NOT called when:

The team committing the potential icing is shorthanded (killing a penalty)
The puck enters the goal (it counts as a goal)
The goaltender leaves the crease and touches the puck before it reaches the goal line
A defending player could have played the puck before it crossed the goal line but chose not to

Consequences of Icing

After an icing call:

A faceoff occurs in the offending team defensive zone
In the NHL, the offending team is not allowed to make a line change before the faceoff (since 2005-06)

Understanding icing is fundamental to appreciating the flow and strategy of ice hockey.