Last updated: 3 October 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
Icing is called when a team shoots the puck from behind the centre red line and it crosses the opponent’s goal line without being touched (in NHL-standard no-touch icing). Play stops and the puck is brought back for a face-off in the offending team’s defensive zone. Teams use icing strategically when under pressure to briefly stop play and change lines. A team killing a penalty cannot be called for icing.
- Puck shot from behind centre, crosses goal line untouched
- Face-off back in offending team’s zone
- Used strategically to make a line change
- Penalty kill teams are exempt
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Icing the puck (shooting it from behind your own blue line all the way down the length of the rink, where it's untouched before crossing the opposing goal line) results in a stoppage and faceoff in the offending team's own defensive zone — a rule specifically designed to discourage teams from simply clearing pressure without any attacking intent, forcing them to accept a faceoff deep in their own end as the penalty.
FAQ
What happens when a team is called for icing in hockey?
Play stops, and a faceoff is held in the offending team's own defensive zone, giving the opposing team an immediate positional advantage rather than allowing the clearing team to simply reset with a neutral faceoff.
Is icing ever allowed without a stoppage?
Yes — if a team is playing shorthanded (killing a penalty), they're exempt from the standard icing rule, allowing them to clear the puck the full length of the ice without the usual stoppage.