Icing (ice hockey) facts for kids
Icing is an important rule in ice hockey. It happens when a player shoots the puck a long way down the ice. The puck must cross two red lines, including the other team's goal line. If no one touches the puck before it crosses the goal line, it's usually an icing call. But if the puck goes into the net from behind the halfway line, it's a goal, not icing!
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What is Icing in Ice Hockey?
Icing is called to make the game fair and safe. When a player shoots the puck from their own half of the ice, and it travels all the way down to the other team's goal line without anyone touching it, the play stops. The puck then comes back to the face-off circle in the defensive zone of the team that shot it. This gives the other team a chance to get the puck.
Automatic Icing
Some hockey leagues use a rule called automatic icing or no-touch icing. This rule is often used in leagues like the ECHL. With automatic icing, the play stops as soon as the puck crosses the goal line. No player needs to touch it first.
Why Automatic Icing Was Added
Automatic icing was put into place in 1990 to make the game safer. Before this rule, players would race to be the first to touch the puck after an icing shot. This led to many dangerous crashes into the boards. A player named Luděk Čajka was seriously hurt in one of these races. Because of this, the rule was changed to protect players from injuries.
When Icing is Not Called
Sometimes, even if the puck travels the length of the ice, icing is not called. This is called "waving off" the icing. Here are some reasons why a referee might wave off an icing call:
- Shorthanded Team: If the team that shoots the puck is playing with fewer players because of a penalty, icing is not called. This is because they are already at a disadvantage.
- Player Could Have Played the Puck: If the linesman (a type of referee) thinks a player from the other team could have reached and played the puck before it crossed the goal line, icing is not called. This means the player chose not to play it.
- Attempted Pass: In the NHL, if the linesman believes the long shot was actually an attempt to pass the puck to a teammate, icing might not be called.
