Lingo/rules/Icing

Icing

Shooting the puck from your side of center ice to the other end without anyone touching it.

Icing is when a player shoots the puck from their side of the center red line all the way down to the other end of the ice past the goal line without anyone touching it. When this happens, the referee blows the whistle and brings the puck all the way back for a faceoff in the defensive zone of the team that iced it.

The rule exists to prevent teams from just dumping the puck down the ice every time they are under pressure. It forces teams to actually move the puck up the ice with passes or skating.

There are a few exceptions. Icing is not called if the team that shoots the puck is shorthanded. It is also not called if the referee thinks a player on the other team could have gotten to the puck first but chose not to. The team that ices the puck is not allowed to change their players before the faceoff, which makes icing even more of a punishment because tired players have to stay on the ice.

More in rules

Cross-checking

Shoving a player with your stick held in both hands. Cross-checking is when a player holds their stick with both hands and shoves it into another player. Imagine holding a broomstick horizontally and pushing someone with it. This penalty gets called a lot in front of the net where defensemen are trying to clear attackers out of the crease area. A little stick contact is usually allowed, but when a player uses their stick to deliver a forceful push, the referee calls it. It is a two-minute minor and can be a major if it causes injury.

Delay of game

Intentionally slowing down play. The most common version today is when a player in the defensive zone shoots the puck over the glass and out of play. That is an automatic two-minute penalty. Other examples include a goalie freezing the puck when there is no pressure, a player intentionally knocking the net off its pegs, or a team taking too long to set up for a faceoff. The rule exists to keep the game moving and prevent teams from stalling.

High-sticking

Hitting another player with your stick above the shoulders. High-sticking is when a player hits another player with their stick above the shoulders. If the high stick draws blood, it is a four-minute double minor instead of the normal two minutes. If a player scores by deflecting the puck with a high stick above the crossbar, the goal does not count. This happens a lot accidentally. A player will follow through on a shot or lose control of their stick, and the blade catches someone up high. Intentional or not, it is still a penalty.

Tripping

Causing another player to fall using your stick, knee, or foot. The most common version is when a player reaches out with their stick and clips the skates of the puck carrier, causing them to go down. It is a two-minute minor. If a player is on a breakaway and gets tripped from behind with no defenders between them and the goalie, the referee may award a penalty shot instead.

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