How is icing called, and when is it not called?

Rule 6.7 of the Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2026-2028 defines icing as 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 the play, it is not icing. The linesperson who stops play blows the whistle, then raises their non-whistle arm.

Called when the team shooting is equal or superior in numbers to the opponent.

Not called when:

• the shooting team is below the numerical strength of the opponent at the instant the puck is shot (a team is no longer shorthanded once the penalty time expires, even if the player is still on the Penalty Bench);
• the puck touches any part of an opposing player's body, stick or skates before crossing the goal line;
• the puck touches any part of any player's body, stick or skates between crossing the centre red line and the goal line;
• in the official's opinion, an opposing player other than the goaltender could play the puck but chooses not to;
• the action comes directly from a player taking a face-off;
• the puck is shot, rebounds off an opponent in the shooter's own half and crosses the shooter's own goal line.

After an icing, play stops and the face-off is at the end zone face-off spot of the offending team nearest to where the puck was shot (Rule 6.3 (e)).