Example "A" is not icing; Example "B" is icing.

Icing in ice hockey occurs when a player shoots the puck across both the red line and the opposing team's goal line without the puck going into the net. When icing occurs, a linesman stops play. Play is resumed with a faceoff in the defending zone of the team that committed the infraction. Image File history File links Icing. ... Ice hockey, known simply as hockey in areas where it is more common than field hockey, is a team sport played on ice. ... Two standard hockey pucks. ... A hockey rink is an ice rink specifically designed for the game of ice hockey. ... American Hockey League referee Dean Morton In ice hockey, an official is a person who has some responsibility in enforcing the rules or maintaining the order of the game. ... A typical faceoff at centre ice A faceoff is the method used to begin play in ice hockey. ...

In European professional leagues and most amateur leagues worldwide, play is stopped for icing once the puck crosses the goal line. This is called automatic or no-touch icing. Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to various perspectives about Europes borders. ...

In the NHL and other North American professional leagues, a player on the opposing team other than the goaltender must touch the puck to cause the stoppage of play. If the puck is first touched by the goaltender or a player on the team that iced the puck, icing is washed out (canceled) and play continues. The NHL icing rule can lead to high-speed races for the puck. While an icing call is pending, the linesman raises an arm to indicate that a potential icing call may be made. If the icing is washed out, the official lowers his arm and gives the washout signal (extending both arms sideways from the body at shoulder height). The modernized NHL shield logo debuted in 2005, replacing the orange and black shield, which had been used since the leagues inception. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... Patrick Roy, a retired ice hockey goaltender The goaltender (also known colloquially as goalie or netminder) in ice hockey is the player who defends his teams goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his teams net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. ...

Icing is always washed out in the following situations:

• The team committing the icing is shorthanded
• The linesman believes a player on the opposing team could have played the puck before it crossed the goal line.
• In the NHL, the linesman deems the icing is the result of an attempted receivable pass.

Shorthanded in hockey terms refers to having one less skater on the ice during play. ...

Rationale

The icing rule was introduced to prevent instances where teams facing a much stronger opponent often resorted to pure defense, simply shooting the puck up the ice every time they gained possession, resulting in an unexciting spectacle. Some teams also adopted this tactic to waste time when they were ahead late in the game, especially if the score was still close. The NHL instituted the icing rule on March 13, 1939. March 13 is the 72nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (73rd in leap years). ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The rule was modified prior to the start of the 2005–2006 NHL season to further discourage the offending team from "icing the puck". Players from a team which has iced the puck are not allowed to be substituted off the ice before the next faceoff. Teams often would ice the puck to gain a stoppage in play when the team is in need of a line change (substituting its players) due to fatigue. In an attempt to speed up game play, the NHL adopted this rule, hoping the added consequence would reduce the number of icing infractions. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Referee signals

The rear linesman signals icing by raising his non-whistle hand. Image File history File links Delayed_penalty. ...

When the puck has crossed the goal line (and in North American professional hockey, a non-offending player has touched the puck) the rear official signals icing by folding his arms in front of his chest Image File history File links Icing. ...