Hybrid icing: decided by the end-zone dots
Rule numbers: NCAA 85.1 NCAA 85.2 NCAA 85.5 NCAA 85.6
A team at equal or greater strength ices the puck when it shoots, bats, kicks or deflects it from its own half beyond the opponent's goal line; strength is judged when the puck leaves the stick. Icing is not called if an attacker who is onside, with no opponent between him and the goal line, is clearly in position to touch the puck first. The linesperson has to make the call before the first player gets to the end-zone dots, and a race too close to call is icing. Icing is also waved off if a defender other than the goalkeeper could have played the puck or if it came straight off a face-off. A short-handed team's shot is judged at the instant the penalty expires. After icing, the attacking team chooses the end-zone dot.
If the race for the puck is too close to determine by the time the first player reaches the end zone face-off dots, icing shall be called.
- On the ice
- Face-off in the offending team's end; the attacking team picks the dot; the offending team cannot change (85.4).
Example
Team A ices from its own zone. B9 and A12 are even at the dots, so the linesperson calls icing. The face-off is in Team A's end and Team B chooses the left or right dot.
Common mistake: Waiting until a player touches the puck to decide the race, or calling icing on a shot taken before the penalty expired.
Sources
- NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28), Rule 85.1-85.2, p. 102 (PDF p. 105)
- NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28), Rule 85.5-85.6, p. 103 (PDF p. 106)
Verified