Rule 620. Icing the Puck

1. For the purpose of this rule, the center red line will divide the ice into halves. Should any player of a team, equal or superior in numerical strength to the opposing team, shoot, bat with the hand or stick, kick or deflect the puck from his own half of the ice, beyond the goal line of the opposing team, play shall be stopped and the puck faced-off at the end zone face-off spot of the offending team. If the puck shall have entered the goal of the opposing team, after being legally shot, batted with the stick or deflected, the goal shall be allowed.

   For the purpose of this rule, the point of last contact with the puck by the team in possession shall be used to determine whether icing has occurred or not.

   (Note 1) If, during the period of a delayed whistle due to a foul by a player of the side NOT in possession, the side in possession ``ices'' the puck then the face-off following the stoppage of play shall take place in the Neutral Zone near the defending blue line of the team ``icing'' the puck.

   (Note 2) When a team is ``Shorthanded'' as the result of a penalty and the penalty is about to expire, the decision as to whether there has been an ``icing'' shall be determined at the instant the penalty expires, and if the puck is shot before the penalty expires, icing shall not be called. The action of the penalized player remaining in the penalty bench will not alter the ruling.

   (Note 3) For the purpose of interpretation of this rule, ``Icing the Puck'' is completed the instant the puck completely crosses the goal line. If the puck shall have entered the goal, the icing will not be called and a goal shall be allowed.

   For Juniors only - ``Icing the Puck'' is completed the instant the puck is touched by a defending player other than the goalkeeper after it has crossed the goal line, and if in the action of so touching the puck it is knocked or deflected into the goal it is NO goal.

   (Note 4) When the puck is shot and rebounds from the body or stick of an opponent in his own half of the ice so as to cross the goal line of the player shooting it, ``icing'' shall not be called.

   (Note 5) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section concerning ``batting'' the puck in respect to the ``icing the puck'' rule, the provisions of the second paragraph of Rule 616(e), ``Handling Puck With Hands'', apply and NO goal can be scored by batting the puck with the hand into the opponent's goal, whether intended or not.

   (Note 6) If, while the Linesman has signalled a slow whistle for a clean interception under Rule 626(d), ``Off-sides'', the player intercepting shoots or bats the puck beyond the opponent's goal line in such a manner as to constitute ``icing the puck'', the Linesman's ``slow whistle'' shall be considered exhausted the instant the puck crosses the blue line and icing shall be called in the usual manner.

2. If the puck was so shot by a player of a team below the numerical on-ice strength of the opposing team, play shall continue and the face-off shall not take place.

3. If, however, the puck shall go beyond the goal line in the opposite half of the ice directly from either of the players while facing-off, it shall not be considered a violation of this rule.

4. If, in the opinion of the Linesman, a player of the opposing team excepting the goalkeeper is able to play the puck before it passes the goal line, but has not done so, icing shall not be called and play shall continue.

   (Note) The purpose of this section is to enforce continuous action and the On-Ice Officials should interpret and apply the rule to produce this result.

5. If the puck shall touch any part of a player of the opposing team or his skates or his stick before it shall have reached the goal line, or shall have touched the goalkeeper or his skates or his stick at any time before crossing his goal lineit shall not be considered as ``icing the puck'' and play shall continue.

6. If the Linesman shall have erred in calling an ``icing the puck'' infraction (regardless of whether either team is shorthanded) the puck shall be faced on the center face-off spot.