RULE 65 – ICING THE PUCK/HYBRID ICING

Should a player of a team equal or superior in numerical strength propel the puck in any manner (stick, glove, skate, body) from his own half of the ice to beyond the icing line of the opposing team – including off the boards or the protective glass – without the puck being touched by any player from either team in the offensive half of the ice before the puck crosses the icing line, an icing will be in effect.
There are two decisions a linesman must make under hybrid icing rules. First, he must determine that the shot from a player’s own side of centre ice will cross the icing line in the attacking zone. Second, he must determine whether a defending player or attacking player would be first to touch the puck.
This second decision must be made no later than the instant the first of the players reaches the end zone faceoff spots, although the decision can be made earlier. The skates of the skaters are the determining factor.
Should the puck be shot or propelled in such a way that it travels around the boards and slides back towards centre ice, the linesman will determine which player would be first to touch the puck. In this instance, the determining factor is not the end zone faceoff spots but the puck itself.
If there is no “race” for the puck, icing will be not called until a defending player crosses his defending blue line and the puck crosses the icing line.

SECTION 6

If the race for the puck is too close to determine which player from which team would touch the puck first, icing will be called.
During an icing situation where play has been stopped, there must be strict enforcement of rules regarding avoidable contact.
During an icing situation where the icing has been cancelled because an attacking player has gained positional advantage, players must compete within the rules pertaining to physical contact.