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Edited on Tue Mar-16-04 09:18 PM by opiate69
The hockey rink has 3 red lines. One at either end, and one in the center. If the offensive team passes/shoots the puck, and it crosses 2 red lines, icing will be called if the defending team touches the puck before the offending team.
On edit: HEre's the actual rulebook explanation.
Rule 61. Icing the Puck (a) 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 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 face-off spot of the offending team, unless on the play, the puck shall have entered the net of the opposing team, in which case 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 inpossession "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 "short-handed" 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. The action of the penalized player remaining in the penalty box will not alter the ruling. (NOTE 3) For the purpose of interpretation of the rule, "icing the puck" is completed the instant the puck is touched first 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 net, 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 shall not be considered as "icing". (NOTE 5) Notwithstanding the provisions of the section concerning "batting" the puck in respect to the "icing the puck" rule, the provisions of the final paragraph of Rule 57(e) 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 71(c), 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 "slow whistle" shall be considered exhausted the instant the puck crosses the blue line and "icing" shall be called in the usual manner. (b) If a player of the side shooting the puck down the ice who is on-side and eligible to play the puck does so before it is touched by an opposing player, the play shall continue and it shall not be considered a violation of this rule. (c) If the puck was so shot by a player of a side below the numerical strength of the opposing team, play shall continue and the face-off shall not take place. (NOTE) If the team returns to full strength following a shot by one of its players, play shall continue and the face-off shall not take place. (d) 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. (e) If, in the opinion of the Linesman, a player of the opposing team except the goalkeeper is able to play the puck before it passes his goal line, but has not done so, the face-off shall not be allowed and play shall continue. If, in the opinion of the Referee, the defending side intentionally abstains from playing the puck promptly when they are in a position to do so, he shall stop the play and order the resulting face-off on the adjacent corner face-off spot nearest the goal of the team at fault. (NOTE) The purpose of this section is to enforce continuous action and both Referee and Linesmen should interpret and apply the rule to produce this result. (f) If the puck touches any part of a player of the opposing side, including his skates or his stick, or if it passes through any part of the goal crease before it reaches the opposing team's goal line, or if it touches any part of the opposing team's goalkeeper, including his skates or his stick, at any time before or after crossing the goal line, it shall not be considered. (NOTE) If a goalkeeper takes any action to dislodge the puck from the back of the net, icing shall be washed out. (g) If a goalkeeper has been removed from the playing surface for an extra player (teams at equal or superior in numerical strength), the icing rule shall be in effect if the puck passes through or touches any part of the goal crease before it crosses the goal line. (h) If the Linesman shall have erred in calling an "icing the puck" infraction (regardless of whether either team is short-handed), the puck shall be faced-off on the center ice face-off spot.
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