It happens every season, many times: a referee’s arm goes up to signal an icing and, seconds later, the other official blows his whistle to confirm the icing.

But then the officials realized that they made a mistake, that it should not have been called icing. Perhaps a high school team was killing a penalty.

Then the comments, er, shouting starts from the bench: The faceoff is at center-ice.

Wrong, the official states.

When the erroneous icing was called this past season, I would tell the coach and players who wanted the faceoff at center ice that, well, USA Hockey changed that rule about 10 years ago.

Actually, I was wrong when I mentioned the play to veteran local official Jack Raslawski. Without hesitation, Raslawski said that the erroneous icing call, and the next faceoff location, was changed about 20 years ago.

A quick look at USA Hockey’s Rule 624 (c) clarifies the often-argued faceoff:  If the officials shall have erred in calling an “icing the puck” infraction (regardless of whether either team is shorthanded) a face-off shall occur at the end zone face-off spot nearest to the location of the puck when play was stopped.

I’m sure I still will be told many times to take the faceoff at center ice after an erroneous icing call this upcoming season before we enjoy turkey and tournaments this November. With the help of Raslawski, Illinois Referee-in-Chief Brad Baumruch, IHOA President Brian Fisher and others, here are other noteworthy calls (or no-calls) from the referee world:

1. Yes, icing is called in adult league games.
2. Icing in USA Hockey games is whistled immediately when the puck completely crosses the goal-line, provided in meets the other qualifications for icing.
3. Here is basic Icing 101:

When a player of a team shoots, bats with the hand or stick or deflects the puck from their own half of the ice completely beyond the goal line of the opposing team, play shall be stopped and a face-off shall take place at an end zone face-off spot in the defending zone of the offending team.

1. If a team ices the puck during a delayed whistle as a result of a foul committed by the opposing team, the ensuing face-off shall take place at a neutral zone face-off spot nearest the defending zone of the team icing the puck.
2. So, when is icing (in your opinion) not icing (according to the referees)? Here’s when:

* (For Adults and High School classifications) The offending team is shorthanded (below the on-ice numerical strength of their opponent) when the puck is shot. The determination is made at the time the penalty expires and if the puck was shot prior to the penalty time expiration, regardless as to the position of the penalized player, no icing shall be called.

* The puck is shot by an attacking player and rebounds off the body or the stick of a defending player on their defensive half of the center red line.

* The puck travels the length of the ice as a result of either player participating in a face-off.

* The puck touches any part, including stick, skates or body, of an opposing player prior to crossing the goal line.

* If, in the opinion of the linesman, an opposing player – except the goalkeeper – has an opportunity to play the puck, and has not done so, prior to the puck crossing the goal line.

1. Officials are not responsible for the scoresheet (Rule 505). The official scorer will prepare the official scoresheet for signature by referees after the game.
2. When a game is played with three of four on-ice officials, yes, linesmen CAN call penalties … kind of.

* The Linesman shall stop play and report to the referee any infraction of the following rules: (1) Too many players on the ice. (2) Articles thrown on the ice from the vicinity of the players’ or penalty bench. (3) Delaying the game by deliberately displacing the goal post.

* The linesman shall report to the referee at the next stoppage of play their version of any infraction of the rules that they believe constitutes a bench minor, major, match, misconduct, game misconduct or penalty shot under these rules. In addition, the linesman shall give their version of any injury potential penalty that occurs behind the play and is not observed by the referee. Then, at their discretion, the referee may assess a penalty for such infractions.

1. Officials are not held accountable and can do whatever they want … False!
2. Officials believe in make-up calls … False!
3. A penalty in the first period is a penalty in the third period … True!
4. The Big Four: When a referee calls four injury-potential penalties, there are two options every time. When the call is boarding, charging, head-contact or checking-from-behind, the offending player will be charged a 2-minute minor and a 10-minute misconduct penalty OR a 5-minute major penalty and a game-misconduct.
5. If an official does not agree with a particular rule, that call does not need to be made … False! The theory that “Some rules don’t need to be enforced” is completely false. The primary role for all officials is to enforce the rules of the game to the best of their ability.
6. The purpose of a body check is to separate the opponent from the puck. If a player does not have the puck, it is illegal to body check him.
7. If girls’ rivals want to play a checking game and both teams agree … nope, not allowed!
8. YOU … when a coach or player makes a comment to or about an official and uses the word YOU, there’s a high probability that the offending player or coach will be assessed a penalty. It’s one thing to argue, “I don’t think that was an elbowing penalty.” But no one will get away saying, “You @#$%& blew that elbowing call.”
9. Penalty Shot: When an official signals for a penalty shot, the non-offending team may, prior to the penalty shot, elect that the minor or bench minor penalty be assessed to the offending player or team in lieu of the penalty shot. If the penalty shot is selected, the offending team shall not be reduced in on-ice strength because of the infraction.
10. Question: Can a referee award two penalty shots to the same team during the same stoppage for two separate incidents that occur during play? For example, a player is fouled from behind on a breakaway which warrants a penalty shot, but then regains possession of the puck and is fouled from behind again that also warrants a penalty shot.

Answer: No. Rule References 406(a) and 617(a). There can only be one scoring opportunity lost as a result of actions during play, so only one penalty shot may be assessed. However, the second infraction must still be penalized accordingly and would be served in the normal manner regardless as to the result of the penalty shot. In this scenario, it may also be practical for the non-offending team to choose to accept the minor penalty in lieu of the penalty shot in order to gain a two-player advantage.

1. Question: Can a team change its goalkeeper to defend against a penalty shot?

Answer: Yes. Rule Reference 406(b). The goalkeeper who was in the goal at the time of the infraction is not required to defend against the penalty shot.

1. Numbers Game: A team must start a game with a minimum of six players. Any time that a team has been reduced to less than four players, the game shall be declared a forfeit. A maximum of 20 players, in which not more than 18 are skaters, shall be permitted to play in the game.
2. Safety First, Always! If an official sees a seriously injured player on the ice, play can be stopped immediately, regardless of who has possession of the puck. Thankfully, most players and coaches have long understood that that whistle, even if their team had the puck at a key point in the game, was the right call.