What constitutes 'Icing'?

Question

What has to happen for Icing to be called?

Answer 1

Well, it should be spreadable, preferably chocolate, and be made with confectionary sugar.

OR

http://www.nhl.com/rules/rule65.html

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. As such, the Team in possession must "gain the line" in order for the icing to be nullified. "Gaining the line" shall mean that the puck (not the player's skate) must make contact with the center red line in order to nullify a potential icing.

(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 "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.

When a Team is "short-handed" by reason of a major penalty, and they have neglected to ensure there is a player on the penalty bench to exit upon the expiry of the penalty, they will continue to play short-handed but are not permitted to ice the puck. Icing will be called. They may substitute for this penalized player at the next stoppage of play.

(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 59(e) apply and NO goal can be scored by batting the puck with the hand into the opponent's goal whether intended or not.

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.
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 icing violation shall not be called.
(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.

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.
If, in the opinion of the Linesman, any player of the opposing Team is able to play the puck before it passes his goal line, but has not done so, play shall continue and the icing violation shall not be called.
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. If, in the opinion of the Linesman, the goalkeeper feigns playing the puck or skates in the direction of the puck on an icing at any time, the potential icing shall not be called and play shall continue.

(NEW for 2005-06) The Linesman shall have discretion to wave off apparent icing infractions on attempted passes if those passes are deemed receivable.

(NOTE) The purpose of this section is to enforce continuous action and both Referees and Linesmen should interpret and apply the Rule to produce this result. If, however, a goalkeeper is legitimately out of the net in an attempt to go to the players' bench to be substituted for an extra attacker and in no way makes an attempt to play the puck, the icing should not be nullified under this section.

If the puck touches any part of a player of the opposing side, including his skates or his stick, 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 icing.
(NOTE) If a goalkeeper takes any action to dislodge the puck from the back of the net, icing shall be washed out. If, however, a goalkeeper is legitimately out of the net in an attempt to go to the players' bench to be substituted for an extra attacker and in no way makes an attempt to play the puck, the icing should not be nullified under this section.

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.
(NEW for 2005-06) Any team that is in violation of this Rule shall not be permitted to make any player substitutions prior to the ensuing face-off. However, a team in violation of this Rule shall be permitted to make a player substitution in order to replace a goalkeeper who had been substituted for an extra attacker.
(NOTE) A team in violation of this Rule shall be permitted to make a player substitution in order to replace an injured player.

Answer 2

Well, what the first guy said too, but there is also the refs discression as to if the opposing team is close enough to touch the puck, they play will resume. If the opposing team is not close enough, they play will be stopped and icing will be called!

Answer 3

Icing is when you sprint as hard as you can from one end of the ice to the other.

Once you do that, the ref blows the whistle and you have to skate all the way back to your zone and face off again.

:D

Oh, yeah, and what that other guy said.

Answer 4

well i was gonna give you an explanation but the 1st guy said it well :)