Icing the puck

[RefWEB]

Originally Posted by Altor

Take a look at NHL Rule 81.5. There are about 7 ways to nullify icing. Probably the most common I see:
- An onside teammate wins the "race to the puck"
- An opposing player was able to play the puck and chose not to.
- The goalkeeper touches the puck

In the NHL, the goalie doesn't even have to play the puck. Icing is waved the moment the goalie makes a move to attempt to play the puck.

In general, most waveoffs will be pure judgment calls by the linesman, mostly having to do with who won the race to the top of the circle, or a defending player able to play the puck but refusing to do so.