Ice Hockey
Ice hockey rink zones and face-offs: lines, areas and restarts
The markings on an ice hockey rink tell you where play is happening and where it restarts. This guide explains the blue lines, centre line, attacking, neutral and defensive zones, face-off spots and the centre-ice face-off.
The three main zones
The two blue lines divide the rink into three main zones. The neutral zone lies between the blue lines. For each team, the area beyond its own blue line is its defensive zone, while the area beyond the opponent’s blue line is its attacking zone.
Centre line, blue lines and goal lines
The centre line is the red line across the middle of the rink and is used in procedures including icing. Blue lines separate the neutral zone from each end zone. Goal lines run through the goal area near each end of the rink.
Face-off spots and circles
A face-off is a standard way to restart play: an official puts the puck into play between opposing players at a designated spot. The rink has face-off spots and circles in the neutral zone and in both end zones.
When the centre spot is used
The centre-ice face-off starts each period and restarts play after a goal. Other stoppages use a face-off location determined by the applicable rule, so the next face-off can also show why and where play was stopped.