top of page
Header Logo.png
HistoryOfTheRink Header 20210416.png

All players are well aware of the surface they are playing on. They know the length of the ice and the amount of room they have to play in the neutral zone.  Advancements in the game of hockey have led to frequent modifications to the markings on the playing surface. Please note that the below layouts reflect the expectations from the National Hockey League, but there have been teams throughout history, particularly the earlier years, who have had some discrepancies with their hockey markings.

Throughout the history of the NHL, there have been many variances from rink to rink such as Edmonton's center ice facing the players benches or the shorter rinks like the one in the Chicago Stadium. There were quite a few of these abnormalities, but for the sake of the overall history of the NHL, the following graphics will be based upon the typical 200 by 85 foot rink.

White Extra Bright 20210510a.png
Vintage Rinks
1917-1949
Vintage Rinks
1918 HOFR 20210526.jpg
1917-1918 Season

The rink started out with only a face-off dot and a line between each of the goal posts to show where the nets should set. Those lines cannot be seen in the image as they are covered by the net itself.

1919 HOFR 20210526.jpg
1918-1919 through 1925-1926 Seasons

The playing surface was divided into three zones, with forward passing permitted in the middle "neutral zone."​ Kicking the puck was also permitted in the neutral zone. These zones were divided up by adding 2 inch thick blue lines 40 feet apart.

  • Neutral Zone: 40 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 80 feet.

  • Goal line (not painted) to end boards: 10 feet.

1927 HOFR 20210526.jpg
1926-1927 through 1928-1929 Seasons

The blue lines were moved 10 feet closer to each of the end boards to expand the neutral zone.

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line (not painted) to end boards: 10 feet.

1930 HOFR 20210526.jpg
1929-1930 through 1930-1931 Seasons

Additional face-off dots are added to the ice surface, 10 feet in front of each goal. Every time a goaltender failed to clear the puck after making a save, a face-off would be held at the dot in front of his net. No player other than the goalie was permitted to stand between the face-off spot and the net.​

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line (not painted) to end boards: 10 feet.

1932 HOFR 20210526.jpg
1931-1932 through 1932-1933 Seasons

Three additional face-off dots are added in the neutral zone along each blue line, inside the neutral zone.

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line (not painted) to end boards: 10 feet.

1934 HOFR 20210526.jpg
1933-1934 Season

L-Shaped boundaries were placed in front of each net defining a goaltenders safe area. The boundary was 8 feet by 5 feet.

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line (not painted) to end boards: 10 feet.

1935 HOFR 20210526.jpg
1934-1935 through 1936-1937 Seasons

Two 20 foot diameter "penalty shot" circles were added, one in front of each goal, centered at 38 feet from the goal lines. If a player was tripped preventing him from shooting while on what we now call a "breakaway", a player takes a penalty shot which must be taken from inside this circle. A full goal crease was also painted on the ice at this time.

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line (not painted) to end boards: 10 feet.

1938 HOFR 20210526.jpg
1937-1938 Season

Two face-off dots are added in each defensive zone. The dots in front of each of the goals are removed. The goal line was also introduced as new rules governing icing the puck were introduced.

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line to end boards: 10 feet.

1939 HOFR 20210526.jpg
1938-1939 Season

The width of each of the blue lines were increased to 12 inches.

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line to end boards: 10 feet.

1940 HOFR 20210526.jpg
1939-1940 through 1940-1941 Seasons

The goal crease is modified to 7 feet by 3 feet.

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line to end boards: 10 feet.

1942 HOFR 20210526.jpg
1941-1942 through 1942-1943 Seasons

Twenty-foot face-off circles are added at center ice and in each corner. The penalty shot circles are replaced with short penalty shot lines 28 feet in front of the goal. Minor penalty shots are taken from the line while major penalty shots allow the player to skate in on the goaltender.

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line to end boards: 10 feet.

1944 HOFR 20210526.jpg
1943-1944 through 1944-1945 Seasons

The center red line was introduced to speed up the game and reduce offside calls. The red line is 12 inches in width.

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line to end boards: 10 feet.

1946 HOFR 20210526.jpg
1945-1946 through 1946-1947 Seasons

The penalty shot line is removed and all penalty shots are now taken from center ice.

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line to end boards: 10 feet.

1948 HOFR 20210526.jpg
1947-1948 through 1948-1949 Seasons

The area inside each goal net is painted white to make it easier for referees and goal judges to determine if a goal has been scored. 

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line to end boards: 10 feet.

White Extra Bright 20210510a.png
Original Six Era
1950-1964
Original Six Era
1950 HOFR 20210526.jpg
1949-1950 through 1950-1951 Seasons

The entire surface is painted white following the popularity of the white goal area among fans and officials.

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line to end boards: 10 feet.

1952 HOFR 20210526.jpg
1951-1952 Season

The size of the goal crease is increased to 8 feet by 4 feet. Face-off circles were expanded to 30 feet in diameter.

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line to end boards: 10 feet.

1953 HOFR 20210526.jpg
1952-1953 Season

The middle set of neutral zone face-off dots were removed. 

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line to end boards: 10 feet.

1954 HOFR 20210526.jpg
1953-1954 through 1955-1956 Seasons

The neural zone and defensive zone face-off dots are enlarged from 6 inches to 12 inches in diameter. 

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line to end boards: 10 feet.

1957 HOFR 20210526.jpg
1956-1957 Season

Hash marks were added to the defensive zone circles to keep players onside when lining up for a face-off.

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line to end boards: 10 feet.

1958 NHL Season Ice Rink
1957-1958 through 1960-1961 Seasons

A single horizontal hash mark was added through each of the four defensive zone faceoff dots. The referee's crease was also added. Its position would vary from rink to rink.

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line to end boards: 10 feet.

1962 NHL Season Ice Rink
1961-1962 through 1963-1964 Seasons

"Crosshairs" were added to face-off dots in defensive zones.

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line to end boards: 10 feet.

White Extra Bright 20210510a.png
Expansion Era
1965-1986
Expansion Era
1965 NHL Season Ice Rink
1964-1965 through 1972-1973 Seasons

Though some teams had already started using checkered red lines, they are now listed as required in the NHL rule book. Its purpose was to help TV viewers distinguish the red line from the blue lines. This would become less important once color TV became widely available.

  • Neutral Zone: 60 feet.

  • Defensive Zones: 70 feet.

  • Goal line to end boards: 10 feet.

<