For top level International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) competitions, the recommended dimensions of the rink are 60m long and 25–30m wide. For IIHF World Championship tournaments, the official dimensions are 60m long and 30m wide.The corners of the rink are rounded in the arc of a circle with a radius of 7.0m to 8.5m.The rink is divided by the red centre line, has two blue lines, nine face-off circles, the goals and the creases.
The area where the goal net is located is the defending zone for the team defending that net. The middle of the rink, between two blue lines, is the neutral zone. The area where the opposing net is located is the attacking zone or offensive zone.The 30cm wide centre red line divides the length of the rink equally. The two 5cm wide icing lines are marked 4m from the flat and middle sections of the end boards at both ends of the rink.The blue lines are 22.86m from the flat and middle sections of the end boards at both ends of the rink and are 30cm wide. For open air rinks, all lines are 5cm wide.
There are nine face-off spots on the ice. These are the only places at which an on‑ice official can drop the puck to begin game action.All face-off spots are red except for the one at centre ice which is blue. This is the centre face-off circle and is 30m in diameter.Four face-off spots 60cm in diameter are marked in the neutral zone. Four face-off spots 60cm in diameter and red circles 5cm wide with a radius of 4.5m from the centre of the face-off spot are marked on the ice in both end zones and on both sides of each goal.
The rink is surrounded by boards made out of sections of wood or plastic and painted white. The boards are 107cm high from the ice surface.
There are three creases on the ice: one for each goaltender in front of either goal net and one at the boards by the scorekeeper’s bench for on‑ice officials.
Transparent plexiglass, 12m‑15mm thick, is affixed to the top of the boards. The glass is 2.4m high behind the goals and extends a minimum of 4m from the icing line towards the blue line. The glass is 1.8m high along the sides except in front of the players’ benches.There is no protective glass in front of the players’ benches. There is protective glass behind and along the sides of the players’ benches and penalty boxes.
The IIHF Official Rule Book 2014-2018. July 2015 2nd Edition. Zurich Switzerland. https://www.iihf.com/en/statichub/4719/rules-and-regulations
The information in this guide is general in nature and cannot be relied upon as professional advice concerning the design of, or marking out for, sporting facilities and playing areas. No assurance is given as to the accuracy of any information contained in this guide and readers should not rely on its accuracy. Readers should obtain their own independent and professional advice in relation to their proposed sporting activity.