To create the skating surface the ice is built in layers. Water is carefully sprayed directly onto the concrete slab at around 1/32 of an inch thick. This layer freezes almost immediately when it hits the concrete and forms the base of the ice rinks skating surface.

The word "rink" is a word of Scottish origin meaning, "course" used to describe the ice surface used in the sport of curling, but was kept in use once the winter team sport of ice hockey became established.

Description. A player in the opponent's end zone at the junction of the blue line with the boards is said to be at the point.

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.”