In ice hockey, the marked area directly in front of the goal net is called the goal crease.
The crease is a semicircular or rounded area painted blue in front of each net. It helps identify the goaltender’s working space and gives officials a visual reference when judging interference, collisions, and attacking-player positioning. Its exact dimensions and markings are defined by the league’s rulebook.
A common mistake is to confuse the crease with the goal line, the red line that runs across the ice beneath the net. The crease is the colored area; the goal line determines whether the puck has completely crossed into the net. Players may enter the crease, but an attacking player cannot prevent the goaltender from making a save or performing normal movements there.
The other options are different rink areas: the penalty box holds penalized players, faceoff circles mark puck-drop locations, and the neutral zone lies between the blue lines.