Men's Non-Contact Hockey RULES AND REGULATIONS as at May 14 2009



OBJECTIVE:

To facilitate a fun, competitive skate with zero-tolerance for aggressive play and reckless behaviour.

SECTION A - LEAGUE POLICIES
  1. The League Executive (LE) consists of the League Director and the four Team captains. Any decisions made by the League Executive will be final.
  2. The LE reserves the right to amend these rules and policies at any time in order to improve the quality and effectiveness of the league. Changes will be posted immediately to the website and announced to the league when appropriate.
  3. The LE reserves the right to refuse to register or re-register any application by any player at the league's discretion.
  4. Teams must have a minimum of 5 players plus a goalkeeper, all with full equipment, to constitute a game. Failure to do so results in forfeit. If a team commences a game with a limited number of players and is at any point unable to fulfill the required number of players on the ice due to penalties, the game will be forfeited to the non-offending team.
  5. Teams are expected to be ready to start at the scheduled time. A three-minute warm-up will commence upon resurfacing. The horn will sound and a one-minute grace period will be given. The clock will start and any team not ready will be given a delay of game penalty. A forfeit takes place if a team does not have the minimum number of players on the ice ten minutes after the scheduled game time or when the applicable warm-up and grace period has elapsed, whichever is later. Please be advised that our ice will be available on the hour with the flood-taking place at the end of each hour.
    Please be advised that our ice will be available on the hour with the flood-taking place at the end of each hour.
  6. Player Substitution - During the regular season, a team captain may arrange to borrow a player for any game where he will be with less then 9 skaters from his official roster. The captain may use any player approved by the LE and will typically borrow from within the league.
  7. When a goalkeeper is absent, teams may use other league goalies on an alternating basis, or in rare cases, any goalkeeper approved by the League Executive.
  8. Law, the arena and the insurance company, strictly prohibits the use of alcoholic beverages in the arenas. Any player that is identified with any amount of alcohol by the League or arena staff and reported to the League may receive a suspension or expulsion from the League with no right of refund.


SECTION B - PLAYING RULES
  1. CHA rules will govern unless stated otherwise.
  2. All players must wear CSA approved helmets with a proper chin-strap. A chin strap is the strap going between the ear flaps and under the chin. This is not to be confused with straps holding the face mask on.
  3. If any player skates in any game under the influence of drugs or alcohol, that player will be ejected from the game immediately and will face supplementary discipline including possible expulsion. The player agrees that he will never bring alcohol or any other drug onto the arena premises for any reason whatsoever.
  4. All games will consist of three 11-minute stop time periods, except when there is a five goal spread at the five minute mark or later of the third period. During the regular season, if there is a goal spread of 5 or more goals, the clock will be on running time for the last 5 minutes of the 3rd period. If the goal spread becomes less than 5, the clock will once again resume stop time.
  5. Tie games shall stand for the regular season and round-robin play-offs. Championship game - If time permits, a 10-minute sudden-death overtime period will be played. If still tied, there will be a shoot-out.
  6. There is no centre (red) line for off-side calls (i.e. no 2-line off-sides). The centre line shall remain in play for icing calls - Icing the puck is completed the instant the puck crosses the goal line when it is shot from behind the centre red line. If the puck enters the goal or passes through the goal crease, the icing will not be called.
  7. Minor penalties (hooking, tripping, interference and holding) will be 2 minutes during stop time and 3 minutes during run-time. A Double Minor Penalty (4 minutes during stop time and 5 minutes during run-time) will be automatically assessed for GOALIE INTERFERENCE and all other infractions (e.g. slashing, roughing, elbowing, cross-checking, body contact, etc). A Game Misconduct will be assessed to any player receiving a 5 minute Major Penalty. Major Penalties are assessed according to the CHA Rule Book.
  8. Coincidental minor penalties will result in teams playing 5 on 5.
  9. If a player receives 3 minor penalties (which may include one or more double-minor but exclude a ten-minute misconduct penalty) the player will be ejected from the game.
  10. A Game Ejection can be assessed at the referee's discretion to a player at any time in a game for conduct which is deemed to be detrimental to the safety of the other players or conduct which would be deemed to be a travesty of the game. A Game Ejection is called so that a player is removed from the game to prevent an individual from participating in a more serious or violent situation.
  11. If a player drops their gloves and/or removes their helmet for any reason other than during a stop in play to adjust equipment, that player will be automatically receive a MINIMUM of a Game Ejection.
  12. If a goalie receives a game misconduct penalty, it is the discretion of the referee as to whether or not the goalie will be allowed to continue playing in the game. If the referee ejects a goalie from the game and the referee determines that there is enough time left in the game to allow a goalie substitution, a substitute goalie can be used, If time permits, the time allowed for the substitution will be no more than 5 minutes. The substitute goaltender will not be allowed a warm up.
  13. If a player is ejected from a game or receives a Major Penalty, the player must either leave the arena immediately after changing or remain in the dressing room for the remainder of the game. Failure to comply with this rule will result in further disciplinary action against the player, including possible expulsion from the league.
  14. If a player accrues 20 or more penalty minutes during the regular season, the player will be suspended for 1 game. If a player accrues an additional 10 minutes in penalties, (30 minutes total) that player will be suspended for another game. If a player accrues another 10 minutes or more in penalties, (40 minutes total) that player will be suspended for the remainder of the regular season as well as playoffs. 10 minute misconduct penalties will not be included in these totals.
  15. SUPPLEMENTARY DISCIPLINE. In addition to suspensions imposed under the Rule Amendments from CHA, we may investigate any incident that occurs in connection with any game and may assess additional suspensions during or after a game whether or not such an offense has been called by the referee. It must be noted that the MSH Rule Amendments from CHA spell out the MINIMUM sanction or penalty that a player will serve. A player's additional suspension and/or even expulsion from the league could result after the league completes their investigation of an incident.


SECTION C - SUSPENSIONS
    All major, match and gross misconduct penalty suspensions are subject to possible League review for adjustment.

  1. Fighting Major Penalties:

       Immediate game ejection and expulsion from the League

  2. Any other MAJOR penalties called with a game misconduct

       1st offense: Out of that game and a five game suspension and League review for possible League expulsion.
       2nd offense: Expulsion from the League

  3. Match Penalties:

       1st offense: Out of that game plus a minimum seven game suspension and League review for possible League expulsion.
       2nd offense: Expulsion from the League

  4. Any goalkeeper receiving a match penalty will be ejected from the game immediately. If a spare is not available the game will be forfeited. A goalkeeper receiving a major penalty will remain in the game and an alternate will serve the penalty. The goalkeeper will serve the suspension in subsequent games in accordance with League rules. A goalkeeper receiving a second major penalty will be ejected from the game immediately and unless there is a spare goalkeeper the game will be forfeited.
  5. Any player assessed a gross misconduct or a major penalty during the third period or in overtime will result in an immediate game ejection and an additional game misconduct.
  6. Gross misconduct penalties will result in ejection from the game plus a minimum of a three game suspension.
  7. It is the Team Captain's responsibility to ensure that suspended players do not play in accordance with the League rules. Should a team play a suspended player, the game will be forfeited and the player will have to serve the suspension in subsequent games.


SECTION D - PLAYOFFS
    All points accumulated count in the total standings for playoff standings.

  1. To determine playoff positions, the following rules will be employed:

       a) Most points
       b) Most wins
       c) Record between two tied teams
       d) Highest ratio of goals for divided by goals against
       e) Coin toss

  2. Playoff format will be 3 game series where 1st place from regular season plays 4th place and 2nd will play 3rd. The series winners will be the first teams to 4 points. If the 3rd game of the series ends in a tie after regulation time, there will be a shoot-out to determine the series winner. The winning team from each series will advance to the Championship game.
  3. Tie games shall stand for the first two games of each play-off series. For the 3rd game, see Section D paragraph 2 from above. For the Championship game - If time permits, a 10-minute sudden-death overtime period will be played. If still tied, there will be a shoot-out.