1. 2005 - 2006 RULES:
CAHA rules will apply in addition to the following (GOHL) League rules.2. WAIVER FORMS:
2.1 All players and team officials participating in GOHL games shall sign the hockey waiver form prior to their first game to be approved to play in this League. Players playing on multiple teams need only sign once. All players must be at least 19 years of age at beginning of current hockey season.3. MINIMUM NUMBER OF PLAYERS:
3.1 A team must have at least 5 of their REGULAR and PREVIOUSLY signed players plus a goalie at the 23:00 minute mark to begin a game. If a goalie is not ready at that time, the start of the game will be delayed until the goalie is on the ice and a minor penalty (DELAY OF GAME) assessed to the goalie. If a goalie is dressing by the 20:00 minute mark, the game will commence at that point, with a skater replacing the goalie, but with no goalie privileges (a sixth player must serve the automatic delay of game penalty), until the goalie gets on the ice. If no goalie is ready and on the ice by the 12:00 minute mark of the first period, the game will be forfeited to the team that has at least the minimum required number of players. The team that is short will have no score (whether they scored or not) and the winning team will keep all goals they scored to that point (if no score, they will get a 3-0 win / points will not be counted for scoring or goalie totals).4. GAME TIME:
4.1 The game clock shall start at the twenty-six (26) minute mark, as soon as the Zamboni and rink staff are off the ice and the rink doors are closed.WARM-UP : Three (3) minutes
1st PERIOD : Twenty-three (23) minutes
2nd PERIOD : Twenty-three (23) minutes
4.2. The last two (2) minutes of the second period will be stop time if the
difference in score is one (1) goal.
Note: No stoppage of clock if game is tied
unless a team has a man advantage due to a penalty or if it's a playoff game.
4.3. Timekeepers, sometimes with recommendations from a referee, will have final say on stoppage of time clock. If timekeeper suspects deliberate wasting of time, they have authority to stop the clock.
5. PENALTIES AND SUSPENSIONS: NOTE-It will be the responsibility of teams and players to be aware of suspensions by viewing the 'Suspensions' list on the GOHL web site. Convenor will not call team reps unless a Team Bond is to be requested.
MINOR Three (3) minutes
MAJOR Seven minutes plus game ejection (Note 5a)
MISCONDUCT - Twelve (12) minutes (Plus 1 game suspension if less than 12 minutes left in game)
GAME MISCONDUCT - Immediate ejection (Note 5b)
GROSS MISCONDUCT - Immediate ejection (Note 5b)
MATCH - Immediate ejection (Note 5b)
5.1 Any misconduct after the conclusion of the game will result in a MINIMUM TWO (2) GAME SUSPENSION!
5.2 FIGHTING
First time: Both fighting participants will receive a minimum 5 game suspension
while the aggressor will receive a 10 game suspension. Both players must post a personal bond to continue playing
in this League.
Second time: Out of League (No reimbursement of any League fees or Bonds)!
Note: Any prior fight in this League will be regarded as a first fight.
5.3 Players receiving majors, unsportsmanlike minor penalty and match penalties may also be given (depending on their past history) a choice of paying a "Personal Bond" to remain in this League
5.4 Disciplinary decisions WILL BE FINAL AND MAY NOT BE APPEALED.
5.5 Any player receiving three (3) penalties during the same game will be ejected. Any player being ejected for three penalties for the third time will automatically receive a minimum 1 game suspension and an additional game suspension for each similar subsequent ejection (any 4 penalties in the same game will also result in a 1 game suspension).
5.6 All delayed penalties shall be recorded on the official League score sheet of the game, in which the delayed penalty was assessed. If an opposing team scores on the delayed call, the individual who was to be assessed the delayed penalty will not serve his penalty (Minors only) but will have the penalty recorded and will count towards the individual's maximum allowable number of penalties in one game. (NOTE: If, during a delayed penalty call, a goal is scored by the opposing team, and the offending team has a player in the penalty box, that player in the box leaves the box (his penalty is over) and the player with the delayed call enters box to serve his three minutes.)
5.8 Any altercation off the ice surface, with any other player, referee or League official, will result in a MINIMUM FIVE (5) GAME SUSPENSION TO ANY AND ALL PLAYERS INVOLVED!
5.9 Any and all players, upon ejection from any game, for any reason whatsoever, must immediately proceed to their dressing room or face disciplinary action, including a minimum one game suspension. They may then return to watch any game FROM THE STANDS, after changing into their street clothes. Failure to obey this rule, and also if any ejected player causes any disturbance or damages whatsoever, especially one which prevents any game to continue it's regular flow, will be subject to suspension or additional suspension, if an automatic suspension is called.
5.10 Any player amassing a total of fifty (50) minutes in penalties, will from
that point on, be assessed a $5.00 fine for each subsequent minor penalty and
$10.00 for any more serious infraction (major, misconduct, etc.).
Team rep will be notified of any fines, and it will be collected from the Team Bond unless
team insists player is responsible, in which case the player must pay before
playing again (for any team). As all player stats are now on the internet, it will also be the responsibility of team reps
to approach any of their players regarding these fines. Unpaid penalty fines, INCLUDING those for players
ejected from League and/or their last game of the season, will be taken from Team
Bond.
NOTE 1. Any player participating in less than thirteen (13) games,
or playing their first game after Dec. 1, will be fined in the same
manner as mentioned above, BUT after twenty-five (25) minutes.
NOTE 2. Any team having a player/s ejected during his team's final
game, will be fined fifty dollars ($50.) for each misconduct, major
or match penalty that results in a game ejection.
NOTE 3. These fines will be used to help defray cost of awards.
5.11 Team reps will be held responsible for 'first time players' actions. After the re-alignment, any first time player (playing in his first game) whose actions lead to a suspension, will have that identical suspension given to the team rep. KNOW WHO YOU OR YOUR FRIENDS/PLAYERS ARE BRINGING OUT TO PLAY !
5.12 Any player punching another player in the head area, glove on or off, will receive, besides normal penalties assessed by refs, an automatic game misconduct and be suspended for a minimum of two games.
5.13 Any player deliberately slamming their stick against the glass, will receive the same automatic penalty as for throwing their stick, or any part of it, over the boards or glass; that being a unsportsmanlike minor penalty.
5.14 Any "Altercation" (also includes any penalty incident by one player) which is still ongoing when the final buzzer sounds, or begins during or after the buzzer sounds, will result in one game minimum suspension (exceptional situations could result in no suspension or an even longer one).
5.15 Players will be responsible for being familiar with the League's Rules and Regulations and thus WILL NOT QUESTION THEM OR HARASS LEAGUE OFFICIALS for any decision an official takes which is in accordance with those rules. Harassing officials in cases such as this will result in suspensions and in severe cases, ejection from the League.
6. GOALIES:
6.1 Goalies will not serve their minor penalties but will be replaced in the penalty box by another player on that team. The team will however, play short-handed in the same manner as if a skater were penalized. For misconducts and match penalties, depending on their severity, the goalie will be allowed to continue the game and will be dealt with when the disciplinary committee next meets. Please note that the referees have authority to eject any goalie from a game when the referee deems it justified. (* See note below.) That team will play with a sixth skater who does not have goalie privileges, while another skater acquires the goalie equipment, if they desire.
NOTE: From this point on, points will not count for scoring race, however goals will count against ejected goaltender's average (goalie who was ejected).
6.2 Any goalie receiving three (3) penalties in a game will not be ejected from that game but will however be assessed an automatic one (1) game suspension and therefore will not be permitted to play for that team's next regularly scheduled game. They will also be barred from playing for any other team in this league until after their team's next regularly scheduled game.
7. EQUIPMENT:
7.1 All players shall wear CSA approved hockey helmets. All goalies shall wear CSA approved hockey helmets with CSA approved face masks (a puck or stick may not fit through eye area). Players without proper helmets and chin straps (no substitutes whatsoever! No tape, laces, broken or missing parts, etc.) will NOT be permitted on the ice during a game. (NO EXCEPTIONS!!!) If a player does happen to get onto the ice and participates in the game, they will be assessed a minor penalty and immediately ejected until they fix or replace it. (The Sports centre or Hockey League has spare helmets available for rent). There will be no sharing of helmets between players during a game.
7.2 No tape of any type will be permitted on any part of a player's clothing or equipment, except for normal shin pad tape.
7.3 If insurance needs dictate, face masks and/or eye shields may also become necessary for all players.
7.4 Any player returning for or being noticed AT ANY TIME during another game without improving/correcting a piece of equipment for which they were previously warned, will automatically receive a minor penalty. They will not be allowed to participate in that or any subsequent games without the reason for the warning having been rectified and approved by League officials. NOTE: The responsibility of notifing referees of any of these violations also falls with off-ice League officials, and at any time in the game.
7.5 No one may use any stick whose blade is missing any part of the tip, or has been altered in any way (cut, filed, sharpened, etc.) other than legally permitted blade curvature. Result will be a minor penalty for illegal equipment.
8. SWEATERS:
8.1 Teams shall have at least one (1), and preferrably 2, full matching set/s of sweaters with numbers for each player and goalie participating in the game. Any infraction of this rule will result in a $10.00 fine (per sweater, to a maximum of $30. per game) against that team, which will be deducted from the team bond.
8.2 The Visiting team shall change sweaters if there is a color conflict and will be charged $50.00 if League must provide sweaters.
8.3 No players on any one team may wear identical numbers nor may any player wear no number (the latter being an exception for goalies): infractions will result in a minor penalty (illegal equipment) and must be corrected before being used again. Note: All sweater numbers must be whole numbers between 1 and 99.
8.4 Once a sweater or piece of equipment has been deemed illegal by a referee or a timekeeper, it must be replaced immediately by a legal replacement (see supervisor). Tape will not be accepted as a number on a sweater.
8.5 A goalie's sweater may differ in colour design than those of the team ONLY in that it's main colour must be identical to their team's main colour; in other words, striping colour/s and/or design, or cresting may differ from their team's. NOTE: A SPARE goalie's (anyone who plays in nets only one game with a team) sweater may be any color other than that of the opposing team (violation = $10. fine and $25. if the same color as opposing team).
Note: 1) All teams will have a one week grace period to secure a complete set of matching sweaters. After this time, all players not having a sweater IDENTICAL to their team's set will be fined $10.00 a sweater, to a maximum of three, otherwise a set must be secured from a League Supervisor, at a rental charge of $50.00. A spare player, defined as one who is playing their first game, or any other not having played more than one time for that team, will not be fined if their sweater differs in it's main body color as the rest of the team (may not be the same as opposing team's main color).
2) It will be the responsibility of the timekeeper, or any League supervisor, to notify referees as soon as possible when infraction 8.3 is noticed.
9. RED LINE: (Centre-ice) The red line will not be used for anything in this league.
10. ICING:
10.1 Icing will only be called when a puck is shot from a player's own defensive end, that is, from their own side of their blue line. Stated another way, icing will change from the normal manner only in that a team's blue line will replace the centre ice red line.
11. CHANGING PLAYERS:
11.1 Change of players will only be allowed on the fly, except after: A GOAL; A PENALTY; AN INJURY; END OF A PERIOD. An infraction of this rule may result in the team being assessed a minor penalty for delay of game. (When players in the 'Box' due to Offsetting penalties, leave the penalty box after a stoppage of play, players MUST go to their respective benches and may not go back onto the ice until after play has resumed, except in the case where the stoppage of play was due to a penalty being assessed or a goal. Timer must notify refs, if they are unaware. Violation calls for Delay of game minor penalty.)
12. GAME OFFICIALS:
Game officials shall be on the ice as soon as the Zamboni is off the ice.
13. PLAYOFF ELIGIBILITY:
13.1 Players must have played five (5) regular season games with a team to be eligible to participate with that same team during play-offs and may play on only one team within the same division during the play-offs.
NOTE: Each team will be allowed to designate a player having played only three (3) regular season games with that team to participate with them during the play-offs.
13.2 If a team's goalie has a legitimate reason for not being available for a playoff game, a replacement goalie may be used, however, he must be approved by the League Commissioner.
14. USE OF A SUSPENDED OR ILLEGAL PLAYER
14.1 The following penalties will be assessed to any team that is
found to be using a player while under suspension, or an illegal player, or
a player not having signed the Waiver or a player using an alias:
A) The final score of the game in which the suspended player
participated will be recorded as "0" for the team using the illegal player.
The opposing team will keep their score, or 3 goals, whichever is higher (if both teams have an illegal player, score will be recorded as 0-0 and a loss will be given to each team).
B) The illegal player will have an additional five (5) game suspension.
C) The team using the suspended/illegal player will also have their
team representative PLUS their top two scorers (rep. will not count as a top
scorer) suspended for that team’s next two (2) games.
D) The team using the illegal player will also be fined $50.00.
14.2 No suspended player may play on any team in this League until AFTER
the game he is permitted to return to play in, that is, the team with which the
original infraction (suspension) occurred.
15. PERFORMANCE BONDS:
15.1 Individual players may have to post personal performance bonds to allow them to continue to play in this League. Performance bonds are a minimum $200.00 (CASH), which the player in question must pay, as well as sign a Bond agreement before their next game. The performance bond is a final warning to a player. If the player is ejected for any reason which calls for an automatic suspension under the League rules, when they are already on a performance bond, they will forfeit their bond money and their playing privileges in this League for AT LEAST the remainder of that season. Reasons why a player may be placed on a bond are:
i) Severe infraction of the rules (however, not serious enough to warrant a complete season suspension).
ii) Repeated disregard for the rules and safety of either players or minor officials.
iii) Verbal abuse directed at referees or off-ice officials.
iv) Player has amassed over fifty (50) minutes in penalties in the past season in either this League, the Travellers Hockey League, the RA Hockey League and the Minto Hockey League.
16. DIVISION RE-ALIGNMENTS:
16.1 TEAM POINTS, INDIVIDUAL POINTS, AND GOALIE AVERAGES: No team or individual may move from one division to another (either up or down) with more points than the totals of the highest team or individual remaining in that division. Points will be taken away in cases where a new team or individual has moved into a division with a higher total than an original team or individual. This rule also applies for goalies, where no goalie may enter a new division with a lower average.
16.2 Before the 6th game (1st game after official team re-alignment), no team, player or goalie stats will be kept after a three goal score differential.
17. AWARDS:
17.1 The following awards will be presented after the final play-off game for each division:
REGULAR SEASON:
PLAY-OFFS
Champions (first)
Finalists (second)
Bronze (third)
NOTE: * Goalies must play at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the team's regular season games with one team to be eligible for the top goalie award and to appear on stat sheets.
PLAYOFF FORMAT for 2005-06: (Note - only points picked up in the round-robins will count for final playoff standings.)
Div.1 - (after 20 reg. season games)- Three game round-robin, then 1Vs4 and 2Vs3, then winners play for Gold and Silver with losers playing for Bronze.
Div.2, 3, 4, & 5 (after 19 reg. season games)- Five game round-robin then 1Vs2 for gold & Silver and 3Vs4 for Bronze.
18. TIE-BREAKERS:
The following tie-breakers will be used if TWO teams are tied in points:
The following tie-breakers will be used if THREE OR MORE teams are tied
Note: If a further tie-breaker is still required after the above, a flip of a coin will decide the winner.
19. DRESSING ROOMS:
19.1 Dressing rooms are to be cleared within twenty (20) minutes after completion of each game.
20. ROOM KEYS:
20.1 Keys for the dressing rooms must be retrieved from the front desk area after giving some form of ID for collateral.
21. **NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE TO BE BROUGHT INTO DRESSING ROOMS OR RINK AREAS BY PLAYERS. This is stipulated in our contract with the UNIVERSITY of OTTAWA.
22. RULE CHANGES.
22.1 Emergency changes to the rules: The League Commissioner reserves the right to make any emergency changes and/or additions to the above rules. Teams and officials will be advised in writing as soon as possible, (before change is effective).
23. GENERAL
23.1 This League was formed to provide area hockey players an opportunity to participate under recreational non-contact rules. Injurious actions by players to others and disrespect towards minor and/or senior on-ice and off-ice game officials play no part in this League. Violations of the previous may constitute just cause for ejection from the League of any player OR team without refund of fees paid. Teams and/or players can easily be replaced. The League also has the right to place any player, at any time, on a performance bond.
Please remember we all have family and business responsibilities to attend to!
Every effort is being made by the Association to continue this as a first class league. Your continued co-operation will be most appreciated.