HAMILTON OLDTYMERS HOCKEY LEAGUE

                                     RULES AND REGULATIONS

MAY 2016

     NO PERSON MAY PARTICIPATE IN ANY GAME WHILE HE IS

     UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS

GENERAL

1a.       The Hamilton Oldtymers Hockey League shall be governed by a Board of Directors comprised of one representative from each of the participating teams, plus the League President, League Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. 

1b.       Each team shall designate an alternate representative who shall attend any league meeting in the absence of the team representative and shall enjoy the same voting privileges as the team representative.

1c.       The league officers as of May 1, 2016 are as follows, with their term expiry date beside their names:

              President:              Mike Parente               May 1, 2019

              Vice President       Peter Brakewell           May 1, 2019

              Secretary               John Swiergocz           May 1, 2019

              Treasurer               Mike Parente               May 1, 2019

               Web Manager        Peter Brakewell          May 1, 2019

 2.         The League President shall be elected every  three years by the Board of Directors.   The League President may not be a team representative unless an exception has been granted due to unusual circumstances.

3.         The Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Web Manager shall be elected every three years by the Board of Directors.  They may also be team representatives.

4.         Team representatives and alternates for the next season shall be automatically re-elected from year to year unless that individual no longer wishes to serve as a team rep or a majority of the Board of Directors elects to remove a rep or reps at a meeting convened at least in part for that purpose.

5.         The Hamilton Oldtymers Hockey League has been formed for the enjoyment of its members, that they may enjoy the spirit of sportsmanship while they participate in Canada’s national sport.  Accordingly, each team shall endeavour to provide equal ice time to each player.  The name of the game is FUN.  Winning is secondary.

6.         Non-participants are not allowed anywhere on the players benches, in the penalty boxes, or on the timekeeper’s bench, except for players not in uniform.  Players may be held responsible for the actions of relatives or friends in attendance at games for purposes of league disciplinary action.

7a.       All players must be 35 years of age or older by August 31st of the current year.  A birth certificate or equivalent document verifying date of birth is required upon admission to the league.

7b.       No name can be added to the spares list unless that player is eligible to play in the league immediately.

8.         Fees are established by the Board of Directors no later than May 1 of the current year.  Membership fees must be paid in the form of two post-dated cheques dated June 1 and August 1 of the current year and submitted to a league executive no later than the date of the banquet for the preceding year.  Those who have not paid on time will not be permitted to play, subject to a “hardship” appeal to the league executive.  The fees for the 2016-2017 season are set at $400.

8b.       Players who suffer an illness or injury that will exceed two consecutive games shall be entitled to a refund of fifteen dollars per game missed, beginning with the third game.  If a player attempts a comeback but must return to the injury list for the same injury or illness there will be no additional two game waiting period.

8c.       Spares will be assessed a weekly fee of $15 per game played.  If a spare becomes a permanent player, he will be assessed a fee of $15 per game remaining in the schedule, including the first playoff game.  Under no circumstances will a spare player be assessed total fees in excess of $400. The banquet ticket will be for two people.  Goalies sparing on a week-to-week basis will not be subjected to a fee.  However, goalies who replace an injured goalie for a period beyond 2 weeks consecutively will be required to pay a $15 fee for all games beyond the first two.

8d.       Team reps are responsible for remitting all money collected from spares on the day the money is collected, which should be the day on which the spare has played.  Payment should then be remitted to the league treasurer or his assistant.

9.         Any player who misses three of any consecutive five games may, [at the discretion of the Board of Directors, who will consider the reason(s) for the absence,] be removed from the roster of his team permanently and placed on the spares list.  Any player missing three consecutive games will have his status as a player reviewed by the Board.  It is recommended that the team representative make inquiries after the second consecutive absence and report to the League President.  After three consecutive absences, the player may be expelled by a majority vote of the Board.  In the event of a tie vote regarding the expulsion of a player, the League President casts the deciding ballot.  No player will be expelled from the League for consecutive absences due to injury or illness

10.       All players must sign a waiver stating that the League, its officers, and its Board of Directors will not be held responsible for any accident or injury sustained by a player participating in a game, preparing to participate in a game, or after a game has been completed.

11.       All teams shall designate a captain and two assistant captains.  Referees will communicate issues or decisions through one or more of these three players. 

12.       All players must vacate the dressing room within thirty minutes of completion of the game.

13.       The League will be governed by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association Rules of Play with the following exceptions to speed up play:

a.         Two line passes from behind one’s own blue line to past the centre red line will not be considered offside passes if the receiving player crosses the centre red line ahead of the puck.

b.         Automatic icing rule is in effect.

c.         Each game will consist of three ten-minute stop-time periods.

14.       All sticks must meet CAHA standards.

15a.     Referees and players are to be on the ice and ready to commence play no later than ten minutes after the hour.  After a two minute warm-up, play will commence.  Teams MUST vacate the ice after their 1 hour time slot is complete.

15b.     Teams will consist of thirteen players inclusive of goalies.   If a player will miss more than two consecutive games, team reps must request a spare.

                                       ORGANIZATION

16.       During each off-season, the Board of Directors will establish a Balancing Committee, a Discipline Committee, an Application & Player Movement Committee, a Safety/Rules/Referee Committee, and a Social Committee.  It will also designate by majority vote the chairman of each committee.  In case of a tie vote, the League President must cast the deciding ballot.

             FOR THE 2016-2017 SEASON, THE LEAGUE COMMITTEES WERE FILLED AS FOLLOWS:

BALANCING:  Mike Parente (C), Peter Brakewell, John Anderson, Ivan Gauthier, Mike Lubrick

DISCIPLINE:   Rob North Jr. (C), Peter Brakewell, Ed Fitzpatrick                 

APPLICATION & PLAYER MOVEMENT:

JohnSwiergosz

REFEREE/SAFETY/RULES:   Peter Brakewell,

SOCIAL: Ivan Gauthier (C), Steve Nott, Rob Kelly                                      

17.       The Discipline Committee must review any complaint brought to it by a team representative.  The Committee will consult as widely as it deems necessary to compile as much information as it needs to render its decision.  All complaints must result in a decision within two weeks.  Any decision of the Discipline Committee must be referred to the Board of Directors if such action is requested by five or more team representatives. The decision of the Board of Directors will be final.  All decisions of the Board of Directors shall be reached by way of a majority vote.  In case of a tie, the League President must cast the deciding ballot.

18.       The Balancing Committee will prepare a proposed thirteen (twelve skaters and one goalie) team roster for presentation to the Board of Directors in August or September of the current year.  Also, the Balancing Committee may meet periodically during the first twelve weeks of the season for the purpose of transferring players to re-balance the League.    The Balancing Committee shall assume responsibility for all player movement after the TWELFTH game of the season or once all trades have been completed, whichever occurs earlier.

19.       The Social Committee shall have as its primary duties the organization of the annual banquet and any fundraising activities approved by the Board of Directors.  It shall also undertake any other appropriate duties assigned to it by the League President or the Board of Directors.  In the absence of a formal committee, the league executive under the guidance of the President will be responsible for the duties identified above.

20.       The Application/Player Movement Committee shall have the responsibility for arranging for a substitute player when needed.  This responsibility ends in accordance with rule 18 and the responsibility shall rest with the Balancing Committee working together with the Application/Player Movement Committee.  The player to be used as a substitute must be chosen by majority vote among the Committee members.  In choosing a substitute player, the Committee will be guided by the following criteria, in order:

A.        Up until final re-balancing of teams has been completed, any player can be substituted into the league.  Once teams have been finalized, the player-substitute must be rated at the same level as the player to be replaced, or one level higher, or one level lower.  For purposes of playoff games, the player-substitute must be rated at the same level as the player to be replaced, or one level lower.

B.        If no player meeting the requirements of 20(A) can be found on the List of Substitutes, then the player-substitute may be determined by the committee based on historic interest and availability, with the exception of playoff substitutes which must be in accordance with the requirements of 20(A)

21.       The Safety/Rules Committee shall have the responsibility for maintaining, in cooperation with the league secretary, a proper and up to date list of league rules.  A copy of the current league rules must be made available on the league website no later than the last game before Christmas.

22.       The league shall consist of ten teams.  The teams shall be set each summer by the balancing committee.  The balancing committee shall also be responsible for rating all the players in the league, and all players will be rated on a scale of 2-11.  Each team will be permitted to name a representative, a protected player, and to identify a sponsor or alternate who will also be protected if they so choose. There shall therefore be no more than three protected players in total for any team.

23.       Any player who leaves the league and wishes to return after missing just one season will have his name placed at the top of the spare list.   If a player has been absent from the league for more than one season, he will be placed at the bottom of the spare list.

24.         At least once per year there shall be an executive meeting.  At this meeting, the ratings for each           player as determined by the balancing committee shall be confirmed, or modified, as appropriate.     Each team will be permitted one trade on the basis that the players being traded must be rated           equally.               

PENALTIES

25.       Consistent with the spirit of this league, it is expected that penalties will be kept to a minimum.  However, penalties are inevitable.  In addition to penalties outlined in the CAHA Rules of Play, the following rules will govern play in the Hamilton Oldtymers Hockey League:

Minor Penalties:

A.        Minor penalties will be two minutes.  Typical minor penalties will include, but are not limited to:

            No body checking of any sort will be tolerated under any circumstances, including playing the man into the boards.  Violations will result in a Minor Penalty being called.

            No slashing.  Overly aggressive checking is punishable by a minor penalty.  Any severe case of slashing will result in a Major Penalty and will be referred to the Discipline Committee for further discipline if warranted.

            Accidental tripping is a Minor Penalty

            Accidental hitting from behind is a Minor Penalty.

               Sliding into an opponent for whatever reason other than accidentally falling is an automatic minor penalty and may be considered an intent to injure infraction at the sole discretion of the referee.

            Slap shots and snap shots, where the stick is lifted above the top of the skate boot in order to strike the puck, are prohibited and shall result in a Minor Penalty.    However, due to the subjective nature of what constitutes these types of shots, referee judgement will prevail.  

            If a player attempts to make contact with the puck by raising his stick above his shoulders, he will be assessed a Minor Penalty.  However, if at any time in raising his stick above his shoulders he high sticks an opposing player, he will be assessed a Major Penalty, BUT MAY NOT BE EJECTED FROM THE GAME, AT THE REFEREE’S DISCRETION. In all other situations involving sticks being raised above the shoulders referees shall use their discretion as to whether or not a penalty is warranted, taking into account the proximity of other players and the potential risk of injury in each situation.  To further clarify the slap shot/high sticking rules, attempting to bat the puck out of the air will not be a penalty unless the players stick is above his shoulders. 

            Any delay of game will in the judgement of the referee result in a Minor Penalty.  A delay of game will occur under any of the following circumstances, in addition to the CAHA Rules of Play:

                                    i.          A player INTENTIONALLY dislodges the       net.

ii.         A player in control of the puck deliberately shoots the puck out of the area of play.

iii.        In the last two minutes of the third period, a delay of game infraction will result in a penalty shot in lieu of a Minor Penalty.

             Three minor penalties to the same player in one game will result in an automatic ejection from the game.

Major Penalties:

B.        Major penalties will be five minutes in length, the player will be ejected from the game, and the matter will be referred to the Player/Discipline Committee for further discipline if warranted. (EXCEPTION: Referee’s discretion in Rule 25(A))

            Players receiving an ‘INTENT TO INJURE’ Major penalty will be subject to a minimum 3 game suspension and will be placed on a minimum of 1 year probation. Any subsequent major infractions involving players on probation could result in a longer suspension up to and including 1 year or expulsion from the league, at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors.

            INTENT TO INJURE – Any act or infraction which, at the discretion of the referee is an attempt by one player to deliberately injure another player.  Typically, this will include fighting, spearing, slew footing, intentional hitting from behind and other flagrant stick infractions.  Also, sliding into an opponent for whatever reason other than accidentally falling may be considered an intent to injure infraction at the sole discretion of the referee.

            Any infraction of the rules that draws blood will result in a Major Penalty, a Game Misconduct, and a reference to the Discipline Committee for further discipline if warranted.  However, drawing blood is not considered an ‘automatic’ intent to injure penalty.         

Misconduct Penalties:

C.        Misconduct penalties will be ten minutes during which the offender’s team will not play shorthanded.  A game misconduct penalty will result in the player being removed from that game.  Any player receiving a game misconduct in the third period shall be ineligible to play the remainder of that game and shall be suspended for that team’s next game.  The incident will be subject to review by the Discipline Committee for supplementary discipline if warranted.  Again, the offending team will not play shorthanded.

Match Penalties:

D.        Match Penalties will result in ejection from the current game, a one game suspension to be served the next week, and the incident will be subject to review by the Discipline Committee for supplementary discipline if warranted.

General:

E.         Teams will substitute players for coincidental minor penalties.  Players will return to the ice at the first stoppage of play after their penalties expire.

F.         Judgement calls made by a referee are not subject to dispute.  Interpretation of a rule may only be challenged by the team captain or an assistant captain.  .

G.        No profanity or verbal abuse of any sort directed towards a referee or opponent from a player on the bench, on the ice, in the stands, or from the dressing room will be tolerated.  If such an incident occurs, and at the sole discretion of the referee, a minor penalty, a 10 minute misconduct, and/or a game misconduct will be called against the offending player.  If the abuse continues, a Match Penalty will be assessed, and the player will be ejected from the current game, suspended for his team’s next game, and the incident will be referred to the discipline committee for review and further discipline if warranted.  It is the duty of the team representative, the captain and assistant captain to assist the referee in such situations.

H.        Referees are to whistle the play dead immediately upon losing sight of the puck, or when the puck is smothered by the goalie.  There will be no aggressive play on the goalie when he has the puck.  If the attacking player jabs at the puck once it has been smothered by the goalie, the faceoff will take place outside the blue line.

J.         All on-ice officials have the authority to call penalties.  Referees must file a report with the Discipline Committee regarding any incident which, in their opinion, may require supplemental League discipline.  Such reports should be prepared immediately after the game in question.           

K.        Teams are not allowed a spare player for any player who is serving a suspension

26.       If a player’s actions are so offensive that, in the opinion of the executive, they are not in keeping with the purpose of the league, that player may be ejected from the league.

PLAYOFFS

Format and Eligibility

27.       For purposes of the playoffs, teams can arrange, through the Balancing Committee only, to have a replacement player substitute for a player who will not be able to play in a game or games.  However, to allow for adequate time to find a suitable player, the team rep must request such player no later than the second day prior to that team’s playoff game (i.e. Friday for a Sunday game).  In these situations, the Balancing Committee will make its best efforts to recommend an eligible substitute player.  Such substitute must have played a minimum of four games in the league that season to be eligible to play in the playoffs.  In NO case can the replacement player be rated higher than the player he is replacing.  The replacement player can be rated either the same as or lower than the player he is replacing.  If parity or less is not possible, then there will be no replacement player permitted.

28a.     The first round of playoff games shall be three ten-minute periods, stop time.  The quarter-final games shall each consist of three twelve-minute periods, stop time.  The championship game and the semi-final game shall each consist of three fifteen-minute periods, stop time, with a flood between the second and third period.

28b.     IF THE ZAMBONI DOOR IS RAISED DURING ANY PLAYOFF GAME, THE GAME SHALL STOP UNTIL THE ZAMBONI DOOR IS CLOSED.  ONLY A REFEREE CAN STOP THE GAME.

29.       Each team must submit to the timekeeper prior to the beginning of each game a list of thirteen different players that are legally on their team in the order they will be shooting in an overtime shootout.

30.       If a game other than the semi-final or championship game is tied after regulation time, THERE WILL BE A FIVE MINUTE, STOP TIME, OVERTIME PERIOD WITH THE TEAMS PLAYING 4-ON-4.  IF THE GAME IS STILL TIED AFTER THAT OVERTIME PERIOD, there will be a shootout according to the following rules:

A.        Each team will identify a group of five shooters.  They will all take their penalty shot in turn, one member from each team shooting simultaneously.

B.        The winner of the game shall be the team that scores more goals in this first round of penalty shots.

C.        If the game is still tied, THE SHOOTOUT WILL CONTINUE ON A SUDDEN DEATH BASIS, WITH PLAYERS SHOOTING IN THE ORDER THEY WERE LISTED ON THE SHEET SUBMITTED TO THE TIMEKEEPER BEFORE THE GAME.  a second group of five will be identified and the teams will take one penalty shot each at a time.   If one team scores while the other does not, the team that scores is the winner.

D.        During the shootout, no player can shoot twice unless all available forwards and defencemen from his team have taken a penalty shot.   

E.         When the teams are unbalanced, the team with the highest number of players present has the option, prior to the beginning of the game, to delete any number of players from shootout duties, but only until the number of shooters on both teams is the same.  If the team with the larger number of players opts to let all players shoot, then the other team will begin shooting from the beginning of its list once all their players have taken a shot.

Semi-Final and Championship Game

32.       If the semi final or championship game is tied after three periods, there shall be a sudden death period of five minutes, straight time.  During this period, the teams will play four-on-four.

33.       If the semi final or championship game is tied after the first overtime period, the teams will play a sudden death period of four minutes, straight time.  During this period, the teams will play three-on-three.

34.       If the semi final or championship game is tied after the second overtime period, the teams will play a sudden death period of three minutes, straight time.  During this period, the teams will play two-on-two.

35.       If the game remains tied after three overtime periods, there will be a sudden-death shootout, one penalty shot per team at a time. The first team to score with the opposing team not scoring is the winner.   The players will shoot in the order they were listed in the shootout list provided to the timekeeper before the game.       

36.       At any time during the championship game, including overtime, teams may pull their goalie in favour of an extra attacker.

37.       All penalties will carry over to subsequent periods.

             38.       If a player is assessed a Major Penalty in any playoff   game that results in a subsequent suspension, the suspension will be served in the next game the player is eligible to play.