Vancouver Jewish Hockey League Rules

All players agree to play in a sportsmanlike manner, to respect each other and to respect the referees. This is a recreational, non-contact league whose major goal is to play and compete in a friendly and safe manner.

If not otherwise stated, this league will follow the rules of the Canadian Hockey Association. ***However, the JCC Hockey League reserve the right to consider reviewing any situation and/or make a ruling that it feels is justified or correct, regardless of the rules as stated below.

PENALTIES

1. A minor penalty will be 2 minutes
2. A major penalty will be 5 minutes plus game misconduct and a 1 game suspension
3. Cumulative major penalties: A second major penalty in the same season will increase to an automatic 2 game suspension. A third major in the same season will carry a minimum three game suspension, or more, up to expulsion from the league.
4. If a player receives 3 non-major penalties during a game they will receive a game ejection. This applies as soon as the 3rd non-major penalty is assessed. Double minors count as one of the three allowed penalties. The player is eligible to return to play in the next game provided that their penalties were all minors.
5. Any teammate in good standing will serve the penalty for an ejected player.

AGGRESSIVE CHECKING OR CONTACT

1. A 4 minute penalty and a possible panel review. The penalty shall be imposed on any player who body- checks, cross-checks, elbows, charges or trips an opponent causing them to be thrown into the boards in a violent manner.
2. Restricting a puck carrier's progress along the boards where he/she is attempting to go through too small an opening is not boarding. However, if the opponent is not the puck carrier then a penalty for interference, holding, hooking, boarding or charging will be called.

CHECKING FROM BEHIND

• A min 4 minute penalty + a game misconduct + a possible min one game suspension dependant on review.

HIGH STICKING

1. Double minor
2. If a high stick draws blood it is NOT an automatic major penalty and ejection. If the referee feels a player was being reckless with his stick he can call a major at any time. This acknowledges the fact that when a player with a full shield gets whacked accidentally only 4 minutes is assessed. But if a player with a half shield gets whacked accidentally it could be a major.

CROSS CHECKING & SLASHING

• Like high sticking, cross checking will also come with an automatic 4 minute penalty. Slashing will be called 2 or 4 at the referees discretion based on intent.

FIGHTING

• A major + game misconduct + a minimum 5 game suspension will be imposed on a player who is involved in fighting. There will also be a panel review, with the league commissioner reserving the right to extend the suspension depending on the severity of the incident.

MISCONDUCTS

• Any player who receives a 10 min or Game Misconduct penalty in the last 5 minutes of regulation time or in overtime, will automatically be suspended from the next game. This is separate from a game ejection.

ATTEMPT TO INJURE

1. A game misconduct + 3 game suspension with potential for additional suspension after review will be given to any player to deliberately attempts to injure an opponent or official. The circumstances must be reported to the league coordinator
2. Attempt to injure includes the following: head butting or attempt to head butt, kicking or attempt to kick, pulling hair, pulling facial protector/helmet/chin strap to gain advantage or to injure (if no injury or advantage then it's a double minor), using facial protector as a weapon, butt ending, spearing or use of stick or skate as a weapon.

ABUSE OF OFFICIALS AND OTHER MISCONDUCT

1. Game misconduct for challenging a referee decision, using abusive language, persisting in disputing a call or showing disrespect for a referee
2. Game misconduct + 1 min game suspension for threatening or making any physically threatening action towards a referee
3. Game misconduct + 5 min game suspension with possible expulsion from league for any player who intentionally touches, holds, trips, strikes a referee before, during or after a game
4. All abuse of officials calls to be reported to league coordinator

THE GAME

1. Each game will consist of a 5 minute warm-up followed by three 15 min stop time periods. If needed, overtime will be up to 5 mins stop time at the referee's discretion. The Playoffs must conclude with a winner and any game that is not settled by the end of overtime must go to an NHL-style shootout.
2. The referee has the discretion to end the game if he/she feels the game is becoming too rough and players are getting out of control
3. The rink clock is the official clock
4. If there are less than 30 minutes left for playing the third period, then the remaining ice time will be halved and run as stop time.

TIME OUTS

• Each team is permitted one 60 second time-out per game

ICING

• Icing will be called automatically when the puck crosses the end line

CAPTAINS

1. Each team will have a designated captain and assistant at each game. The captain and assistant must identify themselves to the referees and scorekeeper prior to the game.
2. Only the captain and assistant may deal wit the referee. They may not verbally abuse or physically contact the officials, but may inquire about penalties or other rule interpretations.
3. The role of the captain and assistant is to organize and run the team. They will also promote fair play, sportsmanship and support league rules and policies at all times.

EQUIPMENT

1. All players must wear CSA approved regulation hockey equipment (at all times while on the ice)
2. Facial protection (full or half shield) is mandatory
3. Mouthguards are recommended

TIE BREAK AND PLAYOFF SEEDING

1. Most wins
2. Least defaults
3. Head to head record
4. Goals for and against differential
5. Goals for only
6. Coin toss

BREACH OF ICE RENTAL CONTRACTS

Permanent, prime ice time rentals are rare. They are in demand and anyone found jeopardizing (through negative actions) the JHL's claim to its present ice contracts, will be expelled from the league without compensation.