Playing Rules

The League uses CAHA Referees and CAHA (Canadian Amateur Hockey Association) rules.

1. TIME:
Each game consists of two 22 minute stop time periods. Each game has the possibility of either  mercy rule or overtime (see rules bellow) The the amount of games in the regular season schedule will be determined by league executive and governors before the start of a new season.

2. MERCY RULE:
The League has adopted a 5 goal mercy rule. If one team is up by 5 goals by the 10 minute mark or less of the second period in the game, the clock will run straight time. ONLY the if the goal differential is less than 5 goals, will be clock go back to stop time.

3. REGULAR SEASON / ROUND ROBIN OVERTIME:
If a game ends in a tie after regulation time, there will be a five minute overtime period. If game is still tied after overtime period, it will remain a tie. Should one team win during overtime, that team will be awarded two  points and the losing team will be awarded a single point for the tie at the end of regulation time. The clock will run straight time to keep games on schedule starting times. Teams will play four skaters aside.
Penalties: If one team has a penalty entering overtime, teams will play four on three. If a penalized team should get a second penalty entering or during overtime, teams will play five on three. When first penalty is over teams will play five on four until the first stoppage of play and then teams will play four on three. At no time does penalized team have fewer than three players on the ice. 

4. ELIGIBILITY:
All players must be 22 years of age or older. Teams can have a of 3 players 20 years of age or older added each year. This means a team could have 6 players 20 years of age over 2 years and then 9 players 20 years of age over 3 years and so on. Team's can use a player who plays in a contact hockey league for the duration of the playing season. Team's that use an players that play in a contact league must notify the League President.

5. INELIGIBLE GOALTENDER:
League teams cannot use a goaltender that plays for a junior team, but can use one that plays on a senior or university team in the same playing season. Teams may use a goaltender who plays in a recreational contact, other gentlemen's leagues or within our own league. Goaltenders must fall under age eligibilty. Any team using a goaltender who is ineligible will forfeit the game, all scoring records will count towards league statistics.

6. GAME REPORTS:
The coach, team rep, captain or assistant of each team is required to verify the team roster prior to each game. Check off who is playing on the game report, the timekeeper counts the players in attendance during the game. Checking off the game report is very important for player statistics and playoff eligibility.

7. TEAM GOVERNORS & REPRESENTIVES:
Each team is allowed two team reps. They are responsible to represent their team at league meetings, knowing league rules, and paying league fees.

8. RULE / POLICY CHANGES:
There must be two team reps at a league meeting to form a quorum. Each team is allowed one vote for their team. If a vote ends in a tie, it will be the league President's responsibility to break the tie for the betterment of the league. If a proposed rule / policy change is not passed it may not be brought up for debate until the following season.

9. NO APPEALS:
No appeals was brought into the league prior to the 1988-1989 season. No appeals was added to the following incidents: FIGHTING, GAME MISCONDUCTS, GROSS MISCONDUCTS, ans MATCH PENALTY. The reason no appeals was added was because teams were appealing incidents handed out by the referees. The league found itself having meetings regularly on these appeals. The league govenors felt the referees are the best judges of handing out these incidents, so what they say on a game report stands.

10. STARTING TIMES & LINE-UP:
Teams must have at least six players ready at game time. A team may play without a goaltender for the first three minutes of a game, before that team forfeits the game. It is each team's responsibility to have it's players and goaltender ready at game time.

11. PROTESTS:
Any team protesting a game must indicate it to the timekeeper to put it on the game report with the reason for the protest before the duration of the game. The protest will be reviewed by the league President and Govenors not involved in the protest.

12. MINOR PENALTY:
Minor penalty shall be two minutes in duration. A player receiving three minor penalties (except Goaltenders) or penalty minutes adding up to five or more in a game, will be suspended for the remainder of that game.

13. MAJOR PENALTY:
A player receiving a five minute or ten minute major penalty (except goaltenders) in a game will be suspended for the remainder of that game and be suject to the following disciplinary actions. NO APPEALS!
1st Incident - a) 1st period and the first 15 minutes of the 2nd period - OUT OF THAT GAME.
                    b) last 5 minutes of the game - ONE GAME SUSPENSION
2nd Incident - any time during a game - ONE GAME SUSPENSION
3rd Incident - any time during a game - THREE GAME SUSPENSION
4th Incident - any time during a game - REVIEWED BY THE LEAGUE

14. FIGHTING:
Players receiving a FIGHTING PENALTY by an OFFICAL shall receive a suspension for the remainder of that game and an immediate FIVE GAME SUSPENSION with NO APPEAL! Fighting must appear on the game report for the suspension to take place.

15. GAME MISCONDUCTS:
Players or coaches receiving a game misconduct will subject to the following diciplinary actions. NO APPEALS!
1st Incident - ONE GAME SUSPENSION
2nd Incident - TWO GAME SUSPENSION
3rd Incident - THREEE GAME SUSPENSION
4th Incident - REVIEWED BY THE LEAGUE

16. GROSS MISCONDUCTS:
players or coaches receiving a gross misconduct will be subject to th following disciplinary actions. NO APPEALS!
1st Incident - THREE GAME SUSPENSION
2nd Incident - FIVE GAME SUSPENSION
3rd Incident REVIEWED BY THE LEAGUE

17. MATCH PENALTY:
Players receiving a match penalty will be assessed an immediate FIVE GAME SUSPENSION.
2nd Offence - REVIEWED BY THE LEAGUE
3rd Offence - OUT OF THE LEAGUE FOR GOOD, NO APPEALS!

18. GOALTENDER PENALTIES:
A goaltender receiving five minor penalties in a game will be suspeneded from the remainder of that game. A goaltender receiving a fighting penalty, a game misconduct, gross misconduct  or a match penalty will be suspended for the remainder of that game and will be subject to appropriate disciplinary actions. If no other goaltender is dressed for that team, the game will continue without one. Goaltender recieving a five minute major penalty or a ten minute misconduct may continue to play in that game.

19. COINCIDENTAL PENALTIES:
Coincidental majors and/or minors assessed to both teams, does not cause either team to be short one player due to the penalties, provided that the total number of minutes assessed is the same.

20. SLAPSHOTS:
Slapshots are permitted.

21. BODY CONTACT:
Body contact will be limited to joceying for position and/or pushing players. At all times the stick must be below the waist.

22. HIGHSTICKING THE PUCK:
A highstick of the puck will result in a stoppage of play if teammate touches the puck after incident, but no minor penalty will be assessed. 

23. TIME-OUTS:
Each team shall be permitted to take one 30 second time-out during regular playing time or overtime. This time-out must be taken during a normal stoppage of play. The referees and timekeeper shall be informed of the time-out and will signal the termination of the time-out.

24. PLAYOFF ELIGIBILITY:  
All players must have played at least seven regular season games to be eligible for the playoffs. If a player gets injured and does not get in nine games due to the injury, he will be credited will games lost.

25. PLAYOFF FORMAT:  NEW
Each team plays equal number of games. All 4 teams compete for the Lake City Cup,

The 1st round will be a Best of 3 Semi Final format where the 4th Place finisher from the Regualar Season would play the 1st Place finisher in one Series. The second Semi Final would have 3rd Place finisher would play the 2nd Place finisher. If a game is tied they will go to a 10 minute overtime period and play 4 on 4, if still tied, there will be a 3 different player shootout for each team. If game is still tied the shootout will continue one at a time until a winner has been determined, teams can re-use any of their first 3 players for a second time, but have to go through the whole team before they can be used for a third time. The two winning teams from the Semi Finals will advance to the Lake City Cup, in the best 3 out of 5 Final. Overtime, if needed, will run as follow: 10 minute straight time period and play 5 on 5, if still tied, there will be a 5 different player shootout for each team. If game is still tied the shootout will continue one at a time until a winner has been determined, teams can re-use any of their first 5 players for a second time, but have to go through the whole team before they can be used for a third time. 

If two or more teams are tied in the final regular season standings by points, the team that gets the higher position is:
1. The team with more wins.
2. The team with a better goals for and against differential.
3. The team with the better head to head record against each other.
     a) The team with more wins.
     b) The team with a better goals for and against differential.   
4. The team with the least amount of penalty minutes (regular season).
5. Coin Toss.

26. PLAYOFF OVERTIME:
If at the end of regulation time, during the playoffs and both teams are tied, there will be a ten minute sudden death period, straight time, four skaters aside in Semi Final and five skaters aside in Lake City Cup Final. If the game is still tied, each team will have three players (Semi Finals) five players (Lake City Cup) in a shootout. If still tied the shootout will contiued until one team fails to score. Players that shot in the first three/five may shoot again in the next round, but only once unless it comes around to them again.

27. TEAM FEES:
Teams that have not paid league fees by due date will forfeit points from due date until the fee is paid. If league fees are not paid before the playoffs that team or teams will not be permitted to participate in the playoffs and might not be asked back in the league.

28. INJURED PLAYERS:
Any players injured and not able to play but is on the players' bench may be marked as present on the game report. If injured player cannot be at the rink, he may still be marked present if approved by League President.

29. TEAM UNIFORMS:
All team players should have the same colour uniforms with different numbers on the back of the jersey. Each team should have a captain or assistant captains indicated on their jerseys with a 'C' oe an 'A'.
If there is more than one team with the same colour jerseys, it is up to the newest team in the League to use a different colour.