adult Okanagan Hockey League

OKHL Rules

 

Facility Rules

• Teams must vacate the dressing room no later them 30 minutes after the game.

• There is no smoking in any part of the facility, fines will be implemented to any teams caught smoking. Including possible expulsion.

• The team contact or person registering the team is completely responsible for full payment of the team account.

• If the team account is not kept up to date, the team will be suspended from playing in the league.

• If a team is suspended for financial reasons, individual players on the team can also be suspended.

 

Equipment / Insurance Claims

• Full equipment is mandatory, including CSA approved helmets.

• Facemasks and visors are optional. To be eligible for dental claims, your team must have opted in for the insurance coverage and player must be wearing a mouth guard.

• Injuries requiring an insurance claim must be filed with the League Manager within 24 hours after the game the injury took place.

 

Movement of Teams

• The league reserves the right to move teams up or down divisions to maintain league and divisional parity as per the league manager’s discretion.

 

Pucks for the Game & Warm ups

• OKHL will supply pucks for warm up & games.

• Teams must pick up the pucks and put them in the bucket after warm-up and bring them to the scorekeeper.

• 5 minute warm up!!

 

Ice Cleans & Procedures

1. Players are not permitted on the ice until the Zamboni gates are closed and until the scorekeeper has buzzed the horn to indicate the start of the five (5) minute warm-up.​

 

Jersey Rules

• All teams recommended to have 2 sets of jerseys. A light & dark colored jersey.

• All players must be wearing the same jersey or a plain colored jersey that matches the same color, including spares.

• All Jerseys must have a number on the back

• Taped on numbers will not be accepted.

• Recommended that Goalies wear matching team jersey.

• Dark or light can be accepted based on your team’s color.

 

Jersey Color Conflicts

•  Home team will wear light colored jersey and visitor will wear dark colored jersey.

 

Players Registration Forms & Process

1. Online Registration

•  A team rep must add new players to the team roster a min. of 5 min. before the Start of the game. Players not on the roster and have not accepted the team invite/ Waiver will not be allowed to play that game.

• All players must register with a valid e-mail address. By registering and accepting the league waiver, all players are also allowing the OKHL to use their e-mail address to be used for data base information.

• Any games played while not fully registered will not count towards the number of games to qualify for play-offs.

 

1. Helmet ID Stickers

•  All registered players must have a helmet ID sticker confirming they are fully registered.

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Equipment / Insurance Claims

• Full equipment is mandatory, including CSA approved helmets.

• Face-masks and visors are optional. To be eligible for dental claims, your team must have opted in for the insurance coverage and player must be wearing a mouth guard.

• Injuries requiring an insurance claim must be filed with the League Manager within 24 hours after the game the injury took place.

 

First Aid Kits / Emergency Situations

• Each team is required to supply their own first aid kit for each game.​

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Game Format

 

1. Game Length for Standard OKHL games. 

•  Each game will be 1 hour and 30 min in length consisting of …

• 5 minute warm up

• 3-15-minute stop time periods.

• All penalties will be stop time

• Overtime during regular season is played three on three, 5 minutes running time. Last minute stop time. No player changes during the stoppage of play. Sudden death

  

1. Play-offs:

•  Overtime for play-offs will be played 4 0n 4, 5 minutes stop time. Sudden death

• During Play-offs, players will be allowed to change lines on a stoppage of play.

• If still tied…a 3 player shoot-out will follow.

• If still tied…Sudden death shoot-out will take place with every player shooting before a player can shoot twice. Based on team with shortest bench.

 

Player Eligibility Rules

• Players currently playing Jr. “A”, “B”, College / University or pro hockey "ARE" eligible to play in the league. 

• All players must be 18 years of age.

• If a team is caught using an illegal player, the team may have to forfeit the game.

• All underage players must get written permission from the league Manager to be eligible to play in the league.

 

1. Players Playing for More Than One Team

• A player may spare for any team in any division during the regular season.

• League Manager has the right to not allow any player to play if they feel that player will negatively affect the game.

• Teams are responsible for spares they allow to play as this may affect their placement in the league.

• A player cannot play for two (2) teams in the same division in play-offs unless approved by the league manager.

• A player may only play on two teams when they are a maximum of 2 divisions apart unless they meet the franchise player rule or get league approval.

  1. An exception may be approved by the league Manager if a player is committed to two teams and due to mid-season tiering the teams become more than two divisions apart.

  2. Franchise Player Rule

     1. A player playing on a higher division team may qualify for play-offs for a team in a lower division that is more than 2 divisions apart if they are a franchise player, to be a franchise player, the player must…

     2. Play more than 50% of the regular season games with the lower division team. (example – 28 games is 16 games required)

     3. If a player plays as many games as listed above, then that team is being tiered based on the franchise player in the lineup and is now part of the makeup of the team.

     4. A player who is play-off qualified for both a higher divisions team and a lower division team that is more than 2 divisions apart but does not reach franchise player must play for the higher division team.

     5. A team can only have (1) one franchise player.

1. If a player is playing on 2 teams their two teams get put into the same division, the player can only play for one (1) team. The player will have to inform the league manager declaring which team they will be choosing to play for.

2. Teams who had more than 1 franchise player prior to the season who played more than 2 previous seasons may be grandfathered in with league approval.

3. Exceptions can be made with league manager approval.

 

1. Play-off Eligibility

• Eleven (11) regular season games to be eligible to play in any play-off games.

• You can use a goalie who has played –

  • Dress a player from your team.

  • League manager may allow an outside goalie in extreme emergency circumstances.

• Any team playing an ineligible player may forfeit that game.

• If teams wish to protest a play-off game, they must do so before the end of the game.

• You must report your protest of an illegible player to the referee and Scorekeeper at a stoppage of play as to which player the team is protesting. The scorekeeper will then inform the league manager, The referees or league manager will deal with the protest at the end of the game by checking the Player’s ID.

• A protest made after the end of the game will not be considered.

• A league Manager has to right to forfeit any game either during or after any game if they find a team has broken the rules.

• Games in which a player is not playing due to suspension do not qualify towards their total number of games needed to qualify for play-offs.

• Play-offs will be a double round knock-out format.

 

Game Sheets & Rosters

 

• All teams MUST fill out a game roster sheet on the STATS APP for each game.

• Game roster sheets must be filled, so the scorekeeper has the names and jersey numbers at the start of warm up. (The latest is at the 3-minute mark of warm up.)

• Handing in your game roster sheet late can result in a 2 min delay of game penalty.

• All players must be registered and have a helmet ID sticker to be eligible to play in the game.

• Players must be registered and accepted on the team and listed on the STATS APP, If they are not listed on the app roster the player will not be allowed to play that game.

• A player signing in on the app just before the game will be required to get a helmet sticker from the office, in the event the office is closed they will be allowed to get the helmet sticker before their next game.

• No player can be added after the start of the 3rd Late Players must be dressed and on the bench before the start of the 3rd period.

• Team rosters including spares and goaltenders may be a maximum of active twenty five (20)

• All players must have on hand photo ID which has date of birth and picture for all games. No photocopies will be permitted.

• Players without proper ID will not be allowed to play without league managers approval.

• Failure to produce ID upon request from the league will result in that player not being allowed to play or forfeiting the game.

• NEW** – Teams cannot use any spare players who play in more than 2 divisions above your team in the last 5 games in the regular season who have not spared less than 5 previous games in the current regular season.

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Game Rosters Issues

• You must inform the League manager of any game roster issues within 1 week of the game to get it reviewed.

• Meaning, if a player is missing from the official game sheet and he/she was in attendance, you have 1 week to let the league manager know to have them added to the game and you must have proof of attendance.

• Teams also only have 1 week to inform / protest illegal players.

 

Forfeit Rule

• The OKHL will not be responsible for any forfeits.

• If a team forfeits, they will lose an addition game from their season and that game will go to the team who was forfeited against.

• Which means if you forfeit, you will lose the game you forfeited PLUS you will lose a future regular season game which will go to the other team. However, no monetary fine will be assessed.

• This way the team who gets forfeited against will get a game back so they are not out of any money or games.

• This will happen up to the posting of the final schedule.

  • If a forfeit occurs after the posting of the final schedule and a game can be given to the team forfeited against, they will receive that game. If there is no game that can be given to the forfeited team, the forfeiting team will then receive a forfeit fine of $100.

• There is no forfeit fine for play-off games as your team would just advance.

 

Playing Rules

1. Automatic Icing

•  Automatic icing will be in effect; this includes puck crossing through the crease.

1. Red Line Rule

•  The red line will not be effect for two line passes.

• The red line will be used as an icing marker.

1. Power play Face-off

•  Any initial power play face-off will take place in the offensive zone.

 

1. Slap Shots

•  Slap shots are permitted in all leagues.

 

1. Body Checking

•  Body checking will not be permitted. (however body contact may occur)

• HWY97 League, Contact is permitted. 

 

1. Puck off the goalie’s mask

•  It will be an automatic whistle if an initial shot has the puck go off the goalie’s mask.

• Pucks off the mask and goes directly in will not count.

 

 

OKHL Penalty Rules

1. Coincidental Penalties

   • Team will play even strength in the event of coincidental penalties.

   • Coincidental Penalties will be 2min stop time.

 

1. Receiving Penalties

•  A player receiving three (3) penalties in a game will be ejected upon receiving their third penalty. This covers all penalties including minors and misconducts.

• Note*: The High Sticking & Head Contact double minor counts as only one (1) penalty for the purpose of the 3 penalties ejection.

• All other double minor penalties will count as two (2) penalties

• Note*: Excludes bench minors served.

• A goaltender receiving 3 penalties will receive a game misconduct. He/she will remain in the game and will serve the suspension the following game at the referee’s discretion.

 

1. High Sticking

•  All high sticking penalties will be an automatic four (4) minute penalty unless a major or match is called.

• This penalty will be served as two (2) penalties for the purpose goals scored.

• Will count as 1 penalty for the 3 penalties and you are out rule.

 

1. Checking from Behind

•  A player receiving a minor penalty for a hit from behind will be ejected from that game.

• A player receiving a major penalty for checking from behind will result in an automatic one (1) game suspension and will be reviewed by the league manager.

• If a player receives a match penalty for a hit from behind an automatic minimum four (4) game suspension will result. And will be reviewed by the league manager.

• A player receiving a second major penalty for checking from behind will be suspended indefinitely and will be under review by the league manager to determine suspension length.

 

1. Head Contact Rule

• Head contact not causing injury will be a 4:00 min penalty.

• Will count as 1 penalty for the 3 penalties and you are out rule.

• Intentional head contact causing injury will be a 5:00 major penalty and ejected from the game and will be reviewed by the league manager.

 

1. Major Penalties

•  Players receiving a major penalty will be ejected from the game and suspended for a minimum of one (1) additional game. (a major penalty is a penalty that is called 5:00 min)

• A player receiving a major penalty for accidental high sticking will be ejected from that game but eligible for the next game.

• The referee must indicate accidental high stick on the game sheet.

• Any high sticking penalty that results in injury will be assessed as an automatic major penalty. (a 5:00 min penalty)

• Any player receiving their second major penalty (not including checking from behind) will receive a minimum two (2) game suspension.

• A third major penalty will result in an indefinite suspension until reviewed.

 

1. Fighting Penalties

• A player receiving their first fighting major will be ejected from that game and suspended for the following game.

• Any fighting penalty will be reviewed by the league manager and will be assessed accordingly and may result in further action.

• If a player receives the instigator for the fight, that player will receive an additional game suspension.

• A player receiving their second fighting major will receive a minimum of six 3 game suspension.

• A player receiving their third fighting major will be suspended 5 games and follow up with League investigations to determine further involvement with the OKHL.

 

1. Fight Procedures

• When a “fight” occurs, all other players must immediately return to their respective Players’ Benches. Any players who do not do so, or become involved in a “secondary fight”, will receive additional penalties.

•  The Referees are provided with a very wide latitude in penalties they may impose under this rule. This is done intentionally to enable them to differentiate between the obvious degrees of responsibility of the participants either for starting or continuing the fight. This discretion should be exercised rationally.

•  Penalty for not going to your players bench may result in a minor penalty to a one (1) game suspension. Additional suspension will occur for secondary fight.

 

1. 10 Minute Penalties

•  A player receiving a ten (10) minute misconduct will serve the ten (10) minute penalty if time permits.

 

1. Game Ejections

•  A player receiving a game ejection will be ejected from that game only. This player will be eligible for the next game if no further penalties follow from their ejection.

 

1. Game Misconducts

•  A player receiving a game misconduct will be ejected from that game and receive an additional one (1) game suspension.

• And players receiving their second game misconduct will receive a two (2) game suspension.

• Any further game misconducts will be reviewed by the league manager and assessed accordingly.

 

1. Match & Gross Misconducts

•  A player receiving a Match penalty or Gross misconduct will result in a minimum two (2) game suspension. The penalty will be reviewed by the league manager.

• A player receiving a second match or gross misconduct will be suspended indefinitely and reviewed by the league manager.

 

1. Goaltenders

•  If a goalie is assessed a major or match penalty, they will be ejected from the game and suspended accordingly.

• The team will be allowed ten (10) minutes to dress a player from that games roster to replace him. (clock will run)

• If it happens in the 3rd period the team will be allowed to finish the game with an extra player.

• If the Major penalty is deemed accidental by the referee, the goalie may remain in the game. The team will play short handed for five (5) minutes.

• If a goalie is hurt during a game, the team is allowed ten (10) minutes to dress a player from the roster to replace him/her.

1. Suspensions

•  The League manager will handle all league suspensions.

• It’s the responsibility of the team rep to contact the league manager if clarification is required. Teams will not be automatically contacted regarding suspensions.

• Team reps and players will get a notice from STATS APP when a suspension from their team is posted.

 

1. Suspended Players

•  A suspended player that plays while under suspension will cause the team using the suspended player to forfeit that game.

• The suspended player will also be suspended indefinitely and reviewed by the league manager.

• The team rep may also receive a one (1) game suspension.

• If a player is suspended and plays for two teams, the player is not allowed to play with the second team until the suspension from the first team expires.

• Games missed with the second team do not count towards the suspension as games missed.

• If a player is registered in 19 and over and the 30 and over leagues and receives a match penalty or gross misconduct, he/she will be deemed ineligible in both leagues for the duration of the suspension.

 

1. Referee Abuse Misconduct

•  A player receiving a “Referee Abuse Misconduct, will be subject to a minimum 2 game suspension.

• Protocol for this will be suspension will be…

• 2 min. minor penalty.

• 10 misconduct

• Then Referee Abuse Misconduct, ejected from the game.

 

1. Accumulated Penalty Minute Suspensions 

•  Any player who accumulates 50 min. of penalties for one team during the season will receive an automatic 1 game suspension.

•  Any player who accumulates 65 min. of penalties for one team during the season will receive an automatic 2 game suspension.

•  Any Player who accumulates 75 min of penalties for one team during the season will be suspended for the remainder of the season including play-offs.

•  Penalty min. will be cleared for the start of play-offs.

 

1. Video Review

•  With access to video footage from Live Barn, Go-Pro and OKHL media outlet (northcoastfilms), video footage may be used to confirm or evaluate suspend-able offences at the league manager’s discretion.

• Video footage will not be reviewed for minor infractions.

• Video footage requests will not be accepted without a referee call.

 

• After game procedure

  • After each game players will shake hands at center ice.

  • Players must leave the ice right after handshakes.

 

 

Appeals & Complaints

 

• All one (1) game suspensions are final and cannot be appealed.

• All Appeals and complains must be presented to the league manager after a 24hr cooling off period.

• All appeals must be submitted in writing, typed or e-mailed to the league manager within 48 hours of the games completion.

• Complaints regarding the officials must be submitted in writing to the league manager within the designated time frame: 24 hours after the game, but no later then 72 hours after the game in question.

• All appeals and complaints must be signed by the team rep and complaints submitted without the authorization of the team rep will not be accepted or responded to. NO EXCEPTIONS

• Appeals will not be accepted unless the team’s league fees are up to date.

 

Protests

• Protesting of players in a regular season game must be submitted within 1 week of the end of the game.

• Play-offs Protest Procedure – if a team protests a player…

• A team must protest a player before the referee’s leave the ice at the end of the game.

• They must provide the number of the player they are protesting. (cannot make a blanket protest, like we want the whole team checked)

• If the protest is early in the game, the game is played out under protest and the player in question will have to provide ID after the game.

• Referee will ask the player for ID, scorekeeper will inform the league manager that there is a protest.

• player MUST provide valid picture ID, if they cannot. They will be deemed illegal, and the team will win their protest.

• A team cannot protest a game based on a referee call.

• League managers can also forfeit a game if they catch a team using an illegal player.

 

Altercations off the Ice

• Any players taking part in an altercation off the ice, such as in the dressing room area, concourse and parking lot, will be subject to an indefinite suspension.

• Player may also be suspended from the arena by the owners and management for incidents not pertaining to league issues.

 

Drinking of Alcohol & Smoking legal & Illegal Substances on Arena Property

• All teams & patrons are prohibited from illegal substances in the arena building, dressing rooms, and parking lot.

• There is NO SMOKING in the arena including the dressing room. Teams caught smoking will be subject to a minimum $100 fine and possible league expulsion.

League Payments

• The team contact or person registering the team is completely responsible for full payment of the team account.

• Individual player payments can be made if the team rep sets them up on their account.

• If the team account is not kept up to date, the team will be suspended from playing in the league.

   •    If a team is suspended for financial reasons, individual players on the team can also be suspended from playing on other teams          in the OKHL.