Richmond Oldtimers Hockey Rules

POLICY AND PROTECTION
1. If one team does not have 10 skaters (11 players); players from the opposition team may be added to the other (short) team to balance the number of players on each team.
2. If at any point in the game the difference in score is five goals or greater, at the option of the losing team the following options or combination thereof may be applied:
  1. - swap goalies
  2. - swap an equal number of players (minimum of three) between teams.
3. LIQUOR- Any consumption of alcohol before the game is FORBIDDEN. You will be sent off the ice.
4. FACE PROTECTION- We STRONGLY recommend that ALL PLAYERS wear some sort of face protection. At the very least a HALF MASK as we try to ensure we limit any possibility of injury.
5. AGE - All NEW players must be the minimum age of the division they play in as of 31st December of the current playing season.
  1. Goaltenders can be younger with the prior approval from the League organizing committee.
  2. Players who have been on current teams; rosters may be ‘grandfathered’. – (team rosters with birthdates listed are required)
6. PLAYING RULES will refer to the current Hockey Canada Rulebook as a guide and the CARHA rulebook as a secondary means of reference, unless otherwise specified herein. Previous documented Disciplinary Decisions will also be considered. SPECIFICALLY, there shall be:
  1. NO BODY CHECKING.
  2. NO SLAPSHOTS-(Blade of the stick must be below the knees) A slap shot will result in a stoppage of play with the face off moved to that team's defensive end. No penalty assessed.
  4. HIGH STICKING THE PUCK. Accidental contact with the puck above the shoulders will result in a stoppage of play with the face off moved to that team's defensive end. No penalty assessed.
  5. HIGHSTICKING- ANY ACCIDENTAL CONTACT WITH A PLAYER WITH ANY PART OF THE STICK ABOVE THE SHOULDER. (double minor- 6 Min running time penalty) No game misconduct, unless it is deemed intentional or a player is injured.
  6. ICING-When the blue lines are used to divide the ice, should any player of a team equal or superior in numerical strength to the opposing team, shoot, bat, or deflect the puck from BEHIND THE DEFENSIVE TEAM'S BLUE LINE BEYOND THE GOAL LINE of the opposing team, play will be stopped and icing will be called.
  7. Any player receiving “3” minor penalties during the game shall be assessed an automatic game ejection and shall be gone for the duration of the game.
  8. GAME- Shall consist of a five minute warm up- 3- 20 min running periods with a 2 min break between periods. If necessary the 3rd period will be shortened to complete game. Line changes-visiting team will have 10 sec followed by home team 10 sec.
  9. LAST 2 MINUTES OF THE GAME- Will be played STOP TIME provided that the score is within 2 goals apart (and time permits). The team that is behind will be responsible for operating the clock. Delays in starting the clock will initiate a minor penalty.
7. EJECTIONS, GROSS MISCONDUCTS, MATCH PENALTIES, AND SUSPENSIONS,:
  1. Game ejections shall result from a major penalty or match penalty
  2. Game ejection-In the case where an official feels that a player's conduct is not to the point of having to call a "game misconduct", the official will have the option of calling a "game ejection" penalty that would result in the player being ejected for that game only with no further suspension to be served. There would be no team penalty assessed except the original penalty that may have already been called.
  3. Referees must communicate clearly to the Captains / Alternates of each team whether they are calling a major/misconduct penalty (which includes ejection from the balance of that game only), or a Match Penalty or Gross Misconduct, which will also include suspension from further game(s).
  4. Every Game Misconduct,Match Penalty or Gross Misconduct issued requires that the referee making the call to provide a report within 24 hours of the game (via email) to the chair of the discipline rules committee.
  5. Game Misconducts,Match Penalties and Gross Misconducts shall be reported to the chair of the discipline rules committee via the League President by the team manager or captain of the opposition team (for information and record keeping purposes). Game sheets and game reports will the forwarded by the referees to the League President.
  6. Any player receiving a Game Misconduct in the last ten minutes of a game will incur an automatic 1 Game Suspension. A Game Misconduct occurring prior to 10 minutes remaining will not result in a suspension unless the player has received a Game Misconduct previously in the season, in which case an automatic minimum 1 game suspension will be imposed.
  7. For any additional suspensions to the same player, a league mangers’ review will be required before the player is eligible to return to league play.
  8. MATCH PENALTIES: Infractions such as, but not limited to: intent to injure, fighting, spitting, kicking, head butting, major checking from behind or any play, which results in an injury to an opposing player, which injury causes the opposing player to leave the game, shall be deemed a MATCH PENALTY. The referee must make this call clear to the Captain / Manager of both teams and ensure that a report is promptly submitted to the league Discipline Committee.
  9. Any MATCH PENALTY will automatically result in a 3 game suspension for the first offence. Any additional fighting penalties will result in the player's immediate suspension until the incident has been reviewed by the rules committee.
  10. Subsequent Match penalties to any player will result in an immediate suspension and a league mangers’ review prior to being allowed to return to play.
  11. LEAGUE MANAGERS’ REVIEW:
    If the League President determines that a review is necessary, a Disciplinary Hearing will be called, requiring the involvement all available team managers (or designate) from league teams uninvolved in the incident, plus a referee's report. The team managers of the involved teams may attend but may not vote.
*Amended September 24,2022

Play nice and don't get hurt