Rules (Hillcrest Hockey)

1. LEARN TO PLAY/SKATE, TYKE, MINOR NOVICE & NOVICE – NEW HOCKEY CANADA RULES APPLY FOR HOUSE LEAGUE

a)  Normally consists of approximately (19) weeks commencing the weekend after Thanksgiving and ends in March ( changes with void dates ).

2. ATOM & PEEWEE

a)  Normally consists of approximately (19) regular, and at least one (1) playoff game ( changes with void dates ). Hockey will commence on the first weekend after Thanksgiving and end in March.

b)  Each team will be allotted approximately ten (10) practice sessions.

c)  Practice sessions may be shared with other divisions or other teams as directed or scheduled.

ATOM, PEEWEE

a)  Normally consists of three (3) ten (10) minute stop time periods or less, as determined by division at the Convenors discretion.

b)  For ATOM, the two minute buzzer system for changing lines will apply.

c)  There is no overtime for tied games in the regular season.

d)  Mercy Rule (running time in 3rd period with a 5 (or more) goal differential) shall NOT apply for all levels.

For MIDGETS the periods are 15, 15, 15 stop time or less as determined by the divison COnvener.

e)  ALL GAME TIMES AND LENGTH ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

1. Teams finishing in the regular season standings as follows play:

a)  Four Team Division: Semi-Finals 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd. Winners play in Final game for Championship and the other two teams play for the Consolation.

b)  Five Team Division: Playoff qualifying game between 4th and 5th place team with the winning team advancing to fourth place. Semi-Finals 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd. Winners play in Final game for Championship and the other two teams play for the Consolation.

c)  Six Team Division: Quarter-finals – 3rd vs 6th and 4th vs 5th while 1st and 2nd place teams receive a bye. Semi-final – winner of 4th vs 5th play the 2nd place team, and winner of 3rd vs 6th play 1st place team. Finals: Winners of both these games play in the final for the championship.

2. Should two or more teams be tied in the regular season, the team with the following will be placed in a higher position:

a)  Most victories,

b)  The records between the two teams (team that won the most games between the tied teams),

c)  Goals for minus goals against,

           d)  Coin toss.

3. — TIE BREAKER IN PLAYOFFS — ATOM

If game is tied at end of regulation time, overtime will apply as follows:

a)  One overtime period of 6 minutes, for games when teams are using 3 lines and one overtime period of 4 minutes, for games when teams are using 2 lines, will be played.  Each line will play one 2 minute stop time shift with the 2 minute buzzer.

b)  If score is still tied at the end of the overtime period, a shootout will occur with 5 shooters.  If still tied after 5 shooters, 5 different shooters will be selected.  If still tied after the second 5 shooters, then “one on one” shooters  will be selected.  No shooter is to repeat until all players on the team have participated in the shoot out.  If either of each round of 5 shooters is decided “mathematically”, the shootout should cease and the winner declared.

4. PEEWEE,

a)  If game is tied at end of regulation time, overtime will consist of one, either 5 or 10 minute (depending on availabe time) Sudden Death period.  If the score is still tied at the end of the overtime period, a shootout will occur with 5 shooters.  If still tied after 5 shooters, 5 different shooters will be selected.  If still tied after the second 5 shooters, then “one on one” shooters will be selected.  No shooter is to repeat until all players on the team have participated in the shoot out.  If either of each round of 5 shooters is decided “mathematically”, the shootout should cease and the winner declared.

5. Playoff Goalie in playoff “shootout”

a)  A goalie is allowed to be one of the “shooters” for the levels where this occurs. He may use regular hockey gloves and stick but will leave other goalie equipment on.

6. Playoff Goalie for Atom

a)  Teams at the Novice and Atom levels ask all their players to try playing in goal throughout the year. Thus, most players play goal only a few times in a season. On the other hand, a Select Goalie plays this position all season long on the Select team and gains much more experience as a goalie.

1. ALL DIVISIONS – Division convenors will attempt to balance each team with players of equal ability or skill.

a)  Convenors will review skill levels of players.

b)  Players may be subject to transfer from team to team at the discretion of the Convenor at that division.

          c)  Players may be subject to transfer from division to division at the discretion of the Hockey Committee and Vice        President, House League.

           d)  Players failing to comply with transfers within sections (b) and (c) of this rule may terminate their membership and receive a proportionate refund.

1. ATOM

a)  A two (2) minute shift, stop time designated by an automatic clock buzzer.

b)  The line shift method for 3 lines

c)  This method allows players to play with players at their own level and against players at their own level so that all have a chance to participate in the play.

d)  The coach sets the lines each game, so that the weakest 5 players are on “Line 1” and the strongest 5 players are on “Line 3”. The players not on Line 1 or Line 3 are placed on “Line 2”.

e) When there are less than 15 skaters “double shifting ” onto “Line 2” will be necessary, to make up the 5 players for that line and will occur as follows:

# of  Player(s)  double shifted
onto line 2# of players               From Line 1              From Line 3*
14                             1                              0  
13                             1                              1
12                             2                              1           
11                             2                              2
10                             3                              2
* Line 3 players, while on Line 2, must play defense and are restricted from going too far into the attacking zone.   They can score from the blue line but that should be as far as they go in.  When their regular line comes on (Line 3), right after, they can play wherever the coach wants them to play.  (This is at the discretion of the coaches and convenor.  This rule is to avoid allowing the strongest line 3 players from scoring “easy” goals while on Line 2).
“Line 1” starts the game and is up against the other team’s “Line 1”. Then, after two minutes “Line 2” is shifted on and then “Line 3”.
The coach is to make sure that the double shifting onto Line 2 is as equal as possible under the above rules.
If a player is hurt and causes a stoppage in play, he/she is to leave the ice and be replaced with a player as follows:

if line 1 is on, the next stronger player from line 2

if line 2 is on, a player from line 1

if line 3 is on, any player may be the replacement.

If the player is OK to return, he/she should go back on at the first stoppage in play during his/her shift. The Line Shift Method for 2 Lines if BOTH TEAMS have 12 or less skaters

Each coach would designate two distinct lines, based on ability, and those players would stay on that line.If there are 12 players, the coach should set up two lines of 6, based on abilityIf there are 11 players, he/she should designate the middle ability player to be on either the strong line or the weaker line based on that player’s ability.If there were more than 5 on a line, they would all take turns “sitting” when their line was on the ice. They would sit through their own shift and then the next shift (other line that they are not assigned too), in order to get back on their designated line.In the two line system, the two coaches must agree on which line to put out first. In this system, the line to play first gets one extra shift in the game and therefore, if one line has more players, they should go first because they will have someone sitting each time. If there are consistently 12 players on each team, the coach should try to ensure each line has received equal opportunity to start the game throughout the year.If a player is hurt and causes a stoppage in play, he/she is to leave the ice and be replaced with a player as follows:

if the weaker line is on, the next stronger player from line 2 if the stronger line is on, any player may be the replacement. If the player is OK to return, he should go back on at the first stoppage in play during his/her shift. If the coach pulls the goalie while the weaker line is on, he/she can only be replaced with the next stronger player.

All divisions will eliminate the Center Red Line for the Offside or “Two-Line” Pass call.

1. ATOM

a)  Each penalized player serves his /her own penalty on the “Line” that he/she was on (except goaltenders). If it is near the end of the game, and that “line” will not go out again, the next line out will have to remain short-handed for the balance of the time left in the penalty. When the penalty is up, the penalized player shall return immediately to his/her bench and the player held back from playing on his/her line will be put on the ice.

b)  If a goaltender is assessed a penalty it will be served by a player on the ice at the time of the infraction and each subsequent shift must play shorthanded until the penalty time expires.

c)  For Coincidental Penalties no substitution is allowed and the penalties end at the buzzer.

2. PEEWEE Penalties are served in accordance with Hockey Canada and Hillcrest Minor Hockey Rules.

0 – 3            75%
4 – 5            50%
6+                 0%

Rules are as per the Hockey Canada Rule book as printed and/or amended each year

• Body checking in all divisions will be assessed a two (2) minute penalty. A second infraction by a player will draw a five (5) minute major penalty, a third, ejection from the game.

• Abusive language (including swearing) or hand gestures by players or team officials will not be tolerated and will draw a five (5) minute Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty or bench penalty. If abuse persists, a Game Misconduct will be assessed and the player or official will be suspended for a minimum of one (1) game.

1. Suspensions

a) HSRG follows GTHL minimum suspension List.  (see www.gthlcanada.com/frontoffice/suspensions.html)

b)  As noted, this is a minimum suspension.  In all cases the player suspended will be suspended from further play until a decision is made by the convenor and/or Vice President of House League on the length of the suspension. This may involve a meeting with the parent and/or coach with the division convenor to determine how further acts can be avoided.

c)  Suspensions are very serious matters.  More than one suspension may result in further suspensions and possibly suspension for the balance of the season.

d) Players who are issued suspensions, and who play Select Hockey in the North York Hockey League, will also be suspended from playing Select Hockey until they serve this suspension from their House League games or, until reinstated by the Vice President of House League.  Reinstatement of players and officials will be at the discretion of the Vice President, House League in consultation with the President.

2. Protests and and Appeals

HVMHA follows the GTHL Protest and Appeal Process and Fee structure (go towww.gthlcanada.com/frontoffice/rulebook2.html#14 and view Section 15)

All players must be fully equipped in accordance with Hockey Canada rules and requirements, including neck guards.

1. All teams should be ready to start their game ten (10) minutes ahead of schedule.

2. After a flood, players are not to step on the ice until the Zamboni has left the ice and the Zamboni gates are closed. Any infraction will result in a two (2) minute minor penalty.

3. A warm-up before each game may or may not be allowed due to time constraints. The game will commence as directed by the referee, timekeeper and/or the convenor.

4. In All Divisions, no game will be started unless each team has at least six (6) players plus a fully equipped goaltender on the ice.

5. Any team not ready to start the game at the designated time will be assessed a 2 minute delay of game penalty.

6. At the Conveners/Referee’s discretion a game may be delayed up to five (5) minutes to allow players to arrive from the dressing room.

7. Failure to ice minimum number of players plus a goaltender will result in game forfeiture with the score being 1-0 to opposing team.

8. Should both teams fail to ice minimum number of players plus a goaltender will result in game forfeiture for both teams and no score will be awarded and no make-up game will be scheduled.

1. Select players are to attend all house league games and practices. All absences should be discussed with the House League coach. Should a Select player continually miss his/her house league games and practices, the coach should bring it to the Convenors attention for a review by the Executive Committee to determine a course of action. Playing Select is a privilege. The House League attendance is important for balancing teams and the commitment to the other players on the team.

1. Participation in at least 50% of regular season games is required to be eligible to play in the playoffs and receive a trophy unless absence has been the result of injury or illness

1. The Convener will give game sheets to the Coaches in each division for the filling out of Players names prior to each game.
2. The Coach has the responsibility to ensure that the game sheets are filled out correctly and players’ names and corresponding sweater numbers are listed. a) The Coach will not add players to the Game Sheet if players are not in attendance. b) Should a player arrive late, the coach will inform the referee and the referee will instruct the timekeeper to add the name to the game sheet.

1. No siblings are allowed on practice ice unless registered as a player on another Hillcrest team and at the Coach’s discretion.

2. At all practices, no players are allowed on the ice until the coach is on the ice. The Coach is the last to leave the ice.

3. All coaches, assistants and on-ice helpers must wear CSA approved helmets during practice. ( no exception to this rule )

1. All coaches are required to have their proper certification.
2. Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players on the ice and in the dressing rooms.
3. Coaches are requested to clean up the dressing room before leaving.
4. Only three (3) coaching staff are allowed on the bench.
5. Unauthorized persons are not allowed on the player’s bench.
6. Ensure compliance with Hockey Canada Risk Management and National Insurance Program.

1. No person is allowed on the ice without skates, except in the case of emergency. i.e. Certified Trainers, Coaches acting as Trainers and/or Medical personnel.

 Early bird registration fees must be paid in full by July 31, 2020, in order to receive the discount. If payment is not received by July 31, 2020, the regular fee will apply. ( NO EXCEPTIONS ).

1. Until June 15, 2020, a full refund may be issued less a $75.00 administration fee. The request is to be made in writing to the President [email protected]

2.  From June 16 until July 31, 2020, a 50% refund may be issued less a $75.00 administration fee.  The request is to be made in writing to the President [email protected]

3. No refunds after AUGUST 1, 2020

4. The player must return all issued equipment including sponsor jersey and socks.

5. NSF Cheques will be subject to a $30.00 administration fee.

Should an issue or concern arise and the player, parent/guardian, coach or team official, feel that the issue that has arisen with their team has not been resolved after speaking with their convener or head coach first, they may bring the issue or concern to the President in writing [email protected] for a meeting with the resolution committee.