Play is governed by the rules as set forward by Hockey Canada except as
modified below or explained for clarification.
****NEW for 2019****
A. A minor penalty will be assessed to any player who makes accidental
contact with any part of the goalie or their equipment with their stick or any
part of the players body or equipment in or outside of the crease.
B. A double minor penalty or a major penalty and
a game misconduct, at the descretion of the referee and based on the degree of
violence of impact will be assessed to any player who intentionally contacts
the goalie with their stick or any part of the players body or equipment in or
outside of the crease.
Crease rule:
where an attacking player stands in the goal crease, play shall be
stopped and a face-off shall take place in the nearest face-off spot in the
Neutral Zone.
**** Team Rosters / Players on Multiple Teams ****
December 1st will be the cut-off date for roster
changes/additions. Any player not on a roster by December 1st cannot be used in playoffs.
No player shall be used that is not on a roster submitted and received by the league for insurance purposes.
Defined
All
players need to be registered with ONLY ONE (1) team by the beginning of the
hockey season. (insurance purposes) Once the roster is submitted, this is the
team that the player is registered on. However, players can choose to play with
AS MANY teams as they wish for ONLY the regular season. During playoffs,
players can ONLY play for the team they are registered on at the beginning of
the regular season. If a player is found to be playing on his or her
non-roster team during the playoffs the team will automatically default and
lose any points.
Why?
Over the
years, this subject has been brought up numerous times by several different
members. The SBMHL promotes healthy lifestyles and teamwork. Saying this, we
encourage players to play as much as they can as we all play this sport for the
love of the game. However, it will alleviate the "team stacking"
within the playoff tree.
If teams
wish to utilize players for the regular season to boost their point totals,
they must realize that these players will not be able to play during the
playoffs and it may leave them in a higher playoff division.
Abuse of Officials
Abuse of any official will not be tolerated. Should a player challenge
the rulings of an official or display unsportsmanlike conduct, he may be
assessed a minor for unsportsmanlike conduct, followed by a misconduct or game
misconduct if he persists.
A misconduct penalty shall be assessed to any player who: uses obscene,
profane or abusive language or gestures to any person or persists in disputing;
shows disrespect for the ruling of any official; intentionally knocks or shoots
the puck out of the reach of an official who is retrieving it.
A player who, after receiving a misconduct penalty, persists in any of
the actions of above shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty.
A game misconduct penalty assessed incurs an automatic suspension, in
which case the penalized player shall be suspended for a minimum of the next
regular season or playoff game.
Abuse of official carries a mandatory 1 game suspension and league review. Subsequent infractions will all require league review with a 3 game minimum suspension and maximum lifetime ban.
3 in the Key
Defined
No players shall, in the offensive end, set-up or remain stationary in
the area defined by the outer edges of the crease to the first hash marks of
the face-off circle, unless the puck is in the said area. This will result in a
whistle to stop play and the face-off moved outside the blue line.
Why is there a 3 in the key rule? I have never heard of it in any other
league!!!
This rule was implemented and originally called the 3 second
rule to prevent and deter players from parking themselves in front of
the net - which usually results in actions from an opposing defencemen or the
goalie - which often leads to minor and/or major penalties, fighting or
ejections from the game. It has proven to be very successful over the years and
most of the players have adapted to it.
Initially it was a matter of timing a player in the area for a count of
three. The rule has changed over ten years to basically a "set-up"
rule. This is where a lot of players are confused - most obviously new ones -
who hear it called 'the three second rule'.
No Slapshot Rule
No player shall shoot, attempt to shoot, or fake a shot where the stick
is drawn back to a height above the player's knee. This action will result in a
whistle to stop play and the subsequent face-off will occur at the referee's
discretion.
Why don't we allow slapshots?
The rule and its enforcement are intended to prevent injuries.
Player Poaching Rule
Defined
Upon entering the Scott Buchanan Memorial Hockey League from recruit
training (regular or accelerated) a player is required to play for the District
that he or she is assigned to. A player must play for the assigned district
team for one complete season before being allowed to play for another team. If
the district where the player is assigned already has a full roster or
otherwise chooses to waive that players rights, then he or she may play for the
team of their choice.
Why?
Over the past few years some have objected to the manner in which recruits
have allegedly been approached while still in training and been asked to play
for a non-district team.
We hope that players, team captains and managers will remember the
spirit of the game when it comes to this rule.
Timing and Final Score
Defined
All games will be three 20 minute straight time periods. There are no
timeouts.
Why?
We only have the ice for one hour and fifteen minutes.
Tie Games
Defined
Why?
We only have the ice for one hour and fifteen minutes. However in the
playoffs we cannot have a tie yet still need to settle the game quickly.
Last Three Minutes
Defined
a) During
the last three minutes if the score is within two goals all changes
will be on the fly.
b) Any
obvious tactics to delay the game during the last three minutes will
result in an immediate penalty shot and clock will be stopped for the penalty
shot. Icing the puck is will not be considered delaying the game. Any other
actions such as; freezing the puck by the goalie without reason, shooting the
puck over the boards, intentional penalties forcing the ref to call a penalty,
changing players on a whistle, failure to line up for face offs, etc., at the
discretion of the referees.
Why?
This rule is in place to support fairplay and not time wasting by the
winning team in order to run down the clock.
Save the Goalie Rule
Defined
Safety and fairness is paramount in our recreational league. If the goaltenders mask is hit by the puck, play will immediately cease. In the event that the puck enters the net, no goal will be awarded.
High Stick
Any player observed playing the puck in a high
stick position shall be assessed a minor penalty. A high stick position is
defined as ABOVE the height of the crossbar.
Why?
The play of the puck at or above the crossbar is dangerous. Far too many injuries have resulted from high sticks and this rule falls in line with many other rec hockey leagues.
Each team will change ends at the completion of each period of play,
including overtime.
Should the final game go to shootout, the team that scored the first
goal within that game decides who will shoot first.
Should a player receive a 5 minute penalty, it will result in 7 minutes of running time.
The following point schedule will be implemented for decisions :
§ Regulation
loss = 0 points
§ Tie = 1 point