RULES
OF PLAY AND CONDUCT
All
teams and players shall observe the playing rules, as described in the C.O.H.A.
rule book.
In
addition to the above, the following rules and/or amendments to the C.O.H.A.
rules are to apply.
1.
FIGHTING AND ROUGH PLAY
(a)
The first offence for fighting will be a major penalty and a game
misconduct penalty, plus suspension for the balance
of the season.
The Player who is penalized for fighting will be ejected from the game
and must retire to the dressing room immediately. The penalized player will not
be permitted to return to any visible area in the arena until the conclusion of
the game.
A substitute player who was on the ice at the time of the infraction will
be placed in the penalty box to serve the major penalty.
(b)
A Major plus a game misconduct penalty shall be assessed any
player(s) who in the referee’s judgement is guilty of unnecessary rough play.
(c)
Any player who swings a hand, fist, or arm in a threatening manner at an
opponent will be assessed a GAME MISCONDUCT penalty whether contact is made or
not. The player so attempting will be ejected for the balance of that game AND
THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED OR PLAY OFF GAME. The penalty will be assessed to any
player whether he is the aggressor or as a retaliatory action.
2.
BODY CONTACT
No Player shall at any point during the game, Stand, Squat, Crouch or
bend over in any manner which causes a player of the opposing team to
deliberately collide with the player so positioned. No Player shall deliberately
skate into or block with sufficient body force, to either knock an opposing
player down or out of the play.
(a) For
the first offence, a major penalty (interference) shall be assessed to the
player causing the infraction.
(b) All
other incidental body contact shall constitute a minor penalty.
Note:
A defending player may "stand his ground" and an attacking
player may be called for an interference penalty, if in the opinion of the
referee, no attempt was made by the attacking player to move around or avoid
contacting the player "standing his ground".
3.
FOUL AND ABUSIVE LANGUAGE
A: A minor penalty shall be
assessed any player who challenges or disputes the ruling of any official during
the game or who displays unsportsmanlike conduct. If a person persists, he shall
be assessed a game misconduct penalty. Further disputes by the same
individual will result in additional game misconduct penalties.
B: A misconduct penalty shall be assessed any player, players who after
one warning by the referee, persists in any course of conduct designed to incite
an opponent into incurring a penalty.
C: Any foul or abusive language used either on the ice, players bench,
penalty bench, that is directed at an official shall constitute a GAME
MISCONDUCT Penalty against the player using the foul or abusive language. Such
player will be ruled off the ice and retire to the dressing room for the balance
of the game. If the player or team
official cannot be identified, a bench minor will be assessed.
Note:
Should a player receive a GAME MISCONDUCT penalty at any time during the
final period, that player must sit out the balance of that game plus the next
regular scheduled league or playoff game. Should additional game misconduct
penalties be assessed concurrently, the player must sit out games equal to the
number of game misconduct penalties.
4.
ILLEGAL SHOT ** amended
ANY player when shooting, passing, or clearing the puck,
who raises the blade of his stick more than twelve inches (approximately to the
top of the skate boot) in either the back swing or follow through shall be
considered to have used an illegal shot. For this occurrence, Play will be blown
down, and the ensuing face off will take place in the end zone of the team of
the player who was deemed to have used an illegal shot.
5.
MATCH PENALTIES
For (1) Head butting (2) Kicking or attempting to kick (3) Pulling an
opponents hair (4) Butt ending (5) Spearing or attempting to spear or (6)
Deliberate attempt to or deliberately injuring an opponent with a high stick or
a slash, on the FIRST offence be assessed a MATCH PENALTY plus an automatic game
misconduct penalty. The player assessed the penalty, shall be removed from the
ice and retire to the dressing room immediately. A Player who was on the ice at
the time of the infraction will serve the five-minute match penalty time. The
player assessed the match penalty will receive a MINIMUM FIVE game
suspension. (See suspensions): Should the same player during any part of the
same season in which the match penalty occurred, be assessed a second match
penalty, that player will be suspended for the balance of the season with the
possibility of permanent expulsion from the league.
6.
SUSPENSIONS
(a) Any
Player, coach, manager, or other team official under suspension by the league
shall not take part in any game or practice or assist the team in any way during
a game or practice.
(b) Any
player suspended for the season shall not receive any refund of the registration
fees.
7.
PENALTY TIMES:
A.
Minor penalties shall be 2 minutes stop time.
B.
Major / Match penalties shall be five minutes stop time.
C.
Misconduct penalties shall be 10 minutes stop time.
D
Game misconduct penalties result in 10 minutes of penalty time
being assessed against player’s penalty record times.
E.
Coincidental Minor Penalties
When an EQUAL number of players from both teams are assessed coincidental
minor penalties, those players shall be ruled off the ice to serve the penalty
times. However, this does not require either team to play shorthanded as
immediate substitution is permitted. (NOTE) The purpose and spirit of this rule
is intended to permit as much ice time as possible for all remaining team
members not penalized.
8.
TEAM CAPTAINS
(A)
Each team will have a captain and not more than two alternative captains.
The Captain will wear the letter "C" and the Alternatives the letter
"A" in a conspicuous location on the front of the sweaters. One of
these should be on the ice at all times. Only a captain or alternative captain,
who is on the ice, shall have the privilege of asking the referee for his
interpretation of any ruling applied during the progress of the game.
(b)
When the captain or alternative captain receives a penalty, he shall
loose his privilege for the duration of the penalty. A misconduct penalty shall
be assessed any captain or alternative who leaves his players bench or penalty
bench to discuss any interpretation of the rules with the referee.
(c)
The captain of each team shall be responsible for their own conduct and
that of their players at all times. The captain must endeavour to impose proper
player conduct before, during and after the game, and on or off the ice and at
any place in the arena.
9.
LENGTH OF GAMES AND GENERAL RULES
(a)
Game lengths, and period times will be established prior to the start of
each season and or special series, these times will be communicated to the
captains. A minimum five-minute pre-game warm up period will be permitted prior
to the start of each game.
(b)
Teams must change ends at the conclusion of each period.
(c)
As the centre Red line is not in play in the M.M.R.H.L. Icings
only occur if a defender from inside a defending blue line shoots the puck over
the opposite goal line.
(d)
If a goalkeeper is not on the ice or fully equipped and available at the
conclusion of the warm up period, the team will start play without a goal keeper
until such time as he is ready or a substitute is found and is available fully
equipped to play. Six skaters will be permitted until such time as a goalkeeper
is ready to play. No warm up is permitted to a goalkeeper entering a game late.
(e)
Substitute goalkeepers must be arranged through the league secretary. Any
other substitute goalkeeper used by a team which was not assigned by the league
secretary (or member of the executive should the secretary not be available)
will cause that team to forfeit the game in which the illegal substitute
goalkeeper was employed.
(f)
A team must have a minimum of six fully equipped players available to
play at the conclusion of the warm-up period; otherwise the game will be
forfeited.
(g)
A player having accumulated 12 minutes of penalty time will be advised by
his captain (or the league secretary or member of the executive.) that he has
reached the 12-minute level. Should a player go on to accumulate a total of 18
minutes but less than 25 minutes, that player will be automatically suspended
for three consecutive games (regular and / or playoff). Upon completing the
three game suspension, that player may return to the league. However, the total
number of minutes previously accumulated prior to the suspension will remain on
his penalty record. Once an
individual accumulates a total of twenty-six (26) minutes in penalties, he will
automatically be suspended for the balance of the season including playoffs.
(Should a captain accumulate 18 penalty minutes he will be advised by a
member of the executive)
IT SHOULD BE NOTED
THAT
KNOCKING OR ATTEMPTING TO KNOCK THE PUCK OUT OF THE AIR WITH A HIGH STICK
- CONSTITUTES A 2 MINUTE MINOR PENALTY:
IF
CONTACT WITH AN OPPOSING PLAYER WITH THE STICK ABOVE THE SHOULDERS IS MADE: THE
PENALTY SHALL BE A FIVE (5) MINUTE MAJOR:
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2008 to 2009 season
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