1. The league consists of 4 divisions: “A”, “B-North”, "B-South" and "C".

2. League dues are due upon team registration for the season. Liability insurance coverage and website costs could vary these fees per year.

3. Any new team entering the league must choose a sweater colour presently not being used or have home and away sweaters.

4. All Home teams must attempt to have ice time ending no later than 11:00pm Friday or Saturday evening. Later times shall be subject to review, but in any case, each Visiting team, has until two weeks from the time the schedules are made available to notify the Home team and the league President by fax or e-mail, that they opt not to play that/those game(s) due to the late time, The Home team will then be required to find an alternate ice time that satisfies this rule all subject to approval by the league executive. Failure to comply with this/these request(s) will result in a forfeit of that/those game(s) by the Home team. Any complaints in reference to the late ice times, submitted after the two week period specified above, will not be considered and the game(s) must be played as scheduled or the Visiting team will forfeit that/those game(s).

5. This is a no body contact league. Incidental contact will be allowed at the discretion of the Referee. Deliberate contact will result in a minor penalty. Slap shots are permitted.

6. The red center line will be used for icing calls.

7. Any puck that hits the goalies mask will be an immediate stoppage of play. The only exception to this rule is if the puck defects directly off the goalies mask and into the net. This is considered to be a good goal.

9. The faceoff after any penalty stoppage, will result in a faceoff in the defensive zone of the offending team.

10. Liability Insurance coverage is provided by the CRHL for the duration of the regular season, play-offs and any CRHL organized tournaments. Absolutely no insurance coverage is provided by the CRHL for personal accidents or injuries resulting in loss of work, hospital care, extended care, dental care and any short or long term disability.

11. All players accept that the game of hockey involves a high level of physical activity and further acknowledge the possibility that physical injuries do occur. Players play at their own risk. Further to this, all players hereby and forever release the CRHL, its Executives, Team Representatives and other players, from any claims for personal injuries arising out of the participation in any sports activity of the CRHL

12. Any suggestions, complaints, or questions must be directed in writing to the league President.

13. There is zero tolerance for swearing and vulgar language. Any player or team using this type of language will be assessed a 2-minute minor penalty for Unsportsmanlike Conduct at the discretion of the referee. Any player who persists in the use of obscene, profane, or abusive language toward a referee or player may be assessed a 10-minute misconduct penalty.

14. Prior to puck drop, players from each team (team rep or captain) are encouraged to meet with the referees and shake hands. During this time, they shall communicate with the referees any rules unique to the CRHL, such as our swearing rules, run-time penalties, pucks shot at goalie masks, etc.

1. All players listed on a roster must be male members of a Canadian Reformed or sister church. The CRHL does not allow anyone under the age of 16 years to play. All players must be 16 years of age before they are eligible to be on a team roster and compete in any game. Any team that allows a player under 16 years or a player who does not have membership with a Canadian Reformed or sister church to play will face a $50 fine for the first occurrence, and $100 fine for any re-occurring offences. In addition, the game will be forfeited by the offending team.

2. There will be no more than 25 players on each roster. The roster must include the full name of each player along with a sweater number and phone number. Team rosters may be changed during the season, a maximum of three times, by calling the applicable Convener with that specific information, followed up with an e-mail or fax. Teams must call the Convener before the player(s) may play. Failure to inform the league of any change will result in forfeit of that/those games.

3. Players, including goalies, must play at least 8 regular season games to qualify for playoffs. A player who has been injured during the season may be exempted from this rule by decision of the League Executive. To qualify for any exception to this rule, injuries must be reported to the league President and/or indicated on game sheets.

4. In any one season, a player may change from one team to another a maximum of one time.

5. Teams may use substitute, non-roster goalies throughout the regular season. Any substitute goalie for play-off games must receive League Executive approval via the Convener of that division, no exceptions. Failure to comply will result in forfeit of that game. In all cases, a substitute goalie must be of the same division or less, e.g. a B-Division team can use a goalie from a B or C-Division, not from A-Division.

6. A player who is listed as a “substitute” may play for multiple teams, including teams in the same division. However, they may only play for one team in the playoffs if they have accrued enough games. Full-time rostered players may not substitute for any other teams unless they are a call-up for a higher division.

7. Teams may make use of “call-up” players during the season. A player may only move up a division (not down). Each team can have 3 “call-ups” in addition to their roster. Call-ups are only eligible to play for 1 other team, and therefore are eligible for playoffs with the team they are called-up to, given they play 8 or more regular season games. All regular rules apply, including penalty limits, despite the number of games played by one player. Penalty minutes incurred by a player will count towards the total penalty minutes for whichever team they are playing for when the penalty was given. However, a player’s points and games played will only count in games played on their full-time team.

1. Each team must designate a player as the Team Representative, and may have a coach. The coach may be an active player on the roster. The Team Representative will be accountable for the action and conduct of the team, along with being responsible for the return of game sheets, ensuring the accuracy of those game sheets.

2. When any team has a valid complaint about another team, player, or the officiating of a game, this complaint must be submitted in writing to the League President for their consideration in deciding if further action is necessary. Teams and players must follow the criteria below, before the board can decide on any further action.

3. At league meetings, each team will have one vote. Each team shall send their Team Representative or a substitute in his place. Only those teams in attendance will have a vote. It is the responsibility of the Team Representative to pass on information to their respective team members.

4. The Team Representative must be familiar with all the league rules.

5. The home team must pay for their own ice time and officiating. They must also provide a timekeeper. The minimum ice time provided for any game shall be 1 and ½ hours.

6. When a player is suspended, it is up to the Team Representative to ensure that the applicable suspension(s) is/are served and to notify the Convener of that division. That team will forfeit any games which that player plays while under suspension.

7. It is the duty of the home Team Representative to present the referees with a copy of our “Referees Guide” at the beginning of each game to familiarize the game officials with our rules and regulations.

8. The home team must upload a picture of their game sheets online when they enter the scores on the website. The picture of the game sheet along with the score and stats of the game must be submitted by the following Monday at 8pm. Failure to do so will result in an automatic deduction of one point for the home team. Exceptions will only be made in certain situations if you have contacted your convenor ahead of time. (Ex. Family emergency)

9. Game sheets must be shared either physically or digitally to the away team after the game is finished.

10. A team, which falsifies records, will forfeit that game. Opposing teams have one week to register their complaint with the league President. Any team that deliberately falsifies records (eg. misstates a player’s jersey number on a game sheet) for the purpose of circumventing Rule 44 for any of its players, that team will be suspended from the League for the remainder of the season.

11. Teams and individual players must realize they do not have a lifetime acceptance in the League and therefore, those which show that they are out of control, through complaints against them by a number of teams, and/or have a large number of players with high penalty minutes and suspension records, can be suspended from the League. . Any player receiving 3 suspensions within 5 seasons will be suspended from the league indefinitely.

12. All serious injuries requiring medical attention will be reviewed by the league executive to assess whether the play causing the injury is in opposition to the rules andcore values of the league and warrant supplementary discipline. The league executive will consider in their decision: any penalty assessed on the play, the refs’ report, video evidence (if applicable under Section #6 Rule #3), the offending player’s statement, injured player’s statement, offending players history, and the offending player’s team history. Team reps are to inform their league convenor of a serious injury as soon as possible. The lack of a penalty on the play will be considered but does not prevent supplementary discipline by the league.

1. The format for all games shall be two (2) 20-minute running periods and one (1) 20-minute stop- time period. If this is not possible due to time constraints, other arrangements can be made, for that game only, on agreement by both Team Representatives and the referee(s).

2. There will be no flooding of the ice surface between periods, unless the game format described above, can be completed, e.g. there is more than 1-1/2 hours of ice time available.

3. If a visiting team does not show, that game is forfeited, and that team must pay the league the value of the ice time for that home team. The league will in turn pay the home team. In the event that the visiting team does not pay, all future games will be forfeited until the payment is received.

4. Games may only be rescheduled, if both Team Representatives agree. A team requesting to reschedule a game must give at least four weeks notice, unless the reason is due to inclement weather. If they cannot agree, the game must be played as scheduled or the team requesting the change forfeits the game.

5. In a forfeit, the team at fault shall lose the game and the opponent will receive the two points. Score to be 3 - 0 for the records.

6. In the event a game is canceled outside of the home team’s control, a makeup game may be scheduled. The makeup game should be played at a central location to both teams to minimize travel but may be played at any venue as long as both teams agree. If the makeup game has not been scheduled within 4 weeks of the original game date, the home team will forfeit the game.

1. If there are no referees present within 15 minutes after the scheduled game start time, the game will be forfeited by the Home Team and will not be replayed. If the game is forfeited, both teams may scrimmage or play an exhibition game that will not have any bearing on the standings.

2. Each team is allowed to have two games during the season with only one referee. Any further game played with only one official will result in forfeit. If the second referee shows up before the second period, the game will still be considered legal.

3. Referees must review the game sheet at the end of regulation time, amend if necessary, comment if necessary and print/sign name as required. Please have the Referees provide a written report on the back of the white game sheet for ALL major penalties, suspensions and/or other disciplines.

1. Penalties:

2. A player receiving a fourth (4) minor penalty in a game will receive a Game Misconduct penalty.

3. Any Major penalty (5 min.) results in a Game Misconduct penalty (10 min.).

4. When a Game Misconduct penalty occurs the player shall be immediately ejected from that game and will receive a further 1 game suspension and be required to sit out that next game.

5. A 10-minute misconduct penalty is not considered a game misconduct penalty and will be served by that player in the penalty box without further penalty to the team.

6. When a player has accumulated 36 minutes in penalty time during a regular season (i.e. excluding playoffs), he will receive an automatic 2 game suspension and at 50 minutes of penalty time during that same regular season, will receive an indefinite suspension while under review by the League Executive and will not be allowed to play any further games until written clearance has been obtained by the League Executive. All suspensions carry into the play-offs and/or the following year. For the record - all minor penalties = 2 minutes, major penalties = 5 minutes, game misconduct penalties = 10 minutes, 10 minute misconduct penalties = 10 minutes.

7. Further to C.H.A. Rules and Regulations, the League Executive may consider further suspensions for the following disciplines: (Please have the Referees provide written details on the game sheet)

8. If the player is given, more than one of the above types of penalties in any one game, the League Executive may, at its discretion, assess combined fines and/or suspensions for those offenses.

9. A player who plays while under suspension will cause his team to forfeit those games. A forfeit is not considered a game served in the case of a suspension, unless the team that is not sitting the suspended player forfeits the game. If a game is rescheduled the player must sit the next game played.

1. Teams that fail to follow the expectations of team conduct will be fined.

This (these) fines are to be paid to the League Executive A.S.A.P. If the payment is not received by a deadline established by the League Executive all further games by the offending are forfeited.

1. The top four teams make the playoffs. First place plays fourth, while the second place plays the third. The team, which is higher in standings, has home ice advantage. Games must be scheduled without delay. The Convener of that division must be notified of all scheduled games. In case of a tie, positioning will be decided in the following order:

2. The bottom four teams will be placed into a consolation playoff. If a division has more/less than 8 teams in a division, it will be up to the board to determine the best playoff situation based on the number of teams inside the division. Section #10 Rule #1 still applies.

3. Playoffs will be best two out of three games. Both teams will share the cost of the ice time and officials for the third game if required.

4. If one of the teams is not comfortable with the game officiates, unbiased referees from a different town shall be appointed for the entire series. In that case, the cost of the referees shall be shared by both teams for the entire series.

5. No playoff game can end in a tie.

6. In the first round of the shoot-out, each team will have five different shooters. The team that scores the most goals will win. If it is still tied, the shoot-out will be sudden death. However, each team will have an equal number of shots. No player may shoot more than twice. The same player may shoot again after the first 5 rounds. In both rounds, the visiting team will shoot first.

7. Team Reps are to mutually agree on the dates for their playoff games

1. The President should lead and chair all meetings. He is also responsible to the Team Representatives for the conduct of the Executive Board and its officers. He is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the League and for ensuring that the other Executives perform their duties.

2. The Vice-President will chair meetings if the President is unable to attend. He will also be responsible for any duties, which the President designates to him. The Vice-President is responsible for all disciplinary actions.

3. The Treasurer is responsible for collecting fees and fines, and for paying out any expenses of the League. He will on a yearly basis issue a written report on the income and expenses to the Executive Board and then to the Team Representatives.

4. Convenors are responsible for the day-to-day needs of their designated division. Such as scheduling changes and conflicts, and roster changes. Any disciplinary actions will be forwarded to the Vice-President and President.

1. League Executives must declare a conflict of interest when a discussion or vote, which affects them, a member of their family, or the team they play for, takes place. They are to refrain from making any comments on that issue, and may not vote on any action that may be required.

2. League Executives may not personally table issues for any individual or player, which will cause action to be taken against another individual, or player at a Team Representative meeting. Only submissions in witting by a player, team or individual will be accepted.

3. The following conduct should be followed in Team Representative meetings:

4. If a League Executive breaches these rules of conduct, or does not fulfill the obligations of his office, he should resign from the League Executive, or the other League Executives must terminate his tenure immediately after consulting the Team Representatives.

5. If an Executive or the Executive Board fails to act on this point when it occurs, the Team Representatives may with a majority vote, terminate the tenure of the Executive, and vote in a replacement.

6. League terms are for three years. Voting will be by secret ballot. Outgoing members may be nominated again.