Boys Hockey - November 2016
1.0.0 The following rules will apply to NorWossa hockey as “additions to’ or “replacements of” certain Hockey Canada rules. All other situations governing our hockey league will be regulated by the current Hockey Canada Rule Book. Video will not be used to rule on or review any officials’ call in a game. It is encouraged that unsportsmanlike and related penalties be applied with a zero tolerance as outlined in the rulebook.
1.1.1 The NorWOSSA Hockey League is organized into one league. The schedule for the league will be a single home and away format plus one more game against each opponent. The extra games will be a balance of home and away games. Each year the extra game between 2 teams will alternate hosts.
1.1.2 First Place Determination:
Each team will be awarded game points as follows:
Win = 2 points
Tie/Overtime/Shoot-out loss = 1 point
The team with the greatest number of points, thus awarded at the end of season play, shall be in first place.
1.1.4 Tie Breaking Format: (end of the season positions) should a tie occur for any of the top 3 positions, the position shall be determined by applying the following criteria in the order listed until the tie is broken:
i) the greatest number of game points in the games between the teams involved.
ii) fewest goals allowed in the games between the teams involved.
iii) fewest goals allowed in all league games in games played with all teams.
iv) a format decided by the President in consultation with the hockey convenor.
1.1.5 The NorWOSSA hockey playoffs will be as follows:
The semifinals will be a best of 3 game series (1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd) with home ice advantage given to the higher seeded team.
The finals will be a best of 3 game series with the winners of the semi finals with home ice advantage given to the higher seeded team.
1.2.0 Eligibility shall be the same as NorWOSSA eligibility except a player is not eligible if his name has appeared on a game sheet, and has dressed, after his association/school board first regular season game or December 1, whichever comes first, , for a team in "A", "B", "C", "D", Major Junior, Junior, Intermediate, Senior or GMHL divisions in any National and/or International Association, or any league deemed equivalent to “A”, “B”, “C”, or “D”. Carded Midget AAA players will also not be eligible for NorWOSSA High School Boys hockey after January 10th. High School hockey players can still be eligible to play High School hockey and be affiliated with a Midget AAA team for a maximum of 5 games from the beginning of the year in accordance with Hockey Canada Regulation E 35a. Once the 5th game is played that player then becomes ineligible for High School Hockey and would then be a member of the team that he/she has been affiliated with.
1.2.0.1 Appearance of a registered player’s name on the official game report of a game shall be considered participation in the game except in the case of an alternate goalkeeper, in which case actual participation shall be considered as taking part in the game, and such be specially noted on the official game report.
1.2.1 Eligibility of all players must be attested-to on the prescribed NorWOSSA league eligibility forms prior to the first league game. Copies of eligibility forms must be sent the hockey convenor prior to the first league game. Failure to comply with this regulation shall result in forfeiture of the game or games.
1.2.2 Players may be added to the eligibility form at any time provided that all rules and regulations are complied with. The name of the player added to the eligibility form must be submitted to the hockey convenor prior to any participation by the player or players in question.
1.2.3 It is understood that any additions to the eligibility form shall be bona fide students of the school according to the O.F.S.A.A. definition of a bona fide student. (See O.F.S.A.A. Handbook re this rule.)
1.2.4 Rosters will be considered final as of midnight February 15th and no player, with the exception of family transfers (section a on eligibility form), can be added to a team’s eligibility list.
1.2.5 To be eligible to participate in the playoffs, an athlete must be on the original eligibility list or play in a minimum of 20% of that team’s regular season games.
1.3.0 Rules shall be those as recommended by the Hockey Canada with the following exceptions:
1.3.1 Fighting/Match/Gross Misconduct
Players of NorWOSSA hockey teams are subject to the current Hockey Northwestern Ontario Suspension Guidelines that govern all penalties that deal with Checking from Behind penalties, Game Misconduct penalties, Fighting penalties, Match penalties, and Gross Misconduct penalties whether in league, tournament, or exhibition games. Any suspensions administered by the league shall be served in the games immediately following. Suspensions are carried over from one year to the next where applicable.
See Appendix A at the end of these playing regulations. Appendix A will be updated as updates are made to the HNO Suspension List.
Coaches are reminded that they have the right to appeal to the league, through their Athletic Director, when they feel they can prove an injustice.
1.3.2 Misconduct
The use of foul language on the ice must be stopped. Discretion must be used by officials on such matters and the referee should convey the message to his associates.
1.3.3 A player who receives a misconduct penalty in the last five minutes of a game shall be out of the game and will sit in the penalty box for the first ten minutes of the next game. Officials shall indicate every offence on the official game score sheet.
1.3.4 Any player or players who use foul language in the penalty box shall be given a ten minute misconduct penalty. Such penalty shall be given by the scorer and/or timer by reporting the incident to the referee. The officials shall enforce the rule.
1.3.5 Match Penalty/Gross Misconduct
Referees must call the convenor collect, or at home school’s expense, when a match penalty has been assessed to discuss the circumstances of the situation.
Referees must complete the “Match Penalty” form in full to permit fair and justifiable action by the convenor. Teams receiving penalties to players that will warrant a suspension, must notify the convenor well in advance of their next game to insure a ruling can be made. Failure to comply with this regulation shall result in forfeiture of the game or games if that player participates.
1.3.6 Any player assessed a match penalty for attempting to or physically contacting an official shall be suspended for a number of games to be determined by the convenor after consulting with the referee and/or officials of the game.
1.3.7 As of Jan 1 2004 all hockey players must wear a mouthguard and ear flaps when participating in NorWOSSA hockey. Also goaltenders must wear the protective flap with their masks. CSA approved throat protectors, mouth guards and ear flaps are mandatory for NorWOSSA hockey teams. Refer to Hockey Canada rulebook for penalties.
1.3.8 In Boys and Girls Hockey as with all athletics in NorWOSSA, no jewelry is to be worn. Taping is not acceptable, it must be removed. Officials are to check all players after O Canada. After play has begun a 2 minute penalty will be assessed.
1.4.0 All competing schools will use the 2 referee and 1 linesman system of officiating. Minimum levels for officials have been set as follows:
Officials must be currently certified as level two officials and one referee must be certified at level three.
1.4.0.1 Rates of pay and mileage for playoff referees should be consistent across NorWOSSA school and competition:
Referee $65.00
Linesman $45.00
Mileage – follow distant chart $0.35/km
Meals - $20.00 per meal
1.4.1 All NorWOSSA playoff hockey games shall have neutral referees from our own league unless there is mutual agreement by the schools involved to use one host referee. The officials will be assigned by the convenor. If two officials are coming from out of town, all attempts must be made to schedule them from the same community to facilitate safer winter travel.
1.4.2 Each school must endeavour to have responsible adults attend home games to ensure a reasonable measure of fan control. Minor officials including a timekeeper and a scorer must be provided by the home team. Goal judges should be provided by the home team.
1.5.0 Each team shall be granted two 30-second time-outs per game.
1.5.1 Each team may designate up to 2 Captains and 4 Alternates.
1.5.2 There is no limit to the number of players a team may dress for any NorWOSSA hockey competition.
1.5.3 The red line shall be eliminated with regard to the offside
1.5.4 Overtime in regular season play will consist of a five (5) minute period of four (4) on four (4) hockey. If the tie remains at the expiration of the overtime, the teams will have a 3 player shootout with the home team to determine who shoots first. If the game is still tied following the 3 player shootout, a sudden death shootout will take place until a winner is determined. All players (except goaltenders) must shoot before shooters can be re-used
During playoffs, in case of a tie game at the end of regulation play, the ice will be flooded and a sudden-death twenty (20) minute period shall be played. In the event a tie still exists, the ice shall be flooded and another sudden-death twenty (20) minute period shall be played (and repeated) until a winner is declared.
1.5.5 Pep Bands are asked to locate their band in a place that will not disrupt visiting coaches and teams. They must be directed not to play while the game is going on–only when there is a break in the action. This also applies to the playing of music.
1.5.6 The host school will provide the visiting school with 25 pucks for use during warm-up. The warm-up should be a minimum of 15 minutes.
1.5.7 Each hockey team must have 2 sets of sweaters; lights to be worn at home and coloured on the road.
1.6.0.0 All teams must submit a season schedule to the league convenor (including exhibition, league and tournament games) prior to the first exhibition game of the year. The schedule can be updated at any time throughout the season by providing the convenor with updates.
1.6.0.1 Original league and exhibition games score sheets, match penalty sheets, and referee report sheets must be mailed to the convenor. It is suggested that this be done twice a month. On the day following a game, teams are requested to fax or scan an electronic email copy of the game sheet to the convenor. It is imperative that this be done so that the statistics and suspensions can be kept up to date and accurate.
The convenor must receive such score sheets within four (4) days following the contest or he may phone the party concerned for such information– collect.
1.6.1 No changes in the pairings are permitted without the consent of the convenor, and then, only if mutually acceptable to the teams involved.
1.6.2 Times as indicated on the schedule may be adjusted by the high schools involved.
NOTES:
i) The convenor will inform the Referee-In-Chief, through the Athletic Director, in each town of the various rule variations of the NorWOSSA High School Hockey League listed above and of changes from year to year.
ii) Any complaints regarding behaviour of a school team must be directed to the Athletic Director concerned.
iii) Protests of any form whatsoever shall be submitted to the convenor in writing no later than 24 hours after the completion of the contest. The final dispensation of any such protest will rest with the President of NorWOSSA. This must be done by the Athletic Director.
APPENDIX A
SUSPENSION LIST Revised: Oct. 29, 2016
The following are minimum suspensions that shall be imposed for infractions, which occur in all Branch exhibition, league, play-off and tournament games.
Additional suspensions can be imposed wherever conditions and circumstance warrant.
These suspensions are in addition to game incurred.
It is the responsibility of each Team Manager and/or Coach to ensure their players/Team Officials sit out their appropriate suspensions. When in doubt as to the relevant suspension, contact your respective League or Association.
If you are unable to contact your respective League or Association, sit player(s)/Team Official(s) in question out until clarification can be obtained.
Match Penalty Reports shall be forwarded to the Branch Office for possible further review.
The Suspension List has been designed to be the minimum suspensions to be levied for first time occurrence during the hockey season. To reduce the possibility of having excessive punishments being levied, please do not make these suspensions more severe as part of normal operations.
However, when dealing with repeat offenders, the Suspension List includes sections for accumulations of infractions for players and sanctions against coaches. The accumulations are in addition to the suspension for the infraction. These accumulations are taken directly from Hockey Canada’s Supplement Discipline for minor and female hockey.
Last 10 Minute column refers to a Game Misconduct in the last ten minutes of third period or overtime. This carries an automatic one game under rule 4.6 c) which has been accounted for in this column,
* a pre-game altercation is defined as any altercation that occurs prior to the teams lining up on the ice to start the game.
** a post-game altercation is defined as any altercation involving players and/or team officials who coming off the bench at the end of the game of any altercation that was clearly started well after the conclusion of the game.
NOTE: Junior Leagues shall use the Hockey Canada Junior A Supplement for Discipline.
1. Suspensions of six (6) games or less will not be appealable to the Branch.
2. Player and Team Official suspensions will be only served through "meaningful" games. A meaningful game is a regular League, exhibition game sanctioned by the branch before the game in which the suspension was earned, play-off (League or Inter-Branch) or sanctioned tournament game.
3. Exhibition games that are scheduled after a suspension occurs and non-sanctioned games shall not be used for the serving of suspensions under any circumstances.
4. Individuals under suspension, other than that assessed for a violation of Hockey Canada Rule 9.6, are allowed to participate with their teams, at the discretion of their League or Association, but may not participate in any regular League, play-off or tournament games, inside or outside the Branch until their suspension has been serviced in its entirety.
5. Any individual who is under suspension by a Hockey Canada Branch, League or Association is suspended from all involvement in Hockey Canada activities. Any individual under suspension who does participate in Hockey Canada activities will be subject to discipline by Hockey Canada, the Branch or their respective League or Association.
6. Suspensions at one level of hockey apply to ALL levels of hockey within the Branch.
7. Suspended individuals must serve their suspension through the team with which they are registered or of which they are the property, unless the individual’s team has been eliminated from or is not participating in further play that season and the individual is to remain with the affiliated team for the balance of the season (e.g..,affiliated players cannot, except under these circumstances, serve their suspensions with the affiliated teams).
8. Any individual under suspension, other than that assessed for a violation of Hockey Canada Rule 9.6, that has been carried over from a previous season shall not be prohibited from participating in any tryout activities (except sanctioned pre-season exhibition games). The suspension will recommence at 12:01 a.m. the day of the first meaningful game of the team for which the individual is registered.
9. Hockey Canada Regulation O - Discipline of Club, Teams, Players and Officials:
a) Any team using a suspended player in play-off, League, exhibition or tournament games shall be
liable to immediate suspension.
b) Any person responsible for a team having used a suspended player shall also be suspended.
c) Any team found guilty of having used any ineligible player in any League, play-off, exhibition or
tournament game, shall lose any points earned in any game in which the ineligible player
participated. The player and/or team officials shall be liable to further disciplinary action in
accordance with Regulation F10.
10. HNO’s Suspension List has strengthened Rule 4.6 (c) to a mandatory 1 game suspension regardless of the number of days until the next league/play-off game.
