Official League Rules
East Hants Sr Hockey League Constitution and Bylaws
• A1. Name: The organization shall be known as the East Hants Sr Gentlemen's Hockey League (EHSHL). The EHSHL is ran and operated by (A)-the elected President and or Co-President and (B)-an assigned league representative from each team
• A2. Objectives:
• a) To promote, encourage, and govern ice hockey within
designated boundaries.
• b) To protect the mutual interests of its members.
• c) To organize and facilitate league and playoff competitions.
• d) To sponsor and promote athletic, social, and other related
activities.
• e) To maintain communication with members regarding rules,
schedules, standings, and facilities through the league's website.
• A3. Aims:
• a) To ensure safe and organized ice hockey gameplay according to
established rules.
• b) To promote fair play and sportsmanship.
• c) To cooperate with other organizations within established rules
and guidelines.
• A4. Membership:
• a) Membership shall be open to players who meet league age
requirements, have completed registration forms, paid dues and
are considered to be in good-standing with the league.
• b) Membership includes obligations to abide by all league
regulations and understand the risks involved in ice hockey.
• c) Access to the Constitution and By-Laws is available online.
• A5. Executive:
• a) Composition: Includes a League President and a representative
from each team.
• b) Meetings: To be held as necessary, with mandatory annual
meetings for appointed team representatives and league
president(s).
• c) Responsibilities: Includes managing league operations, ensuring
compliance with the constitution, overseeing financial matters, and
maintaining league standards and policies.
• d) Rights: The executive has the authority to refuse or revoke
membership based on compliance with league standards.
• A6. Meetings and Elections:
1. League Meetings: Focuses on reviewing the year and
appointing new representatives or President if necessary.
2. Special Closed Meeting: Can be called by the League
President or upon request by a significant number of team
representatives to discuss urgent matters.
3. Elections: Presidents are voted in by a majority vote by
team representatives. Team Representatives can be voted in on their team by a team majority vote.
BYLAWS -
B. League Composition - The EHGHL shall be open to adults who are willing to conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner both on and off the ice. All members agree to refrain from using abusive and profane language towards all members including the on and off ice officials, arena staff and further agree to play a sportsmanship brand of recreational ice hockey. Players who do not conduct themselves in the above manner will be subject to suspension and or expulsion. Teams are required to card player a minimum of 13 skaters and 1 goalie and no more than 18 total roster members. Teams may use spare goalies if they are required. All players must be a minimum of 30 years old by December 31st of the current hockey season. Players may spare for other teams if they are in need of bodies pending the approval of each of the teams playing against each other.
C. Team Registration - Teams shall be comprised of a minimum of 13 players plus 1 goalie and a maximum of 18 total roster players. Team representatives are required to submit their teams roster with (A-Full Name, B-jersey number and C-Approved payment prior to starting the season). Teams may not card more than 17 members unless approved by the executive, which approval shall be solely based on player injuries and travelling players. Teams shall consist of Recreational Type Hockey Players. No carded players shall be permitted to play in the EHGHL without League Executive approval. Team representatives are permitted to forward a challenge to the League Executive on any player who they deem is considered Pro, University Varsity, Semi-Pro or any other carded player. Outside circumstances to be discussed by league executive if that individual misses the minimum game requirements (travelling, injuries, etc..)
D - Roster construction
D1 - Returning players
In order for a returning player to be eligible to be added to their teams roster, they
must be paid at minimum of a 50% deposit by the assigned payment date, meet age
requirements and be in good standing with the league.
If a player fails to meet the payment date, a discussions will be had amongst leagues
executive on the players eligibility.
• D2 - New players entering the league Pre-Season •
Registration date will close 2 weeks prior to the season beginning. The date will be set
by league president and representatives. It is the team representatives responsibility
to provide their team members with this notice.
New players entering the league must submit their online waiver form by the assigned
date set by the league executive, payment is not required to hold a spot until the
player is placed on a team.
New player team placement will be conducted by the league executive 1 week after
the registration date closes.
After being placed on a team, payment is required to confirm your roster spot.
• •
E - Game Play Regulations, Penalties, and Protests
EI. Game Structure
• Game Duration
• 3 minute warmups
• Each game consists of two periods run time.
• 1st Period: 25 minutes
• 2nd Period: 20 minutes (with the last 3 minutes being stop time)
• If game is tied following regulation time, there will be a 3 person shootout.
Game ends in a tie if there is no winner after the 3 person shootout.
• Regular Season Schedule
• The number of games in the regular season will be determined by the
league executive and president before the season begins. Subject to change on a year to year basis based on number of teams registered and available ice times.
• Mercy Rule
• The league has implemented a 3-goal mercy rule. If one team leads by 4
goals or more by the 3-minute mark of the second period, the clock will run continuously. If the 3 goal gap is narrowed, the clock will then again begin to stop after whistles.
E2. Game Procedures
• Game Reports
• Team representatives must verify the team roster before each game.
• The timekeeper will record players in attendance during the game.
• Accurate game reports are essential for player statistics.
• Team Governance & Representation
• Each team is to assign 1 representative who is responsible for attending
league meetings, understanding league rules, and ensuring timely payment of league fees. If the team representative can not attend the meeting, he or she can send another teammate to attend the meeting.
• Rule, Policy Changes
• A quorum of four team representatives is required at league meetings.
• Each team holds one vote.
• In the event of a tie, the league president will cast the deciding vote for
the betterment of the league.
• Unsuccessful proposed rule/policy changes may not be reconsidered
until the following season.
E3-Starting Times & Line-Up
• Teams must have at least six players ready at the designated start time.
• A team can start without a goaltender for the first five minutes, after which they
forfeit if the goaltender is still absent.
• Ensuring readiness of all players, including the goaltender, is the responsibility of
each team.
E4-Protests
• Teams wishing to protest must inform the timekeeper during or immediately following the game to log the protest and its reasons on the game report.
• Protests are confined to concerns over potentially ineligible players.
• The league President and representatives will review protests with exception to
the representatives involved during the game under protest.
E5-Minor Penalties
• A minor penalty duration is three minutes.
• Players (excluding goaltenders) who accrue three minor penalties or a total of 9
penalty minutes in one game will be suspended for the remainder of that game.
E6-Major Penalties
• Players (excluding goaltenders) receiving a major penalty (either five or ten minutes) will be suspended for the remainder of the game.
• 1st Incident:
• If occurring in the 1st period or the first 15 minutes of the 2nd
period, suspension lasts for that game.
• If in the last 5 minutes of the game, suspension includes the next
game.
• 2nd Incident: One-game suspension.
• 3rd Incident: Three-game suspension.
• 4th Incident: Incident reviewed by the league.
E7-Fighting
• Instigating a fight results in a three-game suspension; a second instigation leads to a one-year suspension.
• Non-instigators receive a one-game suspension for the first offence, three-game for the second, and suspension for the season upon a third.
E8-Game Misconducts
• Disciplinary measures:
• 1st Incident: One-game suspension.
• 2nd Incident: Two-game suspension.
• 3rd Incident: Three-game suspension.
• 4th Incident: Incident reviewed by the league.
E9-Gross Misconducts
• Disciplinary measures:
• 1st Incident: One-game suspension.
• 2nd Incident: Three-game suspension.
• 3rd Incident: Incident reviewed by the league.
E10-Match Penalties
• An initial match penalty results in a two-game suspension.
• Subsequent offences reviewed by the league, with the third offence resulting in
permanent league expulsion.
E11-Goaltender Penalties
• Three minor penalties in one game result in a game suspension for the goaltender.
• Fighting, game misconduct, gross misconduct, or match penalties also lead to game suspension, with additional disciplinary measures as applicable.
• If no backup goaltender is available, the game proceeds without one.
• Major penalties or misconducts do not prevent continued play in the game.
E12-Coincidental Penalties
• Coincidental majors or minors do not reduce team numbers if total penalty minutes are equal.
E13-Slapshots
• Prohibited; infractions lead to a face off in the offender's offensive end.
E14-Body Contact
• Limited to jostling for position and pushing, with sticks kept below the waist.
E15-High Sticking the Puck
• Causes play stoppage if touched next by a teammate, without a minor penalty.
E16-Time-Outs
• Each team is allowed a 30-second time-out during playoff games, taken during normal stoppages and managed by referees and the timekeeper.
E17-ICING
Icing will be called when a player shoots the puck down the blue line of their defensive zone.
E18- PLAYOFF FORMAT: TO BE DISCUSSED PRIOR TO YEAR BASED ON NUMBER OF TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE
E19-Tie Breaker Rules for Standings
1. Most regulation wins.
2. Best head-to-head record.
3. Best goal differential in head-to-head games.
4. Fewest total goals against in regular season.
5. Fewest penalty minutes in regular season.
E20- PLAYOFF OVERTIME
• Ties in semifinals or finals lead to a five-minute sudden death overtime (four skaters aside).
• If still tied, a shootout follows, continuing until one team misses following an initial four-player round. Players can reshoot after their teams initial 5 shots.
E21- Playoff Format
• Playoff Format will be decided on prior to the season based on 1-number of teams that are registered for the season and 2-the agreed format amongst the league representatives in the pre-season meeting.
• •
F- Officiating and Timekeeping
Officials and timekeepers are responsible to report all fights and major penalties and
protests to the league president following the games or incidents.
Officials and timekeepers are to abide by league bylaws.
