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UPDATED AUGUST 22 2013
PART I –RULES & REGULATIONS 1. GENERAL 1.1 All players, coaches, managers and spectators within any LHL game attend at their own risk of personal loss, damage or injury, however caused. 1.2 The LHL’s Mission statement is "To provide an environment to promote good sportsmanship along with clean, safe, collegial and competitive recreational hockey". It is expected that all associated members of the league adhere themselves to the leagues mission statement. 1.3 The interpretation and enforcement of these playing rules is to be at the discretion of the Executive of the LHL. 1.4 The LHL has been designed to provide non-contact hockey at the recreational level. Disrespect towards game and administrative officials, and/or injurious actions by players will not be tolerated. Violation of the previous will be just cause for ejection from the LHL without refund of fees paid. 2. RULES OVERVIEW 2.1 Hockey Canada rules will apply unless otherwise stipulated in the Calgary Lawyers’ Hockey League Ltd. (“LHL”) rules. The following LHL rules either supplement or negate the rules in the Hockey Canada rule book, which can be found at: http://cdn.agilitycms.com/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Officiating/Downloads/official_rulebook_e.pdf 3. LHL LEAGUE OFFICIALS 3.1 LHL officials include the league executives (“Executives”), on-ice and off-ice officials and staff. Off-ice staff includes scorekeepers, arena staff, and other persons that do not hold these titles, but are deemed by the LHL to be suitable to submit evidence regarding league matters if required. 4. TEAM REPRESENTATIVES 4.1 All teams must designate a team Captain. The team Captain will provide all pertinent registration paperwork, including the signed registration forms, team roster form and a signed waiver forms, and will attend all mandatory Captain’s meetings. The LHL will communicate all league and team related matters through the team Captain. It is the team Captain’s responsibility to forward all communications to their teammates. 5. WAIVER FORMS 5.1 In order to participate in the LHL, all participating players must sign the team waiver form prior to the player’s first game. It is the responsibility of the team Captain to ensure that all of his/her players sign and submit the team wavier to the LHL. Players that do not complete the waiver form will not be allowed on the ice. 5.2 If an LHL official requests proper identification, the player must produce a piece of photo identification. Failure to comply constitutes the team as having an illegal player and may lead to a default and suspensions. 6. INSURANCE 6.1 The LHL provides insurance through Hockey Canada which is built into the league fee. Details can be found here: http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ciid/146027/laid/1.htm 6.2 Teams must completely fill out the roster insurance form to be covered. 7. LEAGUE PAYMENT POLICY 7.1 The LHL requires its teams to provide cheques for league fees to the LHL Treasurer. 7.2 Teams must make payments on or before the payment dates outlined in the payment schedule sent to the Captains. Failure to do so will result in interest charges, a team losing its spot in the LHL, forfeiture of games or other penalties, in the discretion of the LHL Executive. 8. FACILITY & DRESSING ROOMS 8.1 Assigned dressing rooms may not be entered no more than 30 minutes before ice time and dressing rooms are to be clean and cleared within 30 minutes after completion of each game. 8.2 Room assignments will be posted on the whiteboard in front of the players’ entrance. 9. ALCOHOL POLICY 9.1 The consumption of alcohol in the dressing rooms, bleachers, parking lot, or other unlicensed areas is strictly prohibited. A violation of this policy may result in the removal of the team for which an offending player is registered, or in other sanctions as determined by the LHL Executive. 10. FIRST AID SUPPLIES 10.1 Westside Recreation Centre provides a first aid room, but teams should supply their own first aid supplies as a primary resource in the event of injury. 11. GAME CANCELLATIONS OR DELAYS 11.1 LHL officials may stop, cancel, or delay a game in the event of poor ice conditions or other concerns related to the safety of players. Should both team Captains agree that the safety of their players is compromised, they too have the right to stop or cancel a game. Rescheduling games will be at the option of the LHL. 11.2 In the event that facilities become unavailable, or that start times may be delayed due to circumstances beyond the league’s control, or inadvertent double-booking; the LHL may, at its discretion, delay a game or rebook such ice time. 11.3 In the event of cancellations, rescheduling games will be at the discretion of the LHL. 12. LINEUPS CORRECTIONS 12.1 It is the responsibility of the team Captain, or an appointed substitute, to ensure that player numbers are entered correctly on the game sheet, and that only players who are present are accounted for. If a player arrives after the start of the game it is the team’s responsibility to identify the player to the timekeeper so that they are registered for that game. 13. EQUIPMENT 13.1 Players must wear CSA approved hockey helmets and helmet hardware. Players without proper helmets, chinstraps, and helmet clips will not be permitted on the ice during a game. 13.2 To protect against possible serious facial injury, the LHL highly recommends the use of full face shields; and when in use they must be CSA approved. The use of full face shields is not mandatory; however players that choose to play without facial protection do so at their own risk. 13.3 Goaltenders are not permitted to wear cat eye masks. 13.4 Failure to correct a piece of equipment immediately following a warning will automatically result in a minor penalty. The offending player may not return to play in that game, or any subsequent games, until the problem has been rectified. 14. TEAM JERSEYS 14.1 Teams should have a full matching set of jerseys with numbers for each player participating in the game. The goaltender will be allowed to wear a sweater that is the predominant color of the team. He is also the only one on the ice to play without a number. 14.2 If there is a color conflict, the visiting team will be required to change jerseys. 14.3 No players on any team may wear identical numbers. 14.4 If a jersey or a piece of equipment has been deemed illegal by a referee or league official it must be fixed or replaced. 15. MINIMUM NUMBER OF PLAYERS 15.1 A team must have at least 5 skaters plus a goalie prior to the scheduled start time to begin a game. If a goalie is not ready at this time, the start of the game will be delayed until the goalie is on the ice and a minor penalty (DELAY OF GAME) assessed to the goalie. If a team does not have all players on the ice at the scheduled start time, that team will forfeit the game subject to an agreement to the contrary by both team Captains. 15.2 If both teams elect to play a ‘friendly game’ after the default has been assigned, the referees must remain to officiate the game. 15.3 In the event of a goaltender injury/departure, a team may either substitute one of their dressed players immediately, or may play with 6 skaters (none of whom will have goaltender privileges). 15.4 For Major penalties, Gross Misconducts, Game Misconducts, Misconducts, and Match penalties which result in the ejection of a goalie, a sixth player will be allowed to fill in for the goalie (see Rule 15.3.). 15.5 Goalies receiving three minor penalties in a game will not receive an automatic game ejection. However, an automatic one game suspension may be assessed for that team’s next game. 15.6 Any team who is unable to ice a minimum of three skaters and a goalie for any face-off other than the opening face-off (see rule 14.1.) will forfeit the game. 16. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY & ROSTER LIMITATIONS 16.1 To be eligible to play in the LHL, players must be: 16.1.1 at least 18 years of age in order to participate in the LHL; and 16.1.2 subject to Rule 16.2, an active member of the Law Society of Alberta, an articling student , employed on a full-time basis by a law firm, or enrolled in law school. 16.2 Each team is allowed to have field a maximum of 3 non-lawyer players for any LHL game who do not meet the requirements of Section 16.1 (“Import Players”). The Import Players do not need to be the same players for the entire season. Goalies do not count as an Import Player. 16.3 To be eligible to participate during the playoffs, a player must have played a minimum of 5 regular season games with their team. This requirement does not apply to goalies. 16.4 The LHL reserves the right to refuse any player entrance into the league. 16.5 The LHL reserves the right to default a game if a team brings out a player that is of an unreasonably and noticeably higher skill level than the league standard. 16.6 Current professional players are not permitted to play. 17. TEAM CONDUCT 17.1 The team Captain is responsible for the conduct of the team. Unsportsmanlike penalties and suspensions will be assessed in the event that the inappropriate conduct exists. 17.2 There is zero tolerance for verbal or physical abuse of officials. Any player that engages in abuse of an official may be immediately ejected from the game, in addition to any other penalties as appropriate. The ejected player may also be subject to further discipline from the league executives up to and including a lifetime ban from the LHL. 18. ON-ICE GAME OFFICIALS 18.1 Game officials shall be on the ice as soon as the Zamboni is off and shall remain on the ice until both teams have left the ice surface. 19. GAME TIMING 19.1 The game clock for warm-up will start at the 5:00 minute mark when the Zamboni is off the ice and the rink doors are closed. WARM-UP: 5 minutes 1st PERIOD: 14 minutes 2nd PERIOD: 14 minutes 3rd PERIOD: 14 minutes 19.2 The referees have the discretion to stop the clock due to injury, ice problems, rule explanations, etc. 19.3 Periods will be played on a stop time basis. 19.4 If there are less than 5 minutes of actual time left in the 3rd Period of a game, the game clock will be dropped to 2 minutes. 19.5 Game time will stop during a penalty shot and will resume after the shot has been taken. 20. BODY CHECKING & SLAPSHOTS 20.1 Body checking is not allowed. 20.2 Slapshots are permitted. 21. ICING THE PUCK & TWO LINE PASSES 21.1 The icing marker will be the defensive blue line, not the red line. 21.2 Icing will be called even if the puck travels through the goal crease. 21.3 Two-line passes are legal; the red line will NOT be in play. 22. TIME-OUTS 22.1 There are no time-outs allotted in any games. 23. LINE CHANGES 23.1 Players will be allowed to change on the fly. PART II – PENALTIES, SUSPENSIONS & BONDS 24. PENALTY RECORDING PROCEDURE
25. GAME EJECTIONS and SUSPENSIONS 25.1 Rather than penalize the team, referees may issue game ejections for players. Normally, this type of penalty will not result in an additional suspension. However, it will be recorded, and should it become a common occurrence, a suspension recommendation may be made to the LHL. 25.2 Suspensions may only be issued by the LHL Executive. 26. PENALTIES 26.1 The first face-off of a power play will be placed in the defending zone of the team that committed the penalty, unless during the period of the delayed penalty call the team not being penalized contacts the puck with a high stick, ices the puck, or when the attacking teams’ defense enter the outer edge of the end face-off circle during an altercation, gathering or “scrum”, then the face-off will be placed in the neutral zone nearest the defending blue line of the team causing the stoppage. 26.2 If a player enters the crease area before the puck and a goal is scored the goal will be disallowed and a face-off will take place in the neutral zone. 26.3 Players must remain off the ice surface until the Zamboni has left and the doors are closed. Failure to do so may result in a minor penalty. 26.4 Contacting the puck with the stick above shoulder height is prohibited. When it occurs, play shall be stopped immediately, and a face-off will take place in the offending team’s defensive zone. NOTE: The crossbar is not an applicable point of reference for high sticking. 26.5 Verbal abuse of on-ice officials, off-ice league officials, LHL Executives, and opponents will not be tolerated. Suspensions may be levied in cases where abusive, offensive, derogatory language, racial slurs, and/or obscene gestures are directed toward officials and opponents. 26.6 Physical abuse of on-ice or off-ice officials may result in a permanent LHL ban. 26.7 Any contact to an opponent’s head/neck area resulting in a penalty will result in an additional minor penalty (contact to the head) and reviewable by LHL for suspensions. 26.8 All actions, penalized or otherwise, both on and off the ice are subject to league discipline. 26.9 Disciplinary Committee: Any players receiving Majors, Misconducts, Game & Gross Misconducts, Game Ejections and Match penalties will have their actions reviewed by the LHL disciplinary committee. The committee may assess additional suspensions depending upon the penalty and the players’ history. NOTE: Referee write-ups are mandatory for these penalties. 26.10 Major Penalties: Will all be accompanied by a Game Misconduct. 26.11 Double Minor Penalties: Count as 2 penalties under the game ejection rule for three penalties in one game (see Rule 25.15.) 26.12 Misconducts during the Last 10 minutes of a Game: May result in a minimum one game suspension. The same applies for misconducts immediately following a game. 26.13 Ejected Players: Players ejected from a game for any reason whatsoever must immediately proceed to their respective dressing rooms. After changing into street clothes the player may then return to watch the game from the stands only. If the individual fails to follow this rule or causes any disturbance whatsoever, especially on preventing the game from continuing its regular flow, the player may be subject to an additional suspension. 26.14 Three Penalties in a Game: Any player receiving 3 minor penalties during the same game will be ejected. Goalies may be allowed to continue playing (see rule 15.5). Any player being ejected for 3 minors for the third time may be subject to disciplinary action by the LHL. 26.15 Delayed Penalties: All delayed penalties will be recorded on the official LHL game sheet. If an opposing team scores on the delayed call, the individual(s) who was to be assessed the delayed penalty will not serve the penalty (MINORS ONLY). 26.16 Serving Another Player’s Penalty: No player may serve another team member’s penalty except in the following situations: (i) A penalty assessed to the goalie (player must be on the ice at the time of the infraction). (ii) A penalty assessed to a player having been ejected from the game. (iii) Any minor penalty assessed to a player having to leave the game because of an injury. (iv) For any Misconduct penalty resulting in an ejection or injury to that player, no other player is required to serve this penalty.
NOTE: Players may rotate from the bench to the penalty box when serving an ejected player’s penalty, but there has to be one player in the penalty box when the penalty expires, otherwise the team will continue to play short-handed until the next whistle. 27. SUSPENSIONS 27.1 LHL players may be suspended for any injurious, dangerous or objectionable on or off-ice offenses. This includes offences that have gone unnoticed by officials, were not called, or were only penalized as a minor penalty at the time of the infraction. 27.2 Any altercation in the hallway may result in a suspension. This includes verbal abuse. 27.3 Unless otherwise stipulated by the LHL, suspended players may not play with other LHL teams. 27.4 Team Captain’s will be held responsible for spare players’ actions. A suspension to a spare player may result in an additional suspension to the team Captain. 27.5 Suspended players may watch the game from the stands only. They may not watch the game from the bench or at ice level. 27.6 Misconduct in the last 10 minutes of the 3rd period will result in an automatic 1 game suspension. 28. FIGHTING 28.1 Fighting may result in a suspension for the remainder of the season. The instigator/aggressor may be suspended for additional game(s). Any player taking physical advantage of an unwilling and non-punching opponent may be banned for life from the LHL. This is not a goon league, and league officials will not tolerate intimidation and revenge on the ice. Please note that criminal charges may be pursued and are a very real possibility. 28.2 Any player suspended for fighting must attend a disciplinary review before they will be permitted to play in any further seasons in the LHL. NOTE: Gloves do not have to be off for an altercation to be deemed a fight. PART III - LEAGUE OPERATING PRACTICES 29. SEASON STRUCTURE 29.1 Each team is guaranteed a minimum of 23 games, including 21 regular season games and a 2 minimum playoff games. 30. TIE-BREAKERS 30.1 The following tie-breakers will be used if two or more teams are tied in points: (i) Most wins (ii) Regular season head-to-head (iii) Coin Toss 30.2 Games may end in a tie. 30.3 Games that require a winner will end in a shoot-out during which 3 players will shoot for each team. If the game is still tied after 3 shooters a sudden-death shoot-out will ensue. Teams will then run through the remaining players on the team until a goal is scored. A player that is in the penalty box at the end of regulation time is not allowed to take part in the shoot-out. Ejected players may not return for the shoot-out. 31. PLAYOFF FORMAT 31.1 All teams will qualify for the playoffs. As the match-ups become available the schedule will be posted on the website. 31.2 Games will be scheduled according to final regular season standings. Standings include all games played during the season. 31.3 All games require a winner. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, a 5 minute, sudden death, 3-on-3 overtime period will take place. 31.4 If the game still is tied, a shootout will take place where 3 players will shoot for each team. The players will shoot in the order they have been registered on the shoot-out form. If the game is still tied after 3 shooters, a sudden-death shoot-out will ensue. Teams will then run through the remaining players on the team until a goal is scored. A player that is in the penalty box at the end of regulation time is not allowed to take part in the shoot-out. Ejected players may not return for the shoot-out. 32. RULE CHANGES 32.1 The LHL reserves the right to make any changes and/or additions/deletions to the above rules. Rule changes will be posted on the website and/or will be e-mailed to team representatives before the change is enacted. COVID PROTOCOLS
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, certain protocols are in place to help ensure the health and safety of all players. All LHL players must abide by current Alberta Health Services ("AHS") protocols (available online at: www.alberta.ca/covid) as well as the protocols implemented by Westside Recreation (attached for your reference as Schedule "A" hereto). In addition, the following guidelines are in place for the 2020-2021 LHL season:
SCHEDULE "A" ARENA COVID 19 Protocols Check List
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