Attention:      Referees  and MGHL Members

Date:         September 11, 2017

RE: _             Standards of Play

 

Standards of Play

 

• The MGHL  will utilize Hockey Canada Sr rules with a few exceptions ( High stick causing injury will be a double minor plus a game misconduct

• Any abuse of the officials will not be tolerated.  Refs will  call the minor first, then straight to the game misconduct if the offender persists;  no misconduct; this stupid behavior has no place in the league.

• The ref must hold themselves to that standard as well towards the players. Use the rules to remove the abuse and report serious incidents to the Assignor or Referee coordinator.  

• Ear guards must be worn by all players, anyone without ear guards will be given a game ejection.

 

Can we also get it put on there somewhere that an ear guard violation is now a straight game ejection without warning.

 

 

Game flow

• If the game score is within 3 goals(two goal spread) with five minutes left in the game the rest of the game will be played stop time.

  • If there is no time keeper one official will run the clock or to keep the refs doing their job on the ice can ask the teams to supply time keeper

  • If there is no other referee the game will be played in running time.  If this happens line changes will only happen on the fly. This is to control the teams that waste time. Again the ref has the option to ask the teams to supply a timekeeper

  • Tie Game Protocol – (Regular Season and Play Offs) If the game is tied at the end of regulation time there will be a seven-minute run time, sudden death period. Numerical strength of players will be 4 on 4.  After the period, has ended and if it is still tied, the game ends in a tie. The Tie Game Protocol will be in effect during the playoffs for non-elimination games.   

• Please refer to the rule books for further interpretations of game flow rules (Hockey Canada standards apply other than indicated by the league bylaws and policies)

• Icings should be called as per the icing standard in either rule book.  Some teams use to their advantage that some refs let more icings go than others. A faster team uses the dump as an opportunity to gain zone advantage, call what is there.  

• Referees will use the line change procedure as outlined in the CHA playing rules.  This helps to speed up flow and stop the after whistle gatherings.)

 

Calling of Penalties

• Any play player incurring 3 penalties in a game is ejected for the rest of the game.  Only major and match penalties are to be reported to the executive. This means incidents, a double minor for penalty is not 2 penalties, a player incurring two different minors on the play is 2 incidents (example a slash to two different players in not a double minor)

• When the attacking team in the attacking zone incurs a penalty the resulting face off will be taken back to the closest face-off spot in their defending zone.

 

Slew Foot

• The act of slew footing includes contact with the back of the defending player's skates or leg or a kicking or leg dragging motion in which it knocks out the defending player's feet from under him along with the motion of the offending player's upper body/arm or stick forcing the defending player backwards

The Call:

• A player who slew foots an opponent shall be assessed a double minor penalty and a game misconduct if he is standing still while committing the foul.

• Should the player be moving (skating) or if any injury results from the infraction, the player shall be assessed a match penalty.

• A match penalty shall be assessed to any play who attempts to injures or deliberately injuries an opponent with a slew foot.

 

Penalty Standards

 

EQUIPMENT

• Helmets (2017Rule Emphasis)

  • The chin straps of the helmet shall be securely fastened under the chin (gap of 1cm from chin to strap).  One warning will be issued to the offending team. Them all subsequent violations will result is the offending player receiving a 10 min Misconduct

  • Where a player wears a helmet in an offset position during play.  The team shall receive one warning and any subsequent infraction by the same team will result in a Misconduct penalty assessed to the offending player

  • Ear Guards  and certified half visors for players are mandatory and they must be installed and functioning as intended. (no ear guards shoved deep inside the helmet, Visors secured properly not tipped up high on the helmet or installed upside down)

HOLDING

• A player cannot wrap his/her arms around an opponent or use a free hand to clutch, grab or hold the stick, jersey or body on the opponent in a manner that impedes their progress. Examples include:

  • wrapping one or both arms around the opponent along the boards in a manner that pins them against the boards and prevents them from playing the puck or skating

  • grabbing the opponent’s body, stick or sweater with one or both hands

 

INTERFERENCE

• A player cannot use his/her body (“pick” or “block”) to impede the progress of an opponent with no effort to play the puck, maintain normal foot speed or established skating lane. Examples include:

  • Intentionally playing the body of an opponent who does not have possession or possession and control of the puck.

  • using the body to establish a ”pick” or “block” that prevents an opponent from being able to chase a puck carrier

  • reducing foot speed or changing an established skating lane for the purpose of impeding an opponent from being able to chase a puck carrier

Allowed Actions

• a player is entitled to the ice he occupies as long as they are able to maintain their own foot speed and body position between opponent and puck
• players are allowed to compete for body position using their strength and balance in front of the goal or along the boards

SLASHING

• The use of the stick will be limited to only playing the puck. Any stick contact, as a result of a slashing motion, to the hands/ arms or body of the opponent will be strictly penalized. In addition, hard slashes to the upper portion of the stick (just below the hands) of an opponent, with no attempt to legally play the puck, shall also be penalized accordingly.

OTHER INFRACTIONS

• In addition to the above mentioned enforcement standards, all other infractions, including contact to the head, checking from behind, cross checking, high sticking and roughing shall be penalized to a strict enforcement standard.

 

Incident Reporting

 

Calling of Majors and Match Penalties  

• All Major (7min/running time or 5min/stop time) Penalties that are called the team will be short the full duration of the penalty regardless of how many goals are scored in that time.  For Match penalties the penalty time is the same(7min/running time or 5min/stop time).  Someone from the ice has to serve the penalty due to the offender be sent off for the rest of the game.  All majors may have additional games served to serve as per league review and guide lines.

• For accidental high-sticking drawing blood a double minor not a major will be assessed.  The player will also be assessed a game ejection

• The offending player will be sent off for the duration of the game and further suspensions may be added by the executive.  The offending player cannot discuss the call with the official and the penalized player must leave the ice immediately.  Team captains can do this respectfully with the referee, if not they need to be penalized as accordingly as outlined in the playing rules.  Do not discuss further suspensions.  This is for the Team reps and Executive will discuss.   

• After the game an email summarizing the incident must be sent to the MGHL Executive:  Assignor – Devin Wentzel (devin@fmhockeyrefs.com), Referee Coordinator - Bryce Horbachewski (bryce.is@shaw.ca), Suspensions Coordinator Brody Ellis (brodyellis14@gmail.com) and the league President – Chad Hillcox(Chillcox@hotmail.com).  This must be done within 24 hours so that if further suspensions are given they can be in effect ASAP.

• Suspensions for Major Penalties :

Additional suspensions may be issued.  Teams may incur fines as well for not controlling their players in instances like these.

• Any minor penalty that causes an injury it is immediately is considered a Major Penalty.

  • Examples

1. A Slash causing a player to get hurt  

2. A high stick (all high sticking infractions are major penalties) to the face causing the player to get cut.  

These would be considered Majors.  (Accidental high sticking causing injury would be considered a double minor in senior hockey….see the rule book for interpretation)

• Match Penalties are the worst of all penalties.  These types are Deliberate Attempt to Injure, Abuse of the Official.  These require an incident report ASAP to the League.  The offending player is suspended until further notice by the league. This is behavior that is not condoned by the league and suspensions will be harsh.

 

Calling of Gross Misconducts (When Players or Teams Act Stupid)

• Any player or team official incurring a “Gross Misconduct” penalty shall be ejected from the game. A substitute for the penalized player shall be permitted immediately.

• Gross Misconduct penalties shall be assessed where a person conducts himself in such a manner as to make a travesty of the game.

• Any player or team official who is assessed a Gross Misconduct penalty shall automatically be suspended for a minimum of the next regular league, play-off, or tournament game.

• A full incident summary must be reported to the executive and assignor within 24 hours.

 

Suspension details will be posted on the web.  The offender and duration of suspension will be included.  Players facing suspensions are suspended immediately from play until the duration of suspension is complete.

 

This is just some information to help conduct a smooth, fair and safe game.   For more information rules see the CARHA rule book and Hockey Canada rule book.

 

Please note some rules in the MGHL are not enforced to the standard as the CARHA rules are stated but we use the Hockey Canada Standard (the rule of thumb, for majors and match penalties we follow Hockey Canada). If you have questions please consult the Referee Coordinator or the league assignor for clarifications.

 

Bryce Horbachewski

Vice President