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ALL LEAGUE POLICIES AND RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
*** Updated September 2024 ***
SECTION A – LEAGUE POLICIES
SECTION B – PLAYING RULES
SUPPLEMENTARY DISCIPLINE; In addition to suspensions imposed under the Rule Amendments from Hockey Canada, MAHL League Executive may investigate ANY incident that occurs in connection with any game and may assess additional suspensions during or after a game whether or not such an offense has been called by the referee. A player’s additional suspension and/or even expulsion from the league could result after the league executive completes their investigation of an incident.
SECTION C : SUSPENSIONS
All infractions occurring before, during and after any scheduled game are subject to review by League Executive. MAHL has the authority to levy suspensions in accordance with the minimum standards and at their discretion, increase or decrease suspensions due to extenuating circumstances.
A PLAYER RECEIVING A SUSPENSION IS SUSPENDED FROM ALL TEAMS UNTIL THEIR SUSPENSION IS COMPLETED (i.e. their return date is achieved). For example, a Player is playing for Team “A” and Team “B.” The Player receives a 3 game suspension for Fighting while laying for Team “A.” The Player must sit out three of Team “A’s” games before he / she is eligible to play again for Team “A” or Team “B.” Therefore, if Team “B” has 2 games in that period of time, the Player will sit out a total of 5 games for the original penalty infraction.
Note 1: an accidental high-sticking Major penalty will be accompanied by a Game Ejection penalty (rather than a Game Misconduct).
Note 2: Players are not permitted on the bench (or near the bench) area during games while they are under suspension.
Note 3: If a suspension issued to a player extends beyond the end of the season (i.e 5 game suspension with 3 games remaining), the player will be required to serve the balance of their suspension at the start of the next season.
OFFENSE MINIMUM RECOMMENDED MAHL SUSPENSION
Game Ejection: Balance of Game unless assessed by league officials
Misconduct Penalty (1st Offense): 1 Game and Review by League Manager
Misconduct Penalty (2nd Offense): 3 Games and Review by League Manager
Misconduct Penalty (3rd Offense) Expulsion
Major Penalty (1st Offense): 1 Game and Review by League Manager
Major Penalty (2nd Offense): 3 Games and Review by League Manager
Major Penalty (3rd Offense): Expulsion
Fighting (First Offense): 3 minimum up to Expulsion (See rule 5)
Fighting (Second Offense): Balance of Season (see Rule 5)
Match/Gross Misconduct: Immediate Expulsion from the League
(A) SUSPENSION APPEALS
A Player may appeal a suspension of three (3) or more games by filing a written submission with the League Manager and paying a two hundred dollar ($200) review fee. The appeal letter must be submitted to the League Manager within thirty (30) days of the suspension’s issue and must be paid before an appeal hearing will be organized.
The letter must outline the basis for the appeal (e.g. Player’s penalty history, comparable suspension length for a similar incident, etc.) and include the registered charity of choice. A suspension appeal may only be made by the Team Representative.
The League Manager will convene a hearing with an odd number of Team Representatives (minimum three) currently registered with the League at the facility. The committee will examine League evidence, review the appeal letter, and allow an opportunity for the suspended Player to address the panel. If the suspension length is reduced, the $200 fee will be refunded. If however, the suspension length is upheld (or extended) the $200 fee will be donated to the registered charity of the appealing Player’s choice.
Note: Players receiving a permanent suspension or facility ban will be directed to appeal to the MAHL Manager.
SECTION D - PENALTIES
5.1 HIGH STICKING
A Player who contacts an opponent above the normal height of his shoulders with a high stick shall be assessed a Double Minor, Major or Match penalty at the discretion of the Referee. If injury results, a Major penalty or Match penalty will be assessed, depending on the intent of the offending Player. If the infraction is deemed to be accidental, a Major and Game Ejection will be assessed (game time served with no suspension). Again, this decision will be made by the Referee. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL PLAYERS TO BE IN CARE AND CONTROL OF THEIR STICK AT ALL TIMES DURING THE GAME.
5.2 BODY CHECKING / BOARDING
Deliberate body checking / boarding is not permitted anywhere on the ice. Any incidental collisions or accidental contact will be judged by a Referee based on the Hockey Canada definition of checking – Rule 50 (b): “no Player is entitled to use his body to intentionally body check, bump, push, or shove an opponent.” If injury results, a Major penalty or Match penalty will be assessed, depending on the intent of the offending Player. If the infraction is deemed to be intentional, a Major and Game Ejection will be assessed (game time served with no suspension). Again, this decision will be made by the Referee.
Body checking / boarding calls will be cumulative: ANY TEAM RECEIVING THREE (3) BODY CHECKING AND / OR BOARDING PENALTIES IN ONE GAME WILL SERVE THE THIRD (AND ANY SUBSEQUENT PENALTIES) AS FIVE (5) MINUTE MAJORS.
Any Player receiving a 2nd Major penalty for Body Checking or Boarding in one season will receive an automatic two (2) game suspension and must attend an interview with the League Manager before returning to play.
5.3 BUTT-ENDING
A Double Minor, Major or Match penalty will be assessed to any Player who butt-ends or attempts to butt-end an opponent. Injury and / or intent will be the determining factor in which penalty is assessed, and will be at the discretion of the Referee.
5.4 ROUGHING
A Minor or Major penalty shall be assessed to any Player who, in the Referee’s judgment, is guilty of unnecessary rough play. When an injury results from an infraction to this rule, a Major penalty plus a Game Misconduct may be assessed. Any Player with cumulative rough play penalties will be reviewed by the League Manager and may be suspended.
5.4 (A) ROUGHING AFTER THE WHISTLE
The Player first identified of engaging in rough play after the whistle shall be penalized. If retaliation occurs, then the Player first identified as causing the unnecessary rough play after the whistle may be assessed four minutes (two for roughing and two for unsportsmanlike conduct) while the retaliating player is assessed a Minor, Major or Match penalty, at the discretion of the Referee.
5.5 (A) FIGHTING
All 1st offense Fighting Majors will result in a minimum 3 game suspension. Repeat offenders will be suspended for the Balance of the MAHL season (regular season plus playoffs) and may be permanently suspended
5.5 (B) FIGHTING and or PHYSICAL ALTERCATION – OFF THE PLAYING SURFACE
A Major penalty plus Game Misconduct penalty shall be assessed to any Player who is involved in a fight with another Player off the playing surface. The Adult Safe Hockey League will not tolerate this behavior and an indefinite suspension of all Players involved will occur, pending a review by the League Manager.
5.6 SPEARING
A Double Minor penalty shall be assessed to any Player who pokes or jabs (or attempts to jab) an opposing Player with the toe of the blade of the stick. A Match penalty shall be assessed to any Player who deliberately spears or deliberately attempts to spear by jabbing forcefully with the toe of the stick blade, or who injures an opponent by any spearing action.
5.7 SLASHING
A Minor penalty, Double Minor, Major or Match penalty, at the discretion of the Referee, shall be assessed to any Player who swings their stick at an opponent (whether out of range or not, whether actually striking him or not) or who, on the pretext of playing the puck, makes a wild swing at the puck with the object of intimidating their opponent. A Minor Penalty, Double Minor, Major or Match penalty, at the discretion of the Referee, shall be assessed to any Player who impedes or seeks to impede the progress of an opponent by slashing with his / her stick.
5.8 CROSS-CHECKING
A Minor penalty, Double Minor, Major or Match penalty at the discretion of the Referee, shall be assessed to any Player who cross-checks an opponent. A Major penalty and a Game Misconduct penalty shall be assessed to any Player who injures an opponent as a result of a crosscheck. Any Player who strikes an opponent above the normal height of his shoulders with a cross-check shall incur a Major penalty and a Game Misconduct penalty, whether or not injury results. A Match penalty may also be assessed to any player who deliberately injures an opponent with a cross-check.
5.8 A Goalie Interference
Any infraction where there is goalie inference, the player will be assessed a minor penalty. The referee at his discretion may assess the player a double minor penalty for goaltender interference.
5.9 SLEW-FOOTING & CHECKING FROM BEHIND
A Major or Match penalty, at the discretion of the Referee, shall be assessed to any Player who slew-foots or checks an opponent from behind. There will be an automatic Game Misconduct assessed to any Player penalized with a Slew-footing or Checking From Behind penalty during a game. Any Player that persists in committing these infractions will be removed from the League.
5.10 MISCONDUCTS
Any Player, except a Goaltender, incurring a Misconduct penalty, shall be ruled off the ice for a period of ten (10) minutes actual playing time. A substitute for the penalized Player shall be permitted immediately. A Player serving a Misconduct penalty shall remain on the penalty bench until the first stoppage of play following the expiration of their penalty. All Misconduct penalties are subject to review by the League Manager. No Player shall be required to serve a Misconduct penalty for another Player. Players or goaltenders receiving a misconduct penalty will be subject to a (1) game suspension for the 1st offense, for 2nd and 3rd offenses sees minimum suspension lengths above.
5.11 GAME MISCONDUCTS
Any Player or Coach that receives a Game Misconduct penalty will be ejected for the balance of the game. The player will also receive a (1) game suspension for the 1st offense, for 2nd and 3rd offenses sees minimum suspension lengths above. All Game Misconduct penalties are subject to review (and possibly further suspension) by the league manager.
5.12 STICK INFRACTIONS
In the MAHL, stick infractions are assessed as minor penalties. At the discretion of the referee a double minor penalty may be assessed for stick infraction penalties.
Stick infractions include:
• High Sticking
• Cross-Checking
• Slashing
• Butt-Ending
• Spearing
5.121 MINOR PENALTIES:
Below infractions are considered Minor penalties (i.e. two minutes)
• Tripping
• Hooking
• Holding
• Interference
5.13 GAME EJECTIONS
Any Player receiving three (3) Minor penalties or two (2) stick infractions in one game will receive a Game Ejection penalty. If the third Minor penalty is coincidental, that Player will not be ejected until a fourth Minor is incurred. Note: by definition, coincidental penalties must be of the same severity and length. Example: if Player A receives a high-sticking Minor (4:00) and Player B receives a roughing Minor (2:00) during the same stoppage in play, these are NOT considered to be coincidental.
If a Goaltender receives a Game Ejection for penalties, the Goaltender will be allowed to stay in the game, and will be suspended for the next scheduled game.
A repetition in Game Ejections for any Player or Team can result in suspension.
5.14 GROSS MISCONDUCTS
The Player is immediately ejected from the game and the incident will be reviewed by the League Manager. This penalty will be assessed to any Player, Coach, or Team Official who makes obscene gestures, excessively abuses spectators, other Players or League Officials OR attempts to make a travesty of the game.
5.14 (A) GROSS MISCONDUCTS – RACIAL / CULTURAL SLURS
If any Player utters a racial or cultural slur before, during or after an MAHL game, the PLAYER will automatically receive a Gross Misconduct and be suspended according to the rules of the League. There will be no tolerance for this type of behavior and the League will be very harsh with their assessment of suspensions. Should the Player committing the offense not be discovered, the TEAM REPRESENTATIVE will be automatically indefinitely suspended, pending a review by League Officials and / or Facility Management.
5.15 (A) MATCH PENALTIES – INVOLVING A LEAGUE OFFICIAL
Automatic indefinite suspension from the League. There is no minimum suspension. This penalty will be assessed when a Player, Coach or Team Official, verbally, physically threatens or abuses any League Official (Managers, Referees, Timekeepers, etc.).
5.15 (B) MATCH PENALTIES – INVOLVING A PLAYER
Automatic indefinite suspension from the League. There is no minimum suspension. This penalty will be assessed when any Player physically abuses another Player with INTENT TO INJURE. Attempt to injure is, in the opinion of the Referee, an automatic Match penalty, regardless of whether it causes injury or not, and will be reviewed by the League Manager. The pending results of the injury will be considered by the League Manager when determining the length of the suspension and whether additional penalties are to be handed out.
5.16 DISQUALIFIED / EJECTED PLAYERS
Teams are responsible for ensuring that Players who are disqualified or ejected from an MAHL game, for any reason, immediately leave the playing surface and retire to the Team’s dressing room. The Team Representative or Captain is additionally responsible for ensuring the ejected Player REMAINS IN THE DRESSING ROOM FOR THE BALANCE OF THE GAME (unless otherwise permitted to watch the remainder of the game by League Management).
Ejected Players who remain at rink side or who refuse to retire to the dressing room will be subject to further suspension and / or possible expulsion from the League. In this situation, MAHL Officials can end the game prematurely and charge the offending Team with a default. Any Player who has been ejected from a game that returns to the ice surface will face an indefinite suspension pending review by MAHL
If a player accrues 30 or more minor penalty minutes during the regular season, the player will be suspended for 1 game and reviewed by the league executive. If a player accrues an additional 10 minutes in minor penalties, (40 minutes) that player will be suspended for another game. If a player accrues another 10 minutes or more in minor penalties, (50 minutes) that player will be suspended for the remainder of the regular season as well as playoffs.
SECTION E – LEAGUE DISCIPLINE PROCESS
The league will use the following process to investigate an incident that occurs in connection with any game and/or complaints received regarding player conduct;
League Executive will collect information pertaining to the incident/complaint from team captains, players, referees, league officials and any other person that can contribute information helpful to the investigation. All information collected is placed on an MAHL incident report spreadsheet. All communications with League Executive or League Officials must be directed through the respective team captain/representative.
League Executive will forward the incident report to at least two players from the league that volunteer to make discipline and or suspension recommendations. League Executive will make note of suspensions that were delivered in similar previous league incidents and will also advise if the person(s) involved have any history of discipline issues. The volunteers review all information supplied and report back to League Executive with recommendations for disciplinary action. League Executive will issue suspension notices to the team representatives who are responsible for ensuring that suspensions are administered and carried out. The League Executive reserves the right to amend recommended suspensions to improve on the quality, safety and effectiveness of the league.
There will be at least two volunteers from the Over 35 Division that will review incidents/complaints from the Competitive Division and two volunteers from the Competitive Division that will review incidents/complaints from the Over 35 division to avoid any possible conflict of interest.
In the event that the team captain/representative is the subject involved in a disciplinary situation they are not allowed to represent themselves in the process. The team captain/representative must appoint a member of their team to co-ordinate all communications related to that incident with the league representative.ALLLW
MILTON ADULT HOCKEY LEAGUE
Team Representative Responsibility
I AGREE:
That by the acceptance of my application and permission to participate as Team Representative I will conform to and follow all policies, procedures and rules as instructed by the League Executive of both present and future additions, when deemed appropriate by the league. I acknowledge and understand the following responsibilities as Team Representative.
Failure to meet the above deadlines for league fees and roster submission will result team suspension as they will not be allowed on the ice due to league liability.
Failure to meet any other of the league rules, regulations, protocols and captains responsibilities will be subject to a one game suspension of the captain and possibly further discipline as deemed appropriate by the league executive
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