Rules

MGHL BYLAWS

Last Update August 22, 2024

Bylaw #1 - General Rules

Hockey Canada rule book shall be used to govern League play. League Bylaws will take precedence over Hockey Canada guidelines if there is any conflict.

Hockey Canada Rule Book Download

Bylaw #2 - Fees

Registration fees are to be collected annually and paid in full at maximum 2 weeks post commencement of League play. Date is set by League Executive Committee.
Registration fees are to be payable by certified cheque, money order or cash in the amount specified by the Executive Committee.
Any team failing to pay fees in full, as per sub (a) shall render the said team ejected from the League, with no refund for monies paid to date.
If a team is unable to pay fees in full by the set date under (a) and require an extension this must be requested 1 week (7 Days) prior to the deadline.

Bylaw #3 – Teams

All teams will communicate intent to continue involvement by at least 1 month (30 Days) post season completion. Any team failing to confirm involvement will be considered as not returning the following season.
Any changes to Team Representatives must be communicated to League Executive. This ensures timely sharing of League information forwarded from League Executive Committee.
All communication between a Team and the Executive Committee shall be carried out by the Team Representative.
Teams who forfeit more than 5 games during the regular season will be deemed in-eligible to participate in the playoffs for that year.

Bylaw #4 – Players

All players must be signed (carded) for insurance purposes.

All teams may only sign a maximum of twenty-five (25) players. Initial team Rosters must be submitted at the time of registration. Players must be added to this list before they participate in any games. A phone call or e-mail to League Executive will suffice for new player additions (name, address, phone number and date-of-birth is required for the insurance form). Rosters are to be finalized and frozen by a date selected by the executive group each year. If after rosters have been submitted, players wish to join the League, only prior approval of the Executive Committee and having a signed insurance card, will they be allowed to participate.
1. FMWHL Teams may only sign a maximum of twenty-seven (27) Players. . Initial team Rosters must be submitted at the time of registration. Players must be added to this list before they participate in any games. A phone call or e-mail to League Executive will suffice for new player additions (name, address, phone number and date-of-birth is required for the insurance form). Rosters are to be finalized and frozen by a date selected by the executive group each year. If after rosters have been submitted, players wish to join the League, only prior approval of the Executive Committee and having a signed insurance card, will they be allowed to participate.
All League members must be signed to a player’s card as per Bylaw 3 (a,b) or they will be considered illegal and said team subject to forfeiture of games.
All registered players are allowed to play in any position, this includes goaltenders.
No player shall be on a team roster unless they are 18 years of age or older. Any player wishing to play that is less than 18 years of age, must sign a waiver form releasing the League from any liability. Form will be provided by League.
Games that are played with illegal players will all be defaulted from the game in question and forward. To dispute or protest the game based on illegal player, it must be done during the game by letting the referee know you are playing under protest:
1. Informing the referee(s) of the protest before the conclusion of the game. Ensure it is noted on the game sheet prior to the end of the game & Time of game the protest was issued.
2. Additionally Within 48 hrs. of the game being played, an official protest to the League President or Vice President must be lodged via e-mail. The complaint will be followed up and a ruling/judgment issued in a timely fashion.
Players are only permitted to be rostered and participate in play for one team in the league, (Exception Goal Tenders).
Any players who wish to substitute for another team must follow the process outlined below.
1. Have the team they are substituting for make a request with a member of the opposing team providing Name & Team of Substituting player. If Player is from the Substitute list the team will advise of that. This request must be made by text or email to ensure written agreement.
2. The Opposing team shall confirm or deny the player. If the opposing team does not answer the player is ineligible to participate in the game.
3. Substituted games do not count for playoff eligibility.
Players who would like to be released from a team must do so in writing to the league executive once the season starts explaining what team they are looking to leave and what team they would like to join. Players will not be permitted to play for another team without the approval of the league executive.
Any player removed from a teams roster will not be eligible to be re-added to the teams roster for a period of 30 days to prevent the 25 player limit circumvention.
Forfeits do count towards game played in an eligibility dispute. Teams not forfeiting will have their entire roster receive 1 Game Played. A Team Guilty of the forfeit will have no players receive a Game Played.

Bylaw #5 - suspensions

Suspensions given for sections Bylaws #5 will be the responsibility of the Executive Committee.
Any penalties incurred for sections Bylaws #7, 8, & 9 will be reviewed and rendered by the Executive Committee, as laid out in Article 3 (7). The President or Vice President will pass on the decision to the Team Representative for the player in question.
Any Player who plays while under a suspension will be suspended for a minimum of 10 additional games.
The Executive Committee shall have further authority to overrule a suspension length at any time during the season.
Appeals for any suspensions must be made within 48 hrs. of decision to League President. All appeals will be formally heard by the Executive Committee. Any decision on appeal by the Executive Committee is to be considered final.
1. Any Appeal is required to provide un-biased evidence (Video or 3^rd party Statement) to be considered by the executive Committee.
2. Any Appeal that fails to provide evidence to support will be immediately denied and team subject to fines under Bylaw #6 (d).

Bylaw #6 – Fines

Forfeiture of Game, any team forfeiting/defaulting a game within 3 hours of scheduled game time will result in a $175 fine.
Any communication regarding league operation initiated by a player to a Leage Executive will subject that players team to a $100 fine. Each Team will receive 1 warning in the first season.
Any Team which allows an illegal player to participate in a game will be fined $100.00 and will forfeit the game.
Any Team allowing a suspended player to participate in a game shall forfeit the game and be fined $100.00 by the league.
All failed appeals for any suspension will be subject to a $100 dollar Fine.
Any Fines incurred by a team shall be paid in full prior to their next scheduled game. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of games until the fine is paid.

Bylaw #7 - penalties

All Penalties called are subject to Supplemental discipline under the suspension Rubric. See Bylaw #5 – Suspensions (b).
All players who play on teams which are not on the team’s active roster without prior approval under Bylaw #4 (l) shall be suspended for three (3) games.

Major - Any major within the last 10 minutes of a game automatically is suspended for the remainder of game being played, plus one (1) additional game. Further review by Executive Committee of this penalty may occur pending recommendation from Referee-in-Chief.
All Major Penalties (5:00 or More) issued during game play will be an automatic 5 game suspension, appeals can be made in writing to the league president. Referee's discretion of the play in question will be considered before any reduction of suspension by the league.
Three (3) minor penalties rule - If a player receives three (3) minor penalties during a game, said player will be ejected for the remainder of the game.
Fighting - Two (2) willing combatant(s) will receive a five (5) minute major and a game misconduct.
1. Hockey Canada Rule 7.11 (b) – Fighting (Major) “A Major penalty and a Game Misconduct penalty will be assessed to any player that fights an opposing player”
2. FMWHL Has zero tolerance for fighting, players will be immediately ejected from the league for participating in a fight of any kind.
If fight occurs within the last ten (10) minutes of the game an additional one (1) game suspension will be applied.
One-sided fight will be at the referee’s discretion with a minimum of eight (8) games to a maximum of a lifetime suspension from the MGHL and all associations associated with the MGHL depending on the severity of the altercation.
All 10-minute Misconducts or Game Misconducts in the final 10 minutes will result in a minimum 1 game suspension following review from the Executive Committee.
Any gross misconducts will be assessed a minimum five (5) games to a maximum of a lifetime suspension from the MGHL and all associations associated with the MGHL depending on the severity of the altercation.
All suspensions exceeding 5 games will be reviewed by the MGHL executive, the referee and chief and the officials refereeing the game at the time.

Bylaw #8 - Match penalties

Match Penalties - Automatic 5 game suspension minimum, plus a fine of $10 per game suspended to a maximum of $100. A longer suspension may result depending on the Referees incident report and review by the Disciplinary Committee.

Bylaw #9 – Match on Official

Match Penalties on Officials will result in Expulsion from League for a minimum of 1 calendar year from the date of suspension
Rule#11.5 (c) in the Hockey Canada Official Rule book? Is the most severe penalty in the rulebook. The following is a list of procedures and guidelines that should be followed when making this judgment:
1. Ensure the match penalty is properly recorded on all copies of the game sheet. After the game, keep the white copy of the game sheet.
2. Make sure the number and name of player(s) are correct and legible on the game sheet.
3. Referees will make a few notes on the incident at the arena before you leave (while things are still fresh in your mind).
4. Phone MGHL League President/Referee-in-Chief as soon as possible after the incident. It is imperative that we speak within 12 hours of the incident.
5. Prepare a detailed description of the incident in an e-mail and forward to Referee-in-Chief and/or MGHL League Executive.
6. E-mail or deliver the report with the game sheet to Referee-in-Chief or MGHL League Executive and confirm with a follow up phone call to ensure all the details have been received and clear up any questions at that time, all within 24 hours of the incident.
7. Make yourself available for a hearing, if one is necessary.
8. Referee-in-Chief, League President, Vice President, & 1 Team Rep (preferably a Team Rep playing outside of division of incident under review) shall review the said incident and render decision upon investigation. Suspension decisions will take into account the circumstances of the incident in question. Use of Hockey Canada as a guide to determining suspension severity as well as any other information pertaining to similar or like incidents in Canada.

Here are the rules pertaining to a Match Penalty on an Official:

Rule# 11.5

The safety of all participants is a priority for Hockey Canada. It is understood that on-ice officials may need to physically intervene in altercations to deescalate the situation and/ or protect vulnerable players. Officials should only intervene in an altercation when it is safe for them to do so, with the sole purpose of deescalating the altercation. Players that are willing participants in an altercation must be aware of the risks to their own safety and are responsible for their actions, if they compromise the safety of the intervening officials.

When on-ice officials are required to intervene in altercations, it is understood that they will need to make physical contact with players and that the on-ice officials assume a certain level of risk of incidental contact. This rule is intended to address incidents where players make contact with an official that is more than incidental. Furthermore, officials should be aware that the amount of physical intervention they use to deescalate altercations must follow the same principles of minimizing the risk for all participants involved.

Rule 11.5 (c)

A Match penalty will be assessed to any player or team official who:

Conducts themselves in such a way that physically threatens or intimidates an Official, without making physical contact;
Deliberately applies physical force to an official with a minimal to moderate degree of violence, without causing injury; or
Deliberately applies physical force to an official with a high degree of violence or causes injury to an official by way of any intentional contact.

Note 1: Where a player or team official has been assessed a Match penalty under this rule, the Referee will report the individual(s) by completing a Game Incident Report, including full details and submitting the report to the appropriate Member or league delegate.

Bylaw #10 - Flow of Game

Section i - Regular Season

Games shall consist of two (2) thirty (30) minute periods of straight time.
1. The Arena clock will be started at the schedule start time and run for five (5) minutes to be used for Warm-up.
2. Following the warm-up clock expiring both teams will line up for the Initial faceoff and the game will commence.
3. If either team do not have the minimum number of players (6 Skaters, 1 Goaltender) the Game clock will be started and the offending team will be assessed a delay of game minor penalty once the minimum number of players have arrived. If the team does not have enough to start after 15 minutes the offending team will forfeit the game and be subject to late forfeiture fines as per Bylaw #6(a).
Stop time? If the goal spread in the third period is two (2) goals or less, (ex. 3-1, 5-3, etc.) with 5 minutes or less remaining, the clock will be stopped with each whistle and re-started at resumption in play for the remainder of the game. Once stop time is instituted, it shall remain for the duration of the game, regardless of the goal spread between the teams.
Overtime shall consist of one (1) seven (7) minute period of 3 vs 3 straight time. at the conclusion of overtime the game will end in a tie.
A team must dress a minimum 6 skaters and a goaltender to start the game however may complete the game with a minimum of 5 skaters for the game to be deemed officially played and not in default, Or forfeit. If a team cannot dress the minimum required number of players for an official game to be played, a game forfeit/default will result.
All players playing the game must be on the game sheet in order to play. Players may enter the game at any point but must be entered on the game sheet at the point in time they join the game. Game Officials are to check the game sheet for the # of players dressed vs. # of players shown on game sheet. If discrepancy exists, game will be stopped until rectified.
At the conclusion of all Regular Season Games both teams must meet at center and complete a handshake line.

Section ii - Playoffs

Games shall consist of two (2) thirty (30) minute periods of straight time.
1. The Arena clock will be started at the schedule start time and run for five (5) minutes to be used for Warm-up.
2. Following the warm-up clock expiring both teams will line up for the Initial faceoff and the game will commence.
3. If either team do not have the minimum number of players (6 Skaters, 1 Goaltender) the Game clock will be started and the offending team will be assessed a delay of game minor penalty once the minimum number of players have arrived. If the team does not have enough to start after 15 minutes the offending team will forfeit the game and be subject to late forfeiture fines as per Bylaw #9(b).
Stop time? If the goal spread in the third period is two (2) goals or less (ex. 3-1, 5-3, etc.) with 5 minutes or less remaining in the first 2 periods, the clock will be stopped with each whistle and re-started at resumption in play for the remainder of the game. Once stop time is instituted, it shall remain for the duration of the game, regardless of the goal spread between the teams.
Overtime shall be played 5 vs 5 and consist of one (1) ten (10) minute period straight time followed by a flood of the ice. Following the flood periods will be continuous 30 minute periods until a winner is determined. Floods to be performed as required, determination made by rink attendants.
A team must dress a minimum 6 skaters and a goalie to start the game and must complete the game with the required minimum for the game to be deemed officially played and not in default? Or forfeit. If a team cannot dress the minimum required number of players (6 Skaters, 1 Goalie) for an official game to be played, a game forfeit/default will result.
All players playing the game must be on the game sheet in order to play. Players may enter the game at any point but must be entered on the game sheet at the point in time they join the game. Game Officials are to check the game sheet for the # of players dressed vs. # of players shown on game sheet. If discrepancy exists, game will be stopped until rectified.
At the conclusion of Playoff Games Teams are not required to complete a handshake line-up mid series. However at the conclusion of a Playoff series both teams must complete a handshake line-up.

Bylaw #11 - Games Played

Registered players are required to play a minimum of 9 games for eligibility to play in League Playoffs. Game sheets are the official record for games played. Players not recorded on game sheets shall be deemed not to have played in the game.
1. FMWHL players are required to play a minimum of 4 games for eligibility to play in League Playoffs. Game sheets are the official record for games played. Players not recorded on game sheets shall be deemed not to have played in the game.
Games played must be actual games. If player eligibility is in question it must be brought up to the executive. Decision will be at the discretion of the executive after reviewing game sheets.
Eligibility Exceptions are if a player was seriously injured during the season or Extreme extenuating circumstances affected the players ability to participate in a majority of the regular season they may play playoffs if;
1. An insurance claim was filed with the league.
2. Doctors note showing severity of the injury and the expected return to play with approval of the executive.
3. A request in made to the Executive Committee with details in how the Extenuating circumstances impacted the players ability to participate.
The Executive has the right to enforce all roster issues and will be the deciding factor in player eligibility for both league play and playoffs.

Bylaw #12 - Injuries

All Injuries that occur during league play are to be noted on the game sheet, it is the Team Representatives responsibility to ensure an Executive Member is informed of the injury to ensure timely reaction to the injury. (Game video review, Insurance Documentation, etc.)
If an injured player is bleeding in any fashion, they are to exit the ice (If safe to do so) and not return until there is no chance of the bleeding re-occuring.
If a player loses consciousness due to injury the team is to immediately contact emergency services to ensure player is properly cared for.
1. If a loss of consciousness occurs the clock is to be stopped and teams are to ensure emergency services are able to access the arena and the injured player.

Bylaw #13 - Equipment

Visor or cage must be worn by all players, players will be granted a single warning and asked to leave the ice to put them on each season. Players will be allowed to return to the game they were warned so long as they have rectified the illegal equipment. If after warning a player continues without a visor or cage, they will be assessed a game ejection.
Chin Straps are required to be securely fastened beneath the chin within reasonable distance (1” – 2”) to ensure helmet does not fall off in the event of a fall. players will be granted a single warning and asked to leave the ice to tighten the chin strap. Players will be allowed to return to the game they were warned so long as they have rectified the illegal equipment. If after warning a player continues without securing the chin strap they will be assessed a game ejection.

Bylaw #14 - Slewfooting

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

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 player who attempts to injure or deliberately injuries an opponent with a slew foot.

Bylaw #15 - High Sticking

Accidental High Sticking drawing blood will be assessed as a double minor.
If an On-Ice Official deems that the high stick was intentional the player will be assessed a penalty under Rule #7.7 (c) – Head Contact (Match) and subject to supplemental discipline under Bylaw #7 (a).

Bylaw #16 - Goaltender Safety

Should a Goaltender receive a shot to their head/mask the play will be immediately blown dead by the referee.
Should the puck enter the net and completely cross the goal line directly after contact with the goaltenders mask the result will be a good goal.
Regardless of if the whistle is blown prior to the puck entering the net and completely crossing the goal line, If the puck is touched/deflected in after contact with the goaltenders mask the result will be no goal.
Should a Goaltender continuously intentionally make saves with their head (ie. moving their head in front of shots not near their head area.) they may be given a delay of game penalty based on referee discretion.