South Suburban Hockey League Rules  

Revised August 2009

I. INTRODUCTION

1. All USA Hockey rules, amended only by the AHAI and the SSHL, shall apply.
2. All players and teams must be registered with USA Hockey.
3. All players must be rostered with AHAI. Team rosters are limited to 20 players.   
4. Each organization must submit final USA Hockey certified rosters by no later than December 1of the current season. Roster changes after December 11 of the current season only apply when approved by the SSHL Board of Directors.

II. ORGANIZATION PARTICIPATION

A.       Each full-member organization must place all house level teams at all levels in SSHL, with the exception of those playing

an approved, exhibition season.

III. DEFINITION OF SEASON

A.         The Mite season will consist of a total of 14 games. The first 4 games will be used for “tiering” purposes and to determine

the appropriate and even placement of teams. There will be a one-weekend break after the “tiering” round for the purpose of scheduling the regular season games. The regular season will then begin consisting of 10 games.

B.         The regular season for the Squirt, Pee Wee, and Bantam divisions will consist of 16 games of which 8 (eight) should be “home” and 8 (eight) should be “away”.

IV. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

A.      The players’ age and level of play is determined by their birth year according to USA Hockey guidelines.

B.       Players may not participate in more than one house division. They may skate at their designated level, or one level higher

(as is allowed by individual organization rules). It is strongly suggested that players participate at the level that is most

competitive to him/her. An exception to this rule will only be considered with the goal-tender position.

Petitioning of the league is required for the exception to be considered.

C.       Travel players are not permitted to play the house league if they are rostered to a travel team in the same season.

Exceptions will be made only in the case of Mite A-2 players.

D.      Players may be rostered to only one team if playing in a SSHL member organization.

E.       Female players will be allowed to play on an all-girls’ team and an SSHL member team when the girls’ team participates in scrimmage play only. The second team the female is playing with must be an all-girls team, not participating in any league play, other than the SSHL.

F.       High School players are not allowed to play in the SSHL except in the following cases:

1.        High School Junior Varsity players are allowed to play in their appropriate division.

2.        If a High School only fields a Varsity team, then a player is allowed to play in their appropriate division

3.        All other situations must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

G.       Mite Tier I and Mite Tier II teams will be determined after the initial 4-game “tiering” round prior to the beginning of regular-season Mite games.

V. FORMATION OF TEAMS

A.          Each team must be formed be formed via a “draft “ process, which has the goal of producing balanced teams.

B.           SSHL reserves the right to review each organization’s draft process

C.           SSHL further reserves the right to require re-formation of teams during the current season.

VI. COACHING REQUIREMENTS AND CONDUCT

A.          Each coach is required to abide by the USA Hockey coaching education guidelines.

B.           Each coach is required to display proof of the required education (USA Hockey Coaching card), during all SSHL games and events, by means of the provided SSHL lanyard.

C.           Any coach not properly displaying the required USA Hockey Coaching Card will not be allowed to participate in the current game or event. 

D.          Team staff (coaches and managers) shall be responsible for the conduct of their teams before, during and after league games.

E.       A “SSHL Coaches Code of Conduct” must be signed and returned at the annual Coaches Conference.

VII. GAME PLAY

A.          SSHL league games shall be played in accordance with USA Hockey rules, as amended by AHAI, and as modified by

SSHL Board of Directors.

     B.       Each team must have 5 skaters and a goaltender in full equipment to start the game. If a team’s goalie is unavailable,

goalies may be substituted from within the same house league organization from the same skating level or below only. In the event of a substitution, SSHL, the opposing coach, and Official must be notified prior to the start of the game, and the score sheet must be notated.

B.           One Ref Rule-No Pee Wee or Bantam game shall be played unless 2 (two) officials are present. In addition, teams shall not

be allowed to use that time as a scrimmage.

C.           Mite and Squirt time periods will be 11 (eleven) minute stop-clock within a 1 (one) hour time slot. A 3 (three) minute warm-up will be allowed prior to game start.  Each game must be completed in the allotted time. There will be no overtime in regular season play.

D.          Pee Wee and Bantam time periods will be 12 (twelve) minute stop-clock within a 1 (one) hour and 15 (fifteen) minute time

slot.  A 3 (three) minute warm-up will be allowed prior to game start.  Each game must be completed in the allotted time. There will be no overtime in regular season play.

E.           If the difference in score exceeds 5 goals or more in any level of play during the third period, a running time-clock will be used until that 5 goal difference has been reduced .

F.           At no time during the game shall more than a 5 (five) goal differential in score be shown on the scoreboard.

G.           All games involving an all girls team must be no-check at all levels.

H.          In the event that a fight breaks out, the game clock will run, even though play has stopped.

I.             Players will shake hands at the end of the game. However, the referee reserves the right to not allow the handshake for

safety purposes.

     J.        Each team is allowed one (1) 30 second time out per game, if time permits, in the opinion of the official.

VIII. EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORMS

A.          All players must be in full equipment which included a properly-fitted mouthpiece; approved helmet; gloves; shoulder pads; elbow pads; shin pads; hockey pants; throat protector; and a protective cup.

B.           Throat Protector Rule-A throat protector is considered a mandatory piece of equipment in the SSHL. For violation of this

Rule, after a warning by the Official, a minor penalty shall be imposed. Players violating this rule shall not be permitted to participate in the game until such equipment has been corrected.

    C.        Jerseys must be uniform in color, and numbered. No duplicate numbers will be allowed on the same team. Any changes in

number must be verified by the referee prior to the start of the game. If both teams are wearing the same color jersey, it is

the home team’s responsibility to wear the pull-overs.

IX. PENALTIES AND SUSPENSIONS

A.          Minor penalties assessed in Mite and Squirt games will be 1 ½ (one and one half) minutes in duration.

B.           Major penalties assessed in Mite and Squirt games will be 4 (four) minutes in duration.

C.           Misconduct penalties assessed in Mite and Squirt games will be 8 (eight) minutes in duration.

D.          Minor penalties assessed in Pee Wee and Bantam games will be 2 (two) minutes in duration.

E.           Major penalties assessed in Pee Wee and Bantam games will be 5 (five) minutes in duration.

F.           Misconduct penalties assessed in Pee Wee and Bantam games will be 10 (ten) minutes in duration.

G.           Any player who received 3 (three) “stick“ penalties (high sticking, slashing, cross-checking, and/or butt-ending) in one

game, shall be given a game misconduct, which will also carry an additional league game suspension.

H.          If a team receives 12 (twelve) penalties in a game, the head coach shall be given a game misconduct,

and suspended from the next 2 (two) league games

I.             If a team receives 15 penalties in a game, the game will be immediately stopped, and the team with 15

penalties loses 5-0.

J.            Any coach that leaves the bench and steps onto the ice, without permission from the Official (with the exception of an injury)

will be given a game misconduct, and suspended from the next league game. A second violation of the same manner will

result in a 30-day suspension.

K.          All game suspensions received in the SSHL games shall be served in the SSHL games, in addition to any exhibition, or

tournament games which must be served in accordance with USA Hockey rules.

L.           Any coach receiving a game misconduct must leave the building immediately.

M.         Any coach receiving a game misconduct will receive, in addition to the mandatory 1 game suspension, an additional 1 game suspension. Additional penalties may be imposed at the discretion of league directors.

X. MOVEMENT RULE

Any team staff person (Head coach, Assistant Coach, or Manager) leaving a current SSHL member club for another current SSHL member club will not be allowed any team involvement, including coach, assistant coach, or manager, for his/her “new” organization for a period of one year. A team staff person may petition the league for an exception, through his/her new organizations’ director.

XI. CANCELLED GAMES

A.      It is the intention to have all games played without being determined by forfeits, therefore, if a scheduling error causes

            a team to not show up for any game, it shall be ruled a forfeit UNLESS the offending team can reschedule the game

            on its home ice at a time that is convenient for both teams.

B.       No teams shall reschedule games without the knowledge and approval of both club directors. Any game that is

re-scheduled with-out the proper approval will be considered a forfeit 0-0 score.

XII. PROTESTS

A.          A protest must be filed with the director of the club which has protested within 48 hours of the game in question.

B.           The following rules shall be used:

                     1.   The referee should be notified of the protest immediately following the game.

     2.   Both teams’ coaches and the Officials must sign the score sheet and state on the score sheet that a protest is

being filed.

3.        If the protest is determined to be unfounded, then the team filing the protest will be assessed a $25 fine.

4.        If the protest is determined to be valid, then the team in question shall be assessed a $25 fine.

5.        All protests will be decided by the League Directors during a meeting attended by all involved parties.

XIII. IMPOSING OF FINES

A.          A fine of $25 will be imposed upon an organization whose team fails to provide 2 (two) officials for any given game in violation of SSHL rules VII.B. The fine shall be due upon receipt of invoice, or that team shall not be eligible for participation in playoffs.

B.           A fine of $50 will be imposed upon an organization whose team is found to be double-rostering players in violation

of SSHL rule IV.D. The fine shall be due upon receipt of invoice, or that team shall not be eligible for participation in playoffs.

C.          A fine of $250 will be imposed upon any organization and it’s director for failure to participate and assist through the full course of Super Sunday Championship games as is stated and required in the “Director’s Responsibilities”. The fine will be due at the August meeting prior to the official beginning of the season. The organization in violation of this expectation will also be placed on probation for the following season, and will be ineligible to host Super Sunday Championship games.

D.          It is the intent of the SSHL to use all monies collected from fines for the use of Playoff decorations and awards, or other items or events determined by the Board.

IX. SCORESHEETS

A.          Each SSHL team will be provided with SSHL score sheets that are to be used in SSHL home games only.

B.           Each team is responsible for ensuring that the score sheet is accurately filled out.

C.           A coaches’ signature in the appropriate area indicates their acceptance that the written information provided on the score sheet is accurate.

D.          Any inconsistencies on the score sheet must be brought to the statistician’s attention by the director of the opposing organization.

E.           The Home team is responsible for faxing the legible, white copy of the completed and signed score sheet to the SSHL fax number listed on the score sheet within 72 hours of the game, or the game will be forfeited to the visiting team

with a score of 1-0.

X. SPECTATORS

A.            SSHL supports the AHAI Zero-Tolerance policy. In order to achieve the objective of teaching respectful sportsmanship to

Our players, it is imperative that spectators conduct themselves appropriately. The representative Director for each organization shall take action to insure that spectators are not abusive to officials, players, team staff, or other spectators.

   B.         Noisemakers of any sort are not allowed in any SSHL rink or at any SSHL events.

Final Standings Tie-Breakers

1)  Most points acquired in the games between the tied teams.

2)  Fewest goals allowed in the games between the tied teams.

3)  Greatest goal differential in the games between the tied teams with a maximum of +5 being awarded to a team

     in each game.

4)  Periods counted as games in the games between the tied teams. Two points to be awarded for each period won,

     one point for each period tied, and zero points awarded for each period lost. If the periods won cannot be determined

     by the score sheet, the visiting team will be awarded six points.

5)  Fewest losses in all league games.

6)  Most wins in all league games.

7)  Fewest goals allowed in all league games, with a maximum of -5 being awarded to a team in each game.

8)  Most goals for in all league games with a maximum of +5 being awarded to a team in each game.

9)  Fewest penalty minutes in the games between the tied teams.

10) Coin-flip.

If three or more teams are tied for a place in the final standings, the tie will be broken using the following tie-breakers:

Note: Tiebreakers 1-5 and 9 may only be used if all the teams tied have played each other the same number of times, under all other circumstances, begin with tie-breaker #5.

1)  Most points acquired in the games between the tied teams.

2)  Fewest goals allowed in the games between the tied teams.

3)  Greatest goal differential in the games between the tied teams with a maximum of +5 being awarded to a team in each game.

4)  Periods counted as games in the games between the tied teams. Two points to awarded for each period won, one point for each

     period tied, and zero points awarded for each period lost. If the periods won cannot be determined by the score sheet, the visiting

     team will be awarded six points.

5)  Fewest losses in all league games.

6)  Most wins in all league games.

7)  Fewest goals allowed in all league games with a maximum of -5 being awarded to a team in each game.

8)  Most goals scored in all league games with a maximum of +5 being awarded to a team in each game.

9)  Fewest penalty minutes in the game(s) between the tied teams.

10) Coin-flip

Play-offs

1.  The highest seeded team will be the home team in each game. (First place is the highest seeded team )

Play-down and Quarter-Final Round

If any play down, or quarter final game ends in a tie, will be NO overtime. The game then goes immediately to shoot-out using the shoot-out rules below.

Semi-final and Final Round

1.  If any semi-final or final games end in a tie, a four minute sudden death overtime period will be played.

2.  If the game remains tied after the sudden death overtime period, the game then goes immediately to shoot-out using the shoot-out

     rules below.

Shoot-out format

(The visiting team will always shoot first.)

a) Best of 3 shoot-out, 

b) Best of 3 shoot-out, 

c) Best of 1 shoot-out until a winner is determined

Shoot-out rules

1.  Each coach must declare his goalie before the shoot-out begins. Once the shoot-out begins, no goalie changes will be allowed.

2.  Each coach chooses three eligible players for the first shoot-out

3.  The two teams will alternate shooters with the visiting team shooting first. The team with the most goals at the end of the round

     wins the game.

4.  Each coach must use all present players before he is allowed to use the same player for a second time.

5.  USA Hockey penalty shot rules apply during the shoot-out. Rebound goals are NOT allowed.