ELKISLAND
HOCKEY LEAGUE
BYLAWS
Revised: April 14, 2008
ELKISLAND HOCKEY LEAGUE
The Elk Island Hockey League (EIHL) was formed for the 1996-97 hockey season. After a moderately successful year, it was determined to continue with the league. The following communities and teams make up the Elk Island Hockey League.
Community Initiation Novice Atom Pee Wee
*ANDREW
*BEAUMONT (no longer a member)
*BOYLE
*BRUDERHEIM
*CNN (BON ACCORD/GIBBONS)
*FORTSASKATCHEWAN
*HOLDEN
*JOSEPHBURG
*LAMONT
*MORINVILLE
*MUNDARE
*NEW SAREPTA (no longer a member)
*REDWATER
*R.Q.B.
*SMOKYLAKE
*STRATHCONA
*THORHILD
*TOFIELD
*VEGREVILLE
*VIKING
INDEX
1.0 League Authority
2.0 League Fees
3.0 Player Registration
4.0 Game Sheets
5.0 Liability
6.0 Referees
7.0 Ice Times
8.0 Hockey Rules
9.0 League Games
10.0 Trophies
11.0 Playoffs -- General
12.0 League Suspensions for Players
13.0 League Suspensions for Coaches
14.0 Overage Players
15.0 Equipment
APPENDICES
Appendix A Executive Members and Level Director Role
Appendix B Movement of Teams
Appendix C Official Game Report
Appendix D Minor Officials
Appendix E Playoff Format
ELKISLAND HOCKEY LEAGUE BYLAWS
1.0 LEAGUE AUTHORITY
A. The League President / Vice President and Level Directors have complete authority for the operation of the League. The assistance and cooperation of all coaches, managers, referees, team officials and minor hockey association Directors are both appreciated and required.
B. Each Association will appoint one Delegate to sit on the Board of Directors. Each Association will have one vote at league general and annual meetings.
C. Each Association will have one vote per team at each division meeting.
2.0 LEAGUE FEES FOR EACH TEAM.
A. A registration fee of $200.00 for each team entered will be assessed, payable prior to November 1. No fees are assessed for initiation teams.
3.0 PLAYER REGISTRATION
A. All players, in order to be eligible to play, must be registered community members of their home Association, or as outlined by HockeyAlberta.
B. If a team plays ineligible players, the game will be forfeited. Affiliation is covered by Hockey Alberta Regulations Section B. Any play of an illegal player may result in league suspension.
C. All team officials, coaches, managers and trainers are to be named on the team registration form with telephone numbers and full addresses included.
D. Team rosters are to be set prior to tiering games and submitted to the League. Additions to a team roster -- player or official -- must be provided to the level director in writing. Verbal approval can be obtained prior to the Director receiving written notification.
E. Approval of rating system for tiering teams will be determined prior to tiering games.
4.0 GAME SHEETS
A. Game sheets must be mailed or faxed by the Home team to the Tier Level Director. Game sheets must be post-marked by the Home team within 72 hours of the conclusion of the game.
B. A coach or the team manager must phone the league Director prior to the next league game when a player, or team official, has incurred a suspendable infraction. (See Rule 3B.)
C. Home teams must provide a game sheet, if there are suspendable offenses, to their associations' designated representative. The representative will ensure information is clear, including the referee's write-up, and will forward the game sheet to the league director within the time period in Rule 4A (same penalties apply).
D. Any variations from Elk Island Hockey League rules pertaining to minimum ice times, stop time, or the number of on-ice officials must be agreed to by both coaches, and attested to by initialing the game sheet. It is the responsibility of the home team coach to advise the visiting coach.
E. All names listed on game sheets must include given names and surnames.
F. Game sheets must be complete, accurate and legible (sample -- Appendix A and Appendix B)
G. An Officials Game Report is to accompany the game sheet, if applicable.
5.0 LIABILITY AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE
A. Liability and accident insurance is to be arranged for locally by the Minor Hockey Association.
B. League Officials liability and accident insurance is to be paid by the Elk Island Hockey League.
6.0 REFEREES
A. All Referees and Linesmen must have current Hockey Alberta Certification.
B. Officials must be capable of handling the specific level of hockey.
The minimum requirements are:
Novice Two Referees
Atom Two Referees
Pee Wee Two Referees
C. Referees fees are to be paid by the home team, as arranged by the home Minor Hockey Association.
D. Failure of the game official(s) to show up for a league game [Refer to the CAHA Rule Book – Section 5, Rule 41 (k)].
E. Referees are to PRINT their names and numbers on the game sheet before the game. On game sheets where penalties are written up, the referee must also print where he or she can be reached.
F. * In playoff games, one referee must be a Level II. Level finals should be refereed by referees from associations other than the teams playing.
G. Referees are to report suspendable penalties or incidents on the Official Game Report.
H. Any variation from the Elk Island Hockey League rules pertaining to minimum ice times, stop time or the number of on-ice officials must be agreed to by both coaches, and attested to by initialing the game sheet. It is the responsibility of the home team coach to advise the visiting coach.
7.0 MINIMUM ICE TIMES
A. General
All associations participating in the Elk Island Hockey League will provide the following minimum ice times for league and playoff games. No exceptions to this rule or games will be considered NO CONTEST. Home team must provide two time clock officials. Both teams must be ready to start the game no later than five minutes after scheduled game time.
i. Novice – Minimum ice time allowance 1 ¼ hours or three 20 minute straight time periods.
ii. Atom – Minimum ice time allowance 1 ½ hours or two 20 minute straight time and 1 stop time period.
iii. Pee Wee – Minimum ice time allowance 1 ¾ hours or one 20 minute straight time and 2 stop time periods with 1 flood.
iv. Tied games -- Ties will not be broken in league play. One point will be awarded to each team.
v. In the event that the final period cannot be played out, the officials will be advised by the time clock officials to notify the coaches that the time clock is being set to read 2 minutes left in the game. This will be done at the 5-minute mark. The clock is to be set to read 2 minutes left in the game.
All outstanding penalties will still stand, and be served out.
vi. If the Hockey Association has more ICE time available then the two Coaches must decide on how they will divide up the periods for the time allotted. The two coaches will also determine when the period floods will be done.
8.0 HOCKEY RULES AND REGULATIONS
A. Rules of the Hockey Alberta rule book will be adhered to with the exception of any rules that are strengthened by the Elk Island Hockey League.
B. A Hockey Team must have a Team Official qualified with Initiation / Coach Level Certification depending on level of play. There must be a Team Official qualified with CHA Safety Program and a Team Official qualified with Abuse and Harassment Program. There must be someone or more members with all the above qualifications on the Team Bench at all times during the league games.
C. Every team must have either a carded or teams sheeted coach, an assistant coach or a manager on the bench, otherwise the team will not be permitted on the ice, to a maximum of Five Team Officials.
D. Conduct of coaches, association representatives, and association parents is under the utmost scrutiny. Abuse of our players, opposition players, coaches, referees’, minor officials and facilities is strictly prohibited.
i. First offence- ejected from the game and up to 3 game suspensions.
ii. Second offence- ejected and automatic 5 game suspensions.
iii. Third offence- indefinite league suspension.
Ultimately, the individual associations are responsible for and should manage their respective members with association by laws. Where this is not being done, the Elk Island League and its members will have voting power to discipline associations with fines and/or membership termination for the year for the offending team.
E. During the course of a game, the referee will have the ability to assess a bench minor penalty to the team with not only abusive coaching, but abusive parents as well. The offending team must see to the removal of the person in violation as well as filing the name on the game sheet for league purposes. The game will proceed after removal.
F. The coach, manager, and trainer shall be held accountable to the Elk Island League President / Vice President for their conduct and that of their players at all times. In particular, they are responsible for preventing disorderly conduct of themselves and their players before and after games or practices, on or off the ice, and at any place in or about the rink.
G. The league will not tolerate abuse of any kind of a coach, manager or trainer of any league or game official and such abuse will render that individual liable to suspension at the discretion of the Elk Island League President / Vice President with the appropriate League Director.
H. No one other than the Officials working the game will be allowed in the Referee room at anytime.
I. Coaches and managers are responsible for the conduct of their own parents and/or fans.
9.0 LEAGUE GAMES
A. Scheduled Elk Island Hockey League games take precedence over all games, except Hockey Alberta provincial play. Convenience rescheduling must have the consent of the opposing team and the approval of the Level Director, otherwise the game will be defaulted.
B. If agreement in rescheduling a league game or scheduling a playoff game cannot be reached by the two teams, the Level Director will arbitrate and that Director may award points if the game is not played.
C. The team canceling the game is to notify the opposing team at least 5 days prior to the actual game. All games must e re-scheduled prior to cancellation. All make up games are to be played prior to the end of the regular season with the approval of the tier director.
D. If a team is unable to make up a game they cancelled, they will be assessed a loss and may be required to pay a fine of $100.00, as well as forfeit the game with a 3-0 loss.
E. If the game was cancelled due to weather, and no make up game could be re-scheduled prior to the end of the season, the game would be recorded as 0-0 tie and no fine is applied.
10.0 APPEAL PROCEDURE
A. All suspensions and grievances must be appealed by the Home Association to the Elk Island League Vice President within 48 hours of the decision on the suspensions. A $200 cheque must accompany any appeal in writing. The appeal will be heard within 7 days of receipt of the cheque and written request.
B. The Elk Island League Vice President will appoint a separate Appeals Committee consisting of three members to hear the appeal. A decision will be rendered within 48 hours of the appeal hearing. Should the suspension be reversed, the $200 cheque will be reimbursed.
C. After the appeal hearing further action is to be taken to HockeyAlberta.
11.0 AWARDS
A. The team winning the playoff series will be awarded a team banner. Medals will be provided to players on the first-place (Gold) and second-place team (Silver).
12.0 LEAGUE SUSPENSIONS FOR PLAYERS
A. Where a suspension is not specified, the length of a suspension may be left to the discretion of the Elk Island League President / Vice President who will determine the relative seriousness of the act and follow HockeyAlbertaguidelines.
13.0 LEAGUE SUSPENSION FOR COACHES (TEAM OFFICIALS)
A. The length of a suspension may be left to the discretion of the Director who will determine the relative seriousness of the act, and follow Hockey Alberta guidelines. All suspensions of coaches and team officials will be reviewed with the Elk Island League President / Vice President and Minor Hockey Associations.
14.0 OVERAGE PLAYERS
Primarily Hockey Alberta guidelines will prevail.
14.1 Two signatures from either the President, Vice President, or tier Director to ratify acceptance into the lower level of play.
14.2 Applications must be submitted two weeks prior to the end of tiering rounds. This allows for evaluation of the player at the lower level of play.
14.3 If the players are deemed too strong during the course of the regular season, on or prior to the December (Christmas break) meeting, the player may be deemed ineligible to further play. This assessment is made by the tier director, President, or Vice President and must be ratified by two signatures of the aforementioned executive. The surrounding associations must endeavor to find a team for the ineligible player.
14.4 Overage may be one time only, tracked by the league.
14.5 Overage must be identified on the game sheet as OA.
14.6 Overage must stay in the position noted on the approval form.
15.0 EQUIPMENT
The league recommends that all players wear mouth guards.
APPENDIX A
Members of the Board Directors - Role
1. It is the responsibility of a Director to ensure all players, coaches, team officials and fans comply with the rules of the Elk Island Hockey League.
2. Any director or delegate missing more than three consecutive meetings without a motion from the executive, will be automatically disqualified.
3. Any director who has the additional responsibilities of assessing a penalty where their hometown team is involved must consult with the Elk Island League President / Vice President before issuing.
Executive Director - Role
1. In addition to the above-stated responsibilities, Elk Island League President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer have the responsibility for the efficient operations of the league.
Level Directors – Role
Level directors are not allowed to manage a tier that holds one of their own teams.
Level Directors, in addition to the above-noted general responsibilities, have the responsibility for specific levels of the categories as follows:
1. Ensure all games are played as scheduled and in accordance with Elk Island Hockey League rules and directives.
2. Ensure additions to the team registration are recorded.
3. Record all results of all games in the level.
4. Arrange playoff games based on the results of the scheduled games.
5. Advise the Executive, the Board of Directors, and the teams involved of the results of games played and the playoffs arranged.
6. Review the penalties and reports of behavior pertaining to players, coaches, and team officials in the level of responsibility.
7. Assess appropriate suspensions and penalties in accordance with Elk Island Hockey League Rules and forward copies of the officials game reports to the Chairman / Co-Chairman and Association.
8. Advise the Elk Island League President / Vice President, the Executive, Minor Hockey Associations, and team officials of serious infractions and suspensions.
9. Present or arrange the presentation of trophies and other awards.
10. Ensure the teams in the level are competitive.
11. Arrange with the Director of the category to move non-competitive teams to a level more compatible with that team's level of skill.
APPENDIX B
Movement of Teams - At Christmas Break
Teams will be moved within a category to another level in order that all teams in a level are relatively competitive, and the players will have a positive (not necessarily a winning) hockey experience.
The general criteria for moving a team are:
1. A team loses consistently by large scores (10 goals or more).
2. A team wins all games by large scores (10 goals or more).
3. Team officials and the Minor Hockey Association have been consulted.
4. The team appears to be more competitive in a different level (exhibition games may be used to determine this). Teams moving up or down in a category will be awarded one (1) point for each game played, whether the games were wins or losses.
History indicates that most Minor Hockey Associations appropriately place teams in levels in which they are competitive. A team may have a good year or a poor year, but should not hasten to move levels. One team must place first and one (or more) will be last. Next year this may change or reverse.
League statistics will be reviewed at the halfway point to determine the competitiveness of each team. Should a team be required to change levels of play midway through the season, approval must be granted by the League Director.
APPENDIX C
ELKISLAND HOCKEY LEAGUE -- OFFICIALS GAME REPORT
(Please ensure writing is legible)
Home Team_________________________ Visiting Team _______________________________
Game Played at______________________ Date _____________________________________
Time __________ Game No.__________Category_______________Level _______________
Game Type (Circle One): League Playoff Other
Referee No. ___________ Linesmen __________________________________
Player(s)______________________________Number _____________Team________________
Time of Incident____________Period _______________ Rule(s) ________________________
IncidentDescription________________________________________________________________
Signature_______________________
THIS SECTION TO BE COMPLETED BYELKISLANDLEVEL DIRECTORS
Action Taken
Game Suspensions
Coach / Player (Including No.)No. of GamesGame Numbers
Copy for (Circle): Player/ Commissioner/ HockeyAlberta/ Coach / Minor Hockey Associations Other
Signature: Date
APPENDIX D
The Minor Officials
* Scorekeeper
* Timekeeper
* Penalty Box Attendants
General
* Minor officials are under supervision of the referee.
* Minor officials should be in place at the start of each period.
* Conduct should be professional at all times.
* Refrain from cheering and heckling.
Scorekeeper
* Obtain score sheet with verified line-up.
* Check information on dates, level and teams.
* Submit to referee with mention of any suspected discrepancies.
* Enter goals scored, by whom, and to whom assists are to be credited.
* Record all penalties, including players number, duration, infraction, time assessed, time commenced and time player returns to game.
* Advise referee when a player has received a second major or second misconduct penalty.
* Ensure referee signs (and adds certification number), sign, and distribute to teams.
* Understand CAHA andElkIslandrules -- especially delayed penalties, coincidental and concurrent penalties.
Timekeeper
* Record time of start and finish and all time played.
* Stop the clock only on officials' whistle.
* Advise referee of any discrepancy immediately on next stoppage.
* Understand delayed penalties and coincidental penalties.
* Be familiar with clock and public address system.
Penalty Box Attendant
* Open door when penalty time expires.
* Notify referee if player leaves early.
* Keep penalty box area free of spectators.
APPENDIX E -- PLAYOFFS
General
Ranking for playoff purposes will be based on league standings. Relative standings will generally be the deciding factor. One format for all levels will be decided at anElkIslandmeeting. Splitdivisions may be amalgamated. NOTE: Rule 6F -- One referee in playoff games must be Level II.
A. The ranking of two teams with the same points on conclusion of league play will be determined as follows:
i. Best win/loss record between tied teams.
ii. Best win/loss record in league play (most wins takes precedence over wins
and ties with the same points).
iii. Total goals scored.
iv. Discretion of League Director.
B. All teams participate in playoffs.
C. Home ice advantage is always to the team, which placed higher in the league play (except round robin play).
D. All games (except in the first game of two-game, total-goal series) to be decided.
E. Minimum, the last 5 min will be stop time for all Levels. If there is more time available then the Coaches must decide on how the periods will divided before the game starts.
E. Breaking tie games:
i. 3 man sudden death shoot out.
ii. If it is still tied then one man sudden death shoot out. Note this shall be a player that has not shot earlier.
F. Six teams or less -- Level will have one playoff group.
i. First place versus last, second place versus second-last, etc.
ii. Highest ranking plays lowest ranking in remaining teams.
G. Seven teams or more:
i. Director to determine playoff groupings.
ii. Teams (maximum of two in each) group in highest place will have a bye.
Bylaws.pdf