ECSL Rules

 

The ECSL plays under IIHF rules, with a few modifications from Ice 

Hockey Australia (IHA). There are some other variations, including the ECSL standard game of 3 x 20 minute periods.

 

The ECSL is Open Age Male, minimum age of 17, with each team comprising of not less than 40% of players 25 year or under as at 31 December of registration year 

IHA Rules Page: http://iha.org.au/view/iha/officiating/rules-10
 

IHNSW Player Registration costs - $365

Total = $1165.00

 

 

Rules Governing Player Uniforms & Equipment
 

Every member of a team must be dressed uniformly in respect of the 

colour of their jerseys and stockings. The referee is authorised to 

refuse entry to the ice for any team member that is not uniformly 

attired.

All protective gear including shoulder, elbow and pants padding, shin

guards, throat guards and mouth guards where applicable, must be 

worn by all players at all times when on the ice. No exceptions. If 

players are not wearing full protective gear at all times when on the ice, 

referees maybe liable. If the referee inadvertently allows a player to play 

whilst failing to meet the uniform & equipment rules (such as face & 

neck guards), the opposing teamcaptain must advise the referee and 

the referee will enforce the appropriate IIHF Rules. If the player does 

not comply then the referee will suspend play until such time that 

either the player leaves the ice or abides by the ruling. The

penalty of $200 (No GST required), will be issued to the team via their 

club, for any player who continues to flaunt equipment rulings.

Mouth guards are mandatory for all players. IHNSW strongly 

recommends the use of mouthguards for all grades.
 

Players' helmets must be a type approved by the IIHF and must not be 

painted or bear any stickers or numbers. This ruling does not apply to 

goalies helmets. Goalkeepers must wear approved helmets.

Shoulder pads are compulsory for ALL grades.

All teams should have an alternate jersey. When teams have a clash in 

jerseys, then the home team is required to change into their alternate 

jersey.

All male players competing in Midget (regardless of age), in ECSL (under 18) and all female players, must wear an approved full cage/full visor, when on the ice.

Male players born after 31st December 1974, must wear a half or full cage / half or full visor when on ice. See also Special Rules for Midgets. Players are not permitted to wear a coloured or tinted visor or a coloured or tinted full face mask.

All players under 18 years and all players competing in Midget (regardless of of age) must wear an approved throat protector when on the ice. Ages are to be noted on the Game Report sheets. 

Please note the following applicable IIHF rules:

RULE 31 – FACIAL PROTECTION & MOUTH GUARD

iv. Male players born after December 31, 1974, must wear, as a minimum, a visor.
v. All female players must wear a helmet with cage.
vi. All skaters in the age category Under-18 must wear a cage constructed in such a way that neither the puck nor a stick blade can penetrate it.
vii. Skaters are not allowed to wear a coloured or tinted visor.
ix. All skaters in the age category Under-20 must wear a mouth guard.

RULE 35 – NECK AND THROAT PROTECTOR/SKATER

i. All players who are 18 years and younger, regardless what event or tournament they are participating in, must wear a neck and throat protector.
and the following applicable IHNSW Handbook rule:
• All Male players in Senior B Divisions MUST wear a half or full cage/half or full visor when on the ice.

All of the above rules are enforceable under IIHF Rule 

Interpretations 
Players Under 18 playing in ECSL - All players must wear a full cage or visor, all players must wear Neck and Throat Protectors. All players must wear a mouth guard

Players Under 20 playing in ECSL - All players must wear a mouth guard regardless of other facial protection worn

Players Under 43 playing in ECSL - All players must wear, as a minimum, a visor.
 

Special Rules for East Coast Super League
 

The usual transfer rules apply from a player's existing club. See transfer

regulations. Players registering to play in this League must be prepared 

to be drafted to a team outside their traditional club structure. This 

does not apply to Newcastle ECSL players.

This League is regarded as a development league for grooming junior aged players reading them for AIHL & representing their country for the Australian National Teams.

There will be three, twenty minute running time periods, with the 

last five minutes of the game stop time. There will be one ice-cut after 

period two.

Players turning 23 or older in the current calendar year are limited to playing 5 games up in to the AIHL. Once the player plays a 6th game in AIHL they will not be permitted to return to the ECSL until the following season. Only games played as part of the main AIHL competition season count towards the game limit. Pre-season and exhibition games do not contribute to the game count.

Players turning 22 or less in the current calendar year are permitted to play unlimited games up into the AIHL.

Minimum age for ECSL is players turning 17 in the current calendar year. Ie, 2nd year Midget and up.

Midget-aged players participating in both the Midget and ECSL leagues must play their Midget games as priority whenever there is a clash of game times between the 2 leagues. This rule regarding Midgets playing up in to ECSL takes precedence over the general playing-up rules documented in the IHNSW handbook. 

To be eligible for ECSL playoffs, Midget aged ECSL players must play a minimum of 5 ECSL games, and a minimum of 7 Midget games.

Rules Governing Player Eligibility for Play-Offs / Finals

Full-time rostered ECSL players and goalies must have played a minimum of 7 ECSL games to be eligible for playoffs.

Players and goalies who also participate in either the Midget or AIHL leagues must have played a minimum of 7 games in their other league and minimum of 5 games in ECSL to be eligible for playoffs. The IHNSW website and AIHL website will be the used as the information source for games played in other leagues.

Players who are un-financial as at 5pm on the Friday prior to Finals will be ruled ineligible to play in the entire Finals series. Teams will be notified of un-financial players by the Club Treasurer in the week leading up to Finals. 

Game Format

The East Coast Super-league plays a 20 game season with 2 game semi 

final series, the only Australian league to play a multi game post 

season, and drawn regular time play off games are determined by over 

time not penalty shoot outs, another rarity in Australian hockey.

There will be 5mins warm up time, the clock will begin 

immediately counting down at the scheduled time as per IHNSW 

Guidelines.

There will be three, twenty minute running time periods, with the 

last five minutes of the game stop time. There will be one ice-cut after 

period two.

Each team will have submitted their team lists to Emily at IHNSW 

by now, which some players who have not played 7 regular season 

games will be denied clearance to play in the finals along with un-

financial players still owing season fees.

The ECSL Semi Finals have since its conception been a cumulative 

aggregate based series, therefore the scores that are recorded the first 

game carry over to the second game. (Example) If team A win 4-2 in 

game one, then team B must score 3-0 in game 2 to win the series. 

Similar to previous years the score from Game 1 is put up on the 

scoreboard at the beginning of Game 2. At the end of Game 2 and it is 

still a draw then the game will go into continuous OT until a winner is 

reached.

The ECSL Grand Final series is not aggregate but rather best out 

of 3. So if Team A win both games then they are deemed The 2011 

ECSL Champions, however if it is one a piece then we go to a third 

game (usually mid-week pending if Newcastle is involved, in which case 

it is the following weekend). If after game three of the Grand Final 

series & it is still a draw then there will be continuous OT to determine 

a winner.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CHECK OUT THE ECSL HANDBOOK