DRESSING ROOM RULES
1 - Teams have access to dressing rooms up to 30 mins before and after game time.
2 - When the rink attendant comes in the room and gives you the 5 or 15 minute warning to leave, that means that teams need to be out
3 - Teams will receive one warning for failing to leave the room on time and subsequent offenses will result in the following fines:
First Offense - $50 team fine
Second Offense - $100 team fine
Third Offense - $200 team fine
 

GAME RULES
1 -  5 minute warm-up, and two 22 minute periods, stop time.  Ice clean at the intermission.   Time keepers may adjust speed of play to stay within our allotted ice times.  Timekeepers are requested to ensure that warm-up times are adhered to so that games can be full time, finish on time and not delay any subsequent games.
2 - Teams must ice at least six players, otherwise the opposing team will be awarded a default win.
3 - Teams may take one 30 second time out per game.  This time out cannot be taken during an overtime period (play-offs only)
4 - Automatic icings are to be called.
5 - Two line passes are permitted.
6 - Full equipment must be worn, including a helmet with a chinstrap.  Visors are optional.
7 - The timekeeper may switch to running time in the second period if the goal spread exceeds six.  First priority to switch to running time is with the referees and timekeeper.  Second priority to switch to running time is at the option of the losing team.
8 - Each team is required to supply a team Captain and up to two Alternates, each clearly marked with a letter on that player’s jersey.  These players are expected to be responsible for maintaining respectable conduct on behalf of their team. 
OVERTIME - 3 on 3 overtime for 3 minutes (run time) and if teams are tied at the end of it a tie will be the result.  Line changes will only be permitted to happen on the fly and any penalty called will result in a penalty shot.

TIES
1 - Decided by a 3-person shoot-out.  After 3 shooters, it becomes sudden death.  There can be no repeat shooters unless a team has exhausted its entire bench

PLAYOFF RULES
ELIGIBILITY
1 - Players must play in at least 8 games with one team in order to be eligible for playoffs.
TIES 
1 - If teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, the following tie breaker procedure will be used to determine seeding for playoffs:

           a) wins

           b) head to head

           c) goal differential

2 - Games that are tied after regulation time are to have a 5 minute running time overtime period.  All line changes during the last two minutes of this overtime period are to be “on the fly.”  If the game remains tied, the game is to be decided by shoot-out as above
GOALTENDER RULES
Step 1 – A team’s primary regular season goaltender (the one who plays the most games is considered the primary goaltender) must be the goalie who plays in the playoffs. 
Step 2 - If the primary goalie is unable to make one of the playoff games, all goaltenders that the team used throughout the season must be contacted first, in descending order of games played, before attempting to use a goaltender who has become available once his team has been knocked out. 
Step 3 – Any goaltender that has become available once his team has been knocked out of the playoffs must email the league coordinator directly (at mknights@vernon.ca) or through his team rep declaring his willingness to play for another team in the playoffs.  
Step 4 - An available goaltender will be assigned to another playoff team by random draw (made by the league coordinator) if more than one team is looking for a goalie on a particular night, otherwise the league coordinator will automatically assign the goaltender to the team that is in need.  
 
PENALTIES
1 - The league values our on-ice officials and will not tolerate any verbal abuse or harassment directly their way.  The league coordinator has the authority to issue or increase fines/suspensions if it is warranted, REGARDLESS of what was called on the during the game.
2 - The league maintains a database of prior offenses and if players have been disciplined in a repeat fashion, it may have an effect on future discipline levied when they commit new offenses.
3 - The league will not tolerate any post game communication between players/teams and on-ice officials on discipline or specific game related issues.  Where this occurs, it will be investigated and dealt with by the League Coordinator.
APPEALS
1 - Appeals can be made to the league for those suspensions exceeding 3 games.  Shorter suspensions cannot be appealed.
2 - If a team feels a suspension or fine was made in error the team representative (and only the team representative) has the right to submit a formal appeal in writing (mknights@vernon.ca) to the League Coordinator.  This appeal should outline the arguments for reduction in suspension or fine.
3 - Players involved in discipline action are NOT permitted to directly contact the League Coordinator, unless otherwise requested.  All communications on a player’s behalf are to be forwarded by his team representative directly to the league. 
REFEREES 
1 - All officials must submit a write up to the league if any major, misconduct or match penalty is assessed.  Often when issues arise there are differing views on what transpired; unless there is extenuating circumstances the league WILL follow the judgment of the on ice official.
TEAMS
1 - Penalties are to be called consistent with the Hockey Canada rule book, with the following exceptions detailed in the attached “Penalty Schedule.”
2 - The suspensions and fines listed are AUTOMATIC.  Team representatives are required to be aware of these guidelines and notify their own players after the end of the game.  Suspended players will be noted on the league website. Teams utilizing a suspended player will automatically forfeit that game.
The league will have a core appeal committee of four people.  One of these core members will take the lead on each appeal (on a rotating/availability basis) as they are required.  This core member will convene a panel of at least three other league memebers to review the incident and assess the merit of the appeal.  This panel will solicit only written information - no phone calls, or voice messages will be permitted to reduce the amount of misinterpretation. 

PENALTY SCHEDULE
Infraction = Penalty = Suspension = Fine

MINOR PENALTIES
*Minor = 2 minutes = N/A = N/A
*Minor – Body checking = 2 minutes = N/A = N/A
*Double Minor = 4 minutes = N/A = N/A
*Intentional or Open Ice Body check = 4 minutes = N/A = N/A
*3 Penalties in a game (a double minor is one penalty) = EJECTION = If a player is ejected 3 times under this rule in a season, they will receive a one game suspension. = N/A

MAJOR PENALTIES
*Major (comes with automatic Game Misconduct) = 5 minutes and EJECTION = +2 games = $50
*Major - Fighting = 5 minutes and EJECTION = +3 games = $50
*Major – Fighting (2nd fight in a season) = 5 minutes and EJECTION = +4 games = $50

MISCONDUCTS
*Misconduct = 10 minutes = N/A = N/A
*Game Misconduct = EJECTION = N/A = $50
*Game Misconduct in the last 10 minutes of a game = EJECTION = +1 game = $50
*10 minute Misconduct  in the last 10 minutes of  a game = EJECTION = N/A = N/A
*Gross Misconduct = EJECTION = +3 games (plus review to determine if additional games required) = $50

MATCH PENALTIES
*Match = 5 minutes and EJECTION = +3 games (plus review to determine if additional games required) = $50
*Gross – Abuse of Official = 5 minutes and EJECTION = +5 games (plus review to determine if additional games required) = $50