All players must wear team uniforms of approved design and color, including helmets, sweaters, pants, and skates. Each player must have an individual number at least 10 inches high on the back of their jersey, along with their surname.
Sticks must be made of League-approved materials and cannot have projections. A player's stick cannot be more than 63 inches long or have a blade more than 12.5 inches from the heel.
SECTION 4 – TYPES OF PENALTIES
Rule 15 – Calling of Penalties
The Referee will immediately stop play and call a penalty if the offending team has control of the puck. If the non-offending team is in control, the Referee will signal a delayed penalty and stop play once the offending team gains control.
- Goal Scored: If a minor penalty is signaled and the non-offending team scores, the minor penalty is not imposed. Major and match penalties, however, are always assessed.
Rule 16 – Minor Penalties
A minor penalty results in the penalized player being removed from the ice for two minutes. A team is considered "short-handed" if it has fewer players on the ice than its opponent. If the opposing team scores a goal while the penalized team is short-handed, the minor penalty with the least amount of time remaining automatically ends.
Rule 17 – Bench Minor Penalties
A bench minor penalty is for two minutes and is served by any player (except a goalkeeper) designated by the coach.
Rule 18 – Double-minor Penalties
A double-minor penalty is for four minutes. If a goal is scored during a delayed double-minor, one of the minor penalties is nullified, and the player serves the remaining two minutes.
Rule 19 – Coincidental Penalties
When an equal number of penalties are assessed to both teams at the same time, immediate substitutions are made so that the on-ice strength of the teams remains unchanged. Penalized players serve their time but are released at the first stoppage of play after their penalty expires.
Rule 20 – Major Penalties
A major penalty results in the offender being ruled off the ice for five minutes with no substitution allowed during that time. A player receiving a third major penalty in the same game is automatically assessed a game misconduct.
Rule 21 – Match Penalties
A match penalty is imposed for a deliberate attempt to injure an opponent. The offender is immediately ejected from the game, and a substitute player serves a five-minute penalty. The player is also subject to an automatic suspension.
Rule 22 – Misconduct Penalties
A misconduct penalty removes a player from the ice for ten minutes. A substitute is permitted to enter the game immediately, so the team's on-ice strength is not affected.
Rule 23 – Game Misconduct Penalties
A game misconduct penalty results in the player's removal for the remainder of the game, but a substitute is permitted. A player incurring a game misconduct is reported to the Commissioner, who may impose further suspensions or fines.
Rule 24 – Penalty Shot
A penalty shot is awarded when a lost scoring opportunity needs to be restored due to a specific infraction. The player taking the shot starts from center ice and attempts to score on the goalkeeper. The "spin-o-rama" move is not allowed. A goal cannot be scored on a rebound of any kind (unless the puck deflects off the goal post or crossbar, then the goalkeeper, and then into the goal).
SECTION 5 – OFFICIALS
Rule 31 – Referees
Referees have general supervision of the game and full control over all game officials and players. Their decisions are final. They impose penalties and make final on-ice decisions on disputed goals.
Rule 32 – Linespersons
Linespersons are generally responsible for calling violations of off-side and icing. They also conduct all face-offs except for the start of each period.
SECTION 6 – PHYSICAL INFRACTIONS
Rule 41 - Boarding
A penalty is imposed for checking or pushing an opponent in a manner that causes them to violently or dangerously hit the boards.
Rule 42 - Charging
A penalty is imposed on a player who, as a result of distance traveled, violently checks an opponent.
Rule 43 – Checking from Behind
A major penalty is assessed for cross-checking, pushing, or charging an opponent from behind who is unable to protect themselves. A game misconduct must also be assessed.
Rule 46 - Fighting
Fighting is defined as a player repeatedly punching an opponent or wrestling in a manner that prevents officials from intervening. The aggressor, a player who continues to punch a defenseless opponent, is assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct. All players not involved in a fight must go to their bench immediately.
SECTION 7 – RESTRAINING INFRACTIONS
Rule 54 – Holding
A minor penalty is imposed on a player who holds an opponent with his hands, arms, or legs. Holding an opponent's stick is also a minor penalty.
Rule 55 – Hooking
A minor penalty is imposed on a player who uses their stick to restrain an opponent.
Rule 57 – Tripping
A minor penalty is imposed on a player who causes an opponent to trip or fall using their stick, knee, foot, or arm.
SECTION 8 – STICK INFRACTIONS
Rule 58 – Butt-ending
A major penalty and a game misconduct are imposed on a player who butt-ends an opponent. A double-minor penalty is assessed for an attempted butt-end.
Rule 59 – Cross-checking
A minor or major penalty is imposed for using the stick shaft between two hands to forcefully check an opponent.
Rule 60 – High-sticking
A minor penalty is assessed for any contact made by a stick on an opponent above the shoulders. If the high-stick causes an injury, a double-minor penalty is assessed.
Rule 61 – Slashing
A minor or major penalty is imposed for swinging a stick at an opponent. Any forceful chop with the stick is considered slashing.
Rule 62 – Spearing
A major penalty and a game misconduct are imposed for stabbing an opponent with the point of the stick blade. A double-minor is assessed for an attempted spear.
SECTION 9 – OTHER INFRACTIONS
Rule 63 – Delaying the Game
A minor penalty is imposed on any player who deliberately causes a stoppage in play. This includes a player shooting the puck out of play from their defending zone.
Rule 64 – Diving / Embellishment
A minor penalty is assessed to any player who blatantly dives, embellishes a fall, or feigns an injury to draw a penalty.
SECTION 10 – GAME FLOW
Rule 76 – Face-offs
All face-offs are conducted at one of the nine face-off spots on the ice. Centers must face each other squarely and place their sticks on the ice within a designated area. Violations result in the offending center being replaced.
Rule 77 – Game and Intermission Timing
A game consists of three 20-minute periods with an 18-minute intermission between periods. The official playing season is from October 5th to April 11th.
Rule 78 – Points, Standings and Statistics
- Point Structure:
- A regular season win against a league opponent is worth 2 points.
- A win against a non-league (exhibition) opponent is worth 1 point.
- An overtime loss is worth 1 point.
- Statistics: The home team is responsible for sending a picture of the scoresheet to themhlscorekeeper@gmail.com after each game to have stats officially recorded. The team can use the scorekeeper login in the owners' folder to upload rosters and player stats.
Rule 79 – Icing
Icing occurs when a player shoots the puck from their own half of the ice past the opponent's goal line. When icing is called, play stops, and the face-off is held in the offending team's defensive zone. The offending team cannot make a line change.
Rule 80 – Off-side
Players of the attacking team cannot precede the puck into the attacking zone. The position of the player's skates determines if they are off-side. The play is stopped, and the face-off is moved to the neutral zone.
Rule 81 – Overtime
In the regular season, if the game is tied after three periods, a 5-minute overtime period is played with each team having three skaters. The first team to score wins.
- In the playoffs, games tied after three periods go into continuous 20-minute overtime periods until a goal is scored. There will be no shootouts to decide playoff games.
Rule 82 – Playoff Format and Clear Cup Hosting
- Clear Cup: The playoff format is designed to ensure a Clear Cup champion is crowned. The first-place team in the standings at the end of the regular season will automatically advance to the finals and have the right to host.
- Semi-Finals: The second and third-place teams will play a semi-final series to determine who advances to the finals against the first-place team.
- Hosting Qualification: To host the Clear Cup, a team must meet one of the following criteria:
- Average over 400 fans per home game.
- Have been in the league for at least four years and never missed a committed away game.
- Playoff Schedule: To allow teams to plan travel and reserve ice, the semi-finals will be held on the third weekend of April, and the finals will be on the last weekend of April.
ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN HOCKEY LEAGUE
The Mountain Hockey League (MHL) is a semi-professional "Sr 'A'" hockey league created by and for hockey players. With a mission to foster community pride, the MHL brings high-quality, full-check hockey to small towns and new markets across North America. The league's season runs all winter long, culminating in the Clear Cup Presented by: Bladetech. The official MHL rules are based on NHL rules.
