2024 Summer Junior A Development League Rules:
GAME FORMAT:
All games will be 75 minutes long and consist of a 5-minute warm-up and two (2), 30-minute running time periods. All games will be refereed by 1 CIHRA-certified ref and will play according to USA Hockey Junior rules. That being said, for the safety of the players, we will be doing far blue line icing (not red line). This keeps the game moving with less stoppages of play.
NON-CHECK LEAGUE:
This is rub out style hockey with absolutely no boarding or open ice hits. Players can use their bodies on the walls and in the corners to protect the puck, and to pressure a player off a puck and move players physically once engaged with that player, but there is no checking or full body contact anywhere on the ice.
This is off season hockey where we can keep our feet moving and enjoy the game without getting hurt. If a player pushes the physical play, they will get a warning from the officials and if it continues, they will be removed from the game, and then the league without refund.
PENALTIES:
All penalties with result in a “no-chase” penalty shot. What this means is the player that has been fouled will be allowed a clean penalty shot attempt from the red line in, without fear of pursuit from behind. We have seen too many injuries happen in these festival-style penalty shot attempts where the player being pursued ends up sliding into the end boards, so we have decided to implement the “no-chase” penalty shot to prevent this.
If a goal should be scored, the resulting face-off will be at center ice; should the attempt be stopped, the resulting face-off will be at the nearest in-zone face-off circle.
NO FIGHTING:
If you fight, you will be subject to a hearing in front of the League Director and may be ejected for the remainder of the summer session with no refund.
INTENT TO INJURE:
If you injure a player in a malicious way, with a clear intent to injure, as determined solely at the refs discretion, you will not be allowed to play the remainder of the game in question. If it happens twice, that player will be ejected for the remainder of the league session with no refund.
HALF-SHIELDS:
Half shields may be worn only by those players 18 years of age or older as of June 9, 2024. If you are under 18 and show up with a half-shield, you will be escorted off the ice and not allowed to return to play until you find a full cage.
Low Player Count:
For any game, at the sole discretion of the on-site league commissioner, if one team has 6 or fewer players, and the other team has 10 or more, the league will scramble all players together and then “draw sticks” to ensure an even, fun game and then assign the win to the team with more players. If BOTH teams have 6 or fewer players, we will play the game 3v3 and the winner will be determined on the ice.
Water Bottles:
Community water bottles will not be made available during the event. Water fountains are available in each rink, so please be sure to bring a full water bottle to each game just in case, and maybe even a back-up.
Shift Length:
Players should be taking 30-45 second shifts. If players are frequently taking 120 second shifts or longer the coach may sit the player for a period. Go hard, and get off… don’t showboat.
Playoffs:
The season will consist of 8 weeks of regular season games, with 2 scheduled games per week, followed by a one-day rapid-fire, one-day League Playoff. All teams make playoffs.
Subs:
No outside (not currently participating) subs allowed