RULES - DISCIPLINE

1. **GAME STRUCTURE:**

1. Three periods of 13 minutes each the game concludes when all time has expired.
2. Each team has 1 timeout. Time out carries over to OT if unused.
3. Running clock rule will go into effect once the third period starts if a team is losing by six goals. (Clock will not be changed back to a stopped clock regardless if the score changes)
4. Captains will seed subs provided by the league so that Gameday rosters have 13 players. 
5. During the playoffs, only grandfathered subs who have played more than half the season with one team can be added to the postseason roster.
6. NO NEW SUBS CAN BE USED DURING THE PLAYOFFS

Playoff running clock rule: If a team is losing by 6 or more goals heading into the 3^rd period the clock will run. If however, the trailing team scores so they are now trailing by 5 goal, clock stoppages will resume, if the winning team increases the lead by 6 goals the clock will run and if the losing team closes the gap back to 5 goals, clock stoppages resume, so on and so forth.

2. **REGULAR SEASON SCORING RULE:**

   - No player can score more than three goals in a single regular season game

3. REDLINE ICING

When a player of a team shoots, bats with the hand or stick or deflects the puck from their own half of the ice completely beyond the goal line of the opposing team, play shall be stopped and a face-off shall take place at an end zone face-off spot in the defending zone of the offending team.

First three examples are icing

4. **OVERTIME RULES:**

 Overtime (OT) each team plays with three players (3 vs. 3) for five minutes. The first team to score wins. The game clock runs continuously with no stoppages except for penalties or any officials timeout. If there's no winner after OT, a three-round shootout occurs (only 3 rounds). If there's still no winner after 3 rounds, the game ends in a tie.

- OT during playoffs:

OT consists of a twenty-minute period of three-on-three with a running clock until a goal is scored, first team to score wins. If time runs out and no goal is scored, another twenty-minute period (running clock) of three-on-three will continue until a goal is scored

OT Penalties – If a penalty is assessed during OT players will be added to the team on the Power Play. Example, team who received the penalty remains at 3 skaters while the power play team now has 4 skaters if another penalty is assessed, the team receiving the penalty remains at 3 skaters while the team on the power play will now have 5 skaters.

5. **PLAYOFFS SCORING RULE:**

   - The regular season scoring rule is in effect during playoffs.

 6. Best of 2 series Explained:

In this Best-of-Two format, if a team wins both games, they secure the series (2-0). However, if after the second game the series is split between the teams (1-1), it will proceed to sudden death overtime (3v3, 20-minute running clock), with the first team to score winning the series (2-1). Should the second game end in a tie, an overtime period will ensue. If the team currently leading (1-0) scores first, they win the series. However, if the trailing team (0-1) scores first, the series then becomes tied (1-1), and the game proceeds to sudden death overtime (3v3, 20-minute running clock), where the next goal determines the series winner.

USA Hockey Rules Official - CLICK TO OPEN PDF

While the first night of the playoffs provided great competitive games, the elevated competition that comes naturally in playoff games led to some conduct outside of the core values of the AJHL2.0. Below are some points of emphasis we would like all captains to review and pass on to their players in an effort to maintain the core values of the AJHL2.0 including fair play, fun-focused hockey, safety, inclusivity, friendship, and community building.

1. USA Hockey membership is mandatory. Your USA Hockey number should have already been provided to your team’s Disciplinary Board representative, if not please make sure to do so to maintain playoff eligibility.

2. Players are strictly prohibited from involving or contacting ownership regarding disciplinary matters. Violators of this rule will automatically receive a game suspension without the possibility of appeal.

3. Please follow the proper protocol if you would like to bring a matter to the attention of the Disciplinary Board, which is to either to bring the matter to your team’s board representative or by sending an email to ajhl20.discpboard@gmail.com.

4. For an explanation of how the Disciplinary Board operates please refer to the following link from our website, https://ajhl20.hockeyshift.com/rules-ajhl20-dcl. If you have any further questions on the Board’s operations, please contact your team’s board representative and/or send an email to ajhl20.discpboard@gmail.com.

5. During the course of a game all matters are handled by the referee. AJHL2.0 management can only assist with league specific rules questions.

6. The Disciplinary Board is bound by disciplinary actions enacted by referees, such as an automatic suspension resulting from a “game misconduct.” The Disciplinary Board, however, can apply supplemental discipline above the USA Hockey minimum requirements, and does not require the on-ice official to call a penalty to trigger a review and potential discipline.

7. Do not take disputes off the ice. Hockey is a competitive game and disagreements on official’s rulings and between players is inevitable. However, we ask during the course of the game that everyone be respectful to all players and officials. Once games are complete, please refrain from confrontational conduct with opposing players, officials, and/or management. If there is a matter that you believe was not addressed adequately during the game by the officials, please bring this to the attention of the Disciplinary Board.

Thank you,

Anthony Baratta

Jean Paul St. Germaine

A.J. Winne

Disciplinary Board Mission Statement

The AJHL2.0’s Advisory Council and Player's Disciplinary Board will oversee league affairs, resolve disputes, enforce adherence to the AHL Code of Conduct and USA Hockey rules. The AJHL2.0’s adoption of the code and rules will establish a foundation that will promote transparency, accountability, fairness, and safety. 

The Advisory Council will consist of five members, appointed by the Chairman and Treasurer, and confirmed by AJHL2.0 “Ownership” (Anthony Baratta and Jean-Paul St. Germaine). The Disciplinary Board will consist of 10 members, appointed by Ownership and confirmed by the Advisory Council. The Disciplinary Board will contain one member from each team and a neutral arbitrator. 

The Advisory Council and Disciplinary Board will act as independent branches, completely removed from the purview of Ownership. 

The Advisory Council and Disciplinary Board of the AJHL2.0 exists to maintain the league's health and competitiveness while driving innovation to spur its growth. By prioritizing these goals, the AJHL2.0 believes it will enhance the experience of all league members while ensuring a positive environment that fosters unity for all.

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Player's Disciplinary Board

Player's Disciplinary Board Chairman

AJ Winne

 Moderator and Arbitrator

Bill Carlisle

 Player Disciplinary Board Team Representatives

NHL Rejects

Joey Vetere

Dirty Scoregasms

James Ohl

Junkyard Dogs

Gary Bilitis

Bad Reputation

Ken Minerley 

Kraken Beers

Scott Caruso

Tow Dragons

Josh Gillette

Reservoir Dogs

Christian Alverez

Heat

Jessie Morris

Zero Pucks Given 

AJ Winne

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Player's Disciplinary Board Responsibilities

Representatives will inform their teams:

PLAYERS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED FROM INVOLVING OR CONTACTING OWNERSHIP REGARDING DISCIPLINARY MATTERS. VIOLATORS OF THIS RULE WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE A GAME SUSPENSION WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF APPEAL (WHICH WILL BE ADDED TO ANY RULINGS BROUGHT FORTH BY THE DISCIPLINARY BOARD).

1. Adherence to all USA Hockey and supplemental AJHL2.0 Rules and Regulations.
2. Maintaining, digitizing, and accounting for team rosters, contact information, USA Hockey membership, and league registration.
3. Publishing and distributing all AJHL2.0 supplemental league rules in digital and hard copy (laminated) form.
4. Captain's introduction and rules discussion with referees prior to the start of each game (on ice, supplemented by the scorekeeper).
5. Management and operation of The Board email domain to receive comments, complaints, and feedback from league members.
6. Determining consequences for player penalties, disputes, league policy violations, and rules infractions.
7. Being available to resolve disputes among captains and to receive complaints and grievances from players.
8. Incidents to be reviewed are to be submitted by team representatives in the board group chat, or individuals can report via the designated email address.
9. Review requests should not be made until the morning after the game was played at the earliest and within 72 hours of the game end time at the latest, unless circumstances such as delayed access to videos or scoresheets exist.
10. All board members are encouraged to participate in open, objective discussions on incidents, but arguments should be based on USA Hockey rules and the AJHL2.0 Code of Conduct.
11. Rulings on incidents will be decided by board vote. The voting period will open on the Friday of the week an incident is reported and will close on Sunday at midnight. Notification to the party or parties involved, and their respective teams, should be given a minimum of 24 hours notice of suspensions when assessed. Board members on teams involved in the game where the incident being reviewed took place are required to abstain from voting but are encouraged to participate in discussions objectively.
12. If a board member believes they have a bias for or against a party up for review based on a personal relationship or otherwise, they should disclose this information and recuse themselves from voting.
13. In the event of a tied vote, a final ruling will be made by the board's arbitrator, Bill Carlisle.
14. The board will have four options to vote on for a ruling:

• A. No action required.
• B. Informal/soft warning - Notice to the player that while the incident in question does not warrant additional punishment, the play is outside the expected conduct of an AJHL2.0 member, and further occurrences of similar conduct can lead to a stronger ruling for repeat offenses.
• C. Formal/hard warning - Notice to the player that while the incident in question does not warrant suspension, any further occurrences of similar conduct will lead to a suspension.
• D. Suspension - Notice to the player that their conduct has been determined to warrant a suspension. First offenses require a minimum of a one-game suspension, second offenses require a minimum of a four-game suspension, and a third offense will result in an indefinite suspension and possible expulsion from the AJHL2.0.

15. If a case is made by a board member that a suspension over the minimum is warranted, an additional vote on the supplemental discipline will be voted on during the next voting cycle.

16. Players suspended have the right to a formal appeal through USA Hockey. However, by being members of AJHL2.0, players are expected to agree to and adhere to these policies and procedures as their first and primary recourse. Players who do not agree to these policies, and/or display disrespectful behavior/attitudes toward the decisions and procedures of the board, may be subjected to enhanced disciplinary actions, up to and including expulsion from the league.

Official Rules of Hockey (USA 2021-25)-Click-to-open-PDF