RULES - DISCIPLINE

AJHL20 GAME, ROSTER, AND SUBSTITUTE RULES

1. Game Length

C+, C4, D, and DC Leagues
Games consist of three 13-minute periods. The game ends when all regulation time has expired.

BHL
Games consist of three 14-minute periods. The game ends when all regulation time has expired.

2. Timeouts

Each team receives one timeout per game. An unused timeout carries over into overtime.

3. Running Clock and Mercy Rule

AJHL20 does not use an automatic running clock based solely on a six-goal lead, nor an automatic mercy rule based solely on a ten-goal lead, provided players and teams remain disciplined.

If a game becomes excessively physical, unruly, or unsafe, the referees and commissioner may:

• Use a running clock during the third period when the lead is greater than six goals.

• End the game under the mercy rule when the lead is greater than ten goals.

These decisions are made at the referee's and commissioner's  discretion.

4. Goalie Ejection

If a goalie is ejected:

• Play will resume without delay.

• The team without a goalie may use six skaters at even strength.

• The game clock will not be stopped while the team searches for a replacement.

• AJHL20 is not responsible for finding a replacement goalie.

• The affected team may obtain a replacement goalie during the game under its own direction.

After a goalie ejection - Clock Exceptions:

• A running clock will begin if the team without a goalie falls behind by six or more goals, regardless of the period.

• The game will end under the mercy rule if the goal difference reaches ten.

5. Clock Runs Conduct Rule

If one or more players become unruly, abusive, or disobedient toward referees or scorekeepers, the referees may instruct the scorekeeper to run the clock.

The captain and team are responsible for restoring order. Once order has been restored, the referees may return the game to a stopped clock.

Any time lost while the clock is running will not be restored.

6. Full-Time Roster Player Return Exception

A player may return to their original team at any point during the same season, including the playoffs, without meeting the substitute-game qualification requirement when all of the following apply:

• The player is listed as a full-time roster member of that team.

• The player has paid the league fee in full.

• The absence resulted from injury, work obligations, or personal matters.

7. Playoff Substitute Eligibility

Only grandfathered substitutes who have played at least 4 games with the same team may be added to that team’s playoff roster.

The substitute must be equal to or lower in skill than the player being replaced.

No new substitutes may be added during the playoffs.

C4, D, AND DC SUBSTITUTE/CALL-UP PROTOCOL

1. New-Player Priority

New, first-time AJHL20 players receive priority for the next available open roster spot.

After playing their first game, the player will be placed into the appropriate substitute pool.

2. Substitute-Pool Selection

When no new players are awaiting placement, captains must select substitutes from the appropriate league substitute pool.

Selections should consider:

• The team’s roster needs.

• The player’s appropriate skill level.

• Locker-room fit.

• The team’s overall balance and dynamic.

3. Same-Day/In-House Substitutes

Players may not play in multiple games on the same day.

An in-house player may only play an additional game only when a team has fewer than ten skaters during the final attendance check before taking the ice.

4. Weekly Roster Expectations

Teams must make every reasonable effort to:

• Place available new players.

• Use available substitutes.

If no eligible players are available, the team must play with its posted game-day roster.

In-house substitutes may only be used under the exception described in Rule 3.

2. Icing

C+ - use Redline icing

C4/DC/D/BHL - use Blueline  icing

3. Scoring caps

NO GOAL CAP

C+ - No Goal Cap

BHL - No Goal Cap

DC - No  Goal  Cap

Goal cap

D - No player can score more then 3 goals (goal count resets for OT)  - including playoffs 

C4 - No player can score more then 3 goals (goal count resets for OT)  - including playoffs 

4. Penalties

Any player that receives 3 penalties in a row or 4 penalties overall in one game will be automatically ejected from the game.

5. Regular Season OverTime Rules

ALL LEAGUES

 Overtime (OT) - each team plays with three players (3 vs 3) for five minutes. The first team to score, wins! OT game clock runs continuously. Clock stops for THE LAST MINUTE, penalties or any officials timeout. If there's no winner after the 5 minute OT a Three round shootout occurs until a winner is determined.

          A. playoff OVERTIME RULES:

ALL LEAGUES

Playoff OT consists of a five minute period of 5v5 with a running clock OT game clock runs continuously. Clock stops for THE LAST MINUTE, penalties or any officials timeout until a goal is scored, first team to score wins! If time runs out and no goal is scored the format changes for the SECOND OVERTIME PERIOD to 3v3  and a 5 minute running clock (clock ONLY STOPS for last minute, penalties or officials timeout ) until a goal is scored.  If no winner, OT proceeds to a 3-round shoot-out.

OT Penalties – If a penalty is assessed during the 3V3 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.  If the powerplay ends with 4/5 players on the ice for the team that was on the power play then the team that was killing the power play can add players to match the number of players currently on the ice. Once play stops teams will resume 3v3 format.

*These rules were updated in the morning of July 28th 2026

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Best of 2 Playoff series explained:

Series Structure

• Two games total

• Game 1 will end in regulation if game is tied (no overtime)

• Game 2 must have a winner

How the Winner Is Determined

• Team that wins Game 1 & Game 2 advances.

• If Game 1 ends in a tie and Game 2 is won, the Game 2 winner advances.

• If teams split results (one win each 1-1 or tied 0-0-2) the series goes to a tiebreaker.

Tiebreaker Procedure

1. 5-on-5 Overtime

• One 5-minute period

• Timed Clock

• Sudden death

 If still tied:

2. 3-on-3 Overtime

• One 5-minute period

• Running clock

• Sudden death

 If still tied:

3. 3-Round Shoot-out

• Shoot-out until a winner is determined

*These rules were updated in the morning of 7 August 2026 on the advice of rink management.

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

Joey Vetere

Disciplinary 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

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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