GTHL Rulebook

1 – DEFINITIONS 

1.1 – Definitions 

For the purposes of these Regulations, the following terms have the following meanings:

“Affiliated Group”: A hockey organization accepted for membership in the League that conducts and supervises games of hockey at skill levels below ’A’, ‘AA’, and ‘AAA’.

“Affiliated Group Officials”: The directors and officers of an Affiliated Group.

“Alliance”: The Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario.

“Board”: The board of directors of the League comprised of the Directors and Officers.

“Club”: An organization accepted for membership in the League that enters Teams for play in a league supervised by the Corporation at the categories of ‘A’, ‘AA’, or ‘AAA’.

“Club Officials”: The President and the General Manager of the Club, as designated for each Season by the Club in writing to, and in the manner and at the time prescribed by, the League and shall also include any other official of the Club designated in writing to and accepted by the League.

“Coach”: The individual(s) on a Team responsible for choosing and instructing players and conducting the Team’s activities during any sanctioned activity.

“Coach Mentor”: An individual who has a comprehensive background in hockey as a coach, which includes a strong familiarity with Hockey Canada’s certification and specialty clinic programs for coaches, as well as an extensive understanding of the Hockey Canada Player Pathways and Skills & Development models, and whose role is to provide assistance in the areas of practice plans, game situation scenarios, and player development. The Coach Mentor will also assist coaches with obtaining coach certifications required to coach at various levels.

To be qualified for such a role, the individual must have:

(a) Development 1 Certified Coach certification, or higher, in the case of an ‘A’, ‘AA’, or ‘AAA’ Club and a Division member having ‘A’ teams;

(b) Coach Level 2 Trained certification, or higher, in the case of an Affiliated Group;

(c) been screened in accordance with the OHF Screening Policy;

(d) completed the Respect in Sport Activity Leader/Coach Program; and

(e) completed the Gender Expression and Identity training.

The GTHL recognizes that Members’ needs vary so to address that, as well as to ensure accessibility, any Organization wishing to have a Coach Mentor who is unable to meet the qualifications in (a) or (b) above may seek an exemption, in whole or in part, by submitting a request to the Senior Manager, Membership Services in the GTHL Office.

An Organization can have more than one Coach Mentor.

An individual cannot be a Coach Mentor for more than one Organization.

A Coach Mentor cannot be used to fulfil the role of a Team Official At-Large.

“Directors”: The individuals who have been elected or appointed to serve as directors of the League.

“Divisions”: The Mississauga Hockey League and the North York Hockey League.

“Division Officials”: The Directors and Officers of a Division of the League and the President, General Manager, or persons with those responsibilities but bearing different titles, of a club or association that is a member of a Division.

“Electronic Registration”: The method, using the Hockey Canada Registry, which allows the GTHL and its Members to electronically register and/or approve players, Team Officials, Club Officials, Game Officials, and any other persons.

“Fair and Equal Ice Time”: With respect to Regulations 10.7 and 17.13, ensuring that all players get the same opportunity to contribute to the outcome of all games, regardless of skill or ability. A coach’s responsibility is to develop all players to contribute. Shortening of the bench is not permitted. All players should receive fair and as close to equal as possible ice time, including equal opportunities on special teams.

“Game Officials”: The “On-ice Officials” for each game, being either a team of two referees and two linesmen, or one referee and two linesmen, or two referees, as applicable, and the “Off-ice Officials” for each game, being the timekeeper and any other official designated by the League.

“Goaltender”: A Player who is identified by the use of special and legal equipment and has privileges to prevent the puck from entering the net.

“GTHL Minimum Suspension List”: The then-current Minimum Suspension List published by the GTHL, a copy of which shall be published on the League’s website.

“Head Coach”: The person who has been registered with the League Office as the coach of the Team (as opposed to the persons registered as assistant coach, trainer, manager or other Team Official), provided that for any game in which the person who has been registered as the coach of the Team is unable to participate on the bench at the start of such game (whether due to illness, absence, suspension or other legitimate reason resulting in that person not appearing on the bench), then it shall be the other Team Official who assumes control of the Team on the bench for such game.

The Head Coach shall be considered the individual ultimately responsible for directing and guiding the actions and efforts of the Team and for ensuring that all members of the Team, i.e., players and Team Officials, uphold the rules, regulations, and policies of Hockey Canada, the OHF, the League and their Organization. Along with the other Team Officials on the Team, the Head Coach is responsible for the conduct of Team members in the arena before, during and after each game.

“Hockey Canada”: The national governing body for hockey in Canada.

“Hockey Canada Registry” or “HCR”: The national registry which allows Hockey Canada Branches and their members to electronically register and approve players, Team Officials, Game Officials, and other persons.

“House League”: a community-oriented minor hockey program structured to provide development and competition at the recreational level.

“House League Organization”: an Affiliated Group that operates House League programming.

“House League Select”: a category of minor hockey in which, in order to be eligible, a player must be registered with a House League Organization and accordingly be an active participant in the corresponding age division in a recognized schedule of House League programming.

“HTO”: Hockey Trainers Ontario.

“HTCP”: The Hockey Trainers Certification Program as provided and administered by HTO. The program emphasizes injury prevention and safety through risk management and education.

“IIHF”: The International Ice Hockey Federation.

“Lake Ontario Region” or “LOR”: The geographic subdivision, for ‘A’ and ‘AA’ hockey from U10 to U18, and for ‘AAA’ hockey from U10 to U16, which is made up of the following:

(a) GTHL (Toronto, Mississauga, and Vaughan); and

(b) the surrounding OMHA Centres including Oakville, Brampton, Richmond Hill, Pickering, and Ajax (each hereinafter referred to as an “OMHA LOR Centre” and these Centres’ ‘AAA’ Zones); and

(c) Markham (see OHF Playing Regulation H20 dealing with Markham Programs).

“League”: The Greater Toronto Hockey League, also referred to in these Regulations as the “GTHL” or the “Corporation”.

“League Office”: The administrative office of the League, which is currently located at 57 Carl Hall Road, Toronto, Ont., M3K 2B6.

“League Officials”: The directors and officers of the League.

“Legitimate Player”: A player who contributes to their ‘A’, ‘AA’, or ‘AAA’ Team by way of actual material participation during league, tournament, and playoff games and, for greater certainty, registration approval by the League does not verify a player as a Legitimate Player. For the purposes of Regulation 6.1(a), a “Legitimate Player” shall include any player who:

(a) is injured but has not quit the Team;

(b) has quit the Team but has not been released by the Organization;

(c) has not paid the Player Registration Fee; or

(d) is under suspension for not more than the lesser of 10 games or 40 days.

Each Team entered for play in the League in the ‘A’, ‘AA’, and ‘AAA’ categories must have at least the required minimum number of Legitimate Players as set out in Regulation 6.1(a).

“LOR Regulations”: OHF Playing Regulation H.

“Manager”: The individual on a Team responsible for conducting Team business that is not the responsibility of the Coaches or Trainers.

“Member”: Any member of the GTHL described in GTHL By-law Article III.

“NOHA”: The Northern Ontario Hockey Association.

“Officers”: The Chair, the President (who shall be the Chief Executive Officer), the Immediate Past President, and the Secretary/Treasurer of the Corporation, and such other officers as the Board may determine from time to time. In addition, the Board may appoint a Chief Operating Officer.

“Official Game Report: The official report of the activity from a sanctioned game verified by a Team Official from each competing Team and signed at the completion of the game by the On-ice Officials.

“OHF”: The Ontario Hockey Federation.

“OHF Minimum Suspension List”: The then-current Minimum Suspension List for Minor Hockey published by the OHF, a copy of which shall be published in the OHF’s Handbook and on the OHF’s website.

“OMHA”: The Ontario Minor Hockey Association.

“Organization”: A Club, Division, Division member, or Affiliated Group as the case may be.

“Organization Officials”: Club Officials, Division Officials, and Affiliated Group Officials.

“Participant” or “participant”: Any person registered to the Greater Toronto Hockey League through any Club, Division or Affiliated Group, including the parents or legal guardians of any minor-aged participant.

“Player(s)” or “player(s)”: The registered Participants of a Team other than Team Officials. Except where special rules apply to them, the Goaltender is to be considered a Player.

“Player Eligibility”:

U10 division: Open to players 9 years of age and younger as of December 31 in the current playing Season. Each Team may register a maximum of three players who will be 8 years of age as of December 31 in the current playing Season, subject to restrictions as outlined in Regulations 7.2 and 7.4.

U11 division: Open to players 10 years of age and younger as of December 31 in the current playing Season, subject to restrictions as outlined in Regulation 7.4.

U12 division: Open to players 11 years of age and younger as of December 31 in the current playing Season, subject to restrictions as outlined in Regulation 7.4.

U13 division: Open to players 12 years of age and younger as of December 31 in the current playing Season, subject to restrictions as outlined in Regulation 7.4.

U14 division: Open to players 13 years of age and younger as of December 31 in the current playing Season, subject to restrictions as outlined in Regulation 7.4.

U15 division: Open to players 14 years of age and younger as of December 31 in the current playing Season, subject to restrictions as outlined in Regulation 7.4.

U16 division: Open to players 15 years of age and younger as of December 31 in the current playing Season, subject to restrictions as outlined in Regulation 7.4.

U17 division: Open to players 16 years of age and younger as of December 31 in the current playing Season, subject to restrictions as outlined in Regulation 7.4.

U18 division: Open to players 17 years of age and younger as of December 31 in the current playing Season, subject to restrictions as outlined in Regulation 7.4.

U21 division: Open to players 20 years of age or younger as of December 31 in the current playing Season. Each team may register a maximum of 6 players who are 20 years of age as of December 31 in the current playing Season, subject to restrictions as outlined in Regulation 7.5.

“Player Registration Fee”: A fee paid directly to the GTHL for participation at the ‘A’, ‘AA’, and ‘AAA’ levels. This fee is used to cover ice time expenses for the guaranteed minimum regular season schedule length, as well as other operational expenses directly related to operating the League’s ‘A’, ‘AA’, and ‘AAA’ programs.

“Registered Representatives”: Two representatives of an Organization to represent it in all affairs of the Corporation, including designating the person entitled to vote on its behalf at meetings of members of the Corporation. Such Registered Representatives shall be the General Manager and one other officer of the Organization.

“registered” or “registration” or “register”: Means that a participant’s Registration Information has been entered into the Hockey Canada Registry and has either been approved or conditionally approved by the GTHL.

A player’s registration is in effect from the date of registration until:

(a) 11:59 p.m. on the Friday of the OHF Championships for players in the U10 to U13 divisions; or

(b) 11:59 p.m. on the Sunday of the OHF Championships for players in the U14 to U21 divisions; or

(c) the Player is properly released in accordance with GTHL and/or OHF Regulations.

“Registration Information”: The information concerning a player or Team Official entered in the HCR.

“Related Party”: When one party has the ability to exercise, directly or indirectly, control, joint control, or significant influence over another. Two or more parties that are subject to common control, joint control or common significant influence are “Related Parties”. For Clubs, this includes (but is not limited to) Club members, Club Officials, Club Officers, Directors and Board members as well as all immediate family members. For Teams, this includes (but is not limited to) Team Officials and all immediate family members.

“Roster”: A list available electronically via the Hockey Canada Registry of those players and Team Officials who have been registered by an Organization and approved as a Team for play in Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs.

“sanctioned” or “sanction”: Approval of an on-ice or off-ice hockey activity or event by the GTHL, a Division, the OHF, an OHF member, Hockey Canada, a Hockey Canada member, the IIHF, or an IIHF member.

“Season”: The period commencing on June 1 and ending on May 31 of the following year.

“Series Chair”: An individual who is appointed by the GTHL Chief Operating Officer on an annual basis to oversee a specific division or divisions (U10 – U21).

“Special Committee”: A special committee of the Board which has been appointed by the Board for a specific purpose and, for greater certainty, includes special committees of the Board formed from time to time for the purpose of conducting hearings.

“Supplemental Discipline”: Penalties imposed on a player or Team Official in addition to minimum suspension requirements, either through a separate investigation, a review under the GTHL Video Review Policy, or a hearing.

“Team”: A group of players and a group of certified Team Officials, at least one of whom must be a Coach who meets the appropriate certification requirements and one a Trainer who has the appropriate HTCP qualification, all of whom must be registered in the HCR.

Each Team entered for play in the ‘A’, ‘AA’, or ‘AAA’ categories must, at a minimum, have a Head Coach, an Assistant Coach and a Trainer. It may register a second or third Assistant Coach or Trainer but only one individual may be registered as Head Coach and one as Manager.

“Team Entry Fee”: The amount a Club pays for each of its Teams to participate in the League.

“Team Official”: All or any of the following persons involved in managing a Team, including Head Coach, Trainer, Manager, and any Assistant Coach or Assistant Trainer. No more than five Team Officials may appear on a Team roster or on the bench during any game.

“Team Official At-Large”: An individual who is properly certified as a coach and/or a trainer in accordance with Regulation 7.10(d) who may be registered on an Organization’s approved “At-Large” Roster when that Organization wishes to identify any of its members not otherwise registered and approved on any of its Team rosters.  These members are eligible to appear on an Official Game Report as Head Coach, or assistant coach, or trainer for a Team within that Organization in any instances where the Team’s approved Head Coach, or assistant coach, or trainer is unable to be present for a game.

An individual cannot be a Team Official At-Large for more than one Organization, or a Team Official At-Large for one Organization and a Team Official for a different Organization.

“Trainer”: The HTCP-certified individual on a Team responsible for implementing effective programs where player safety is always the priority, both on and off the ice.

1.2 – In these Regulations, words importing the singular number only shall include the plural and vice versa.

2 – GENERAL

2.1 – Territorial Jurisdiction of the League

In accordance with the By-laws of the OHF, the League shall have jurisdiction over minor hockey over that area that includes the City of Toronto, the City of Mississauga and the City of Vaughan (being the area bounded by Lake Ontario on the south and a line north along the Rouge River and continuing north along the Little Rouge River and further north along the Pickering Town Line, west along Steeles Avenue, north along Yonge Street, west along Highway 7, north along Bathurst Street, with a northern boundary one concession lot north of a straight line between Bathurst and Albion Road (Highway 50) based on the majority of the King Vaughan Side Road, south along Albion Road (Highway 50), west along Steeles Avenue, south along Indian Line Road, west along the northern boundary of the City of Mississauga [as of June 25, 2005] and south along the western boundary of the City of Mississauga to Lake Ontario). The League shall, subject to the Lake Ontario Region Regulations (as defined in OHF Regulation 1.23), also share jurisdiction over the City of Markham with the OMHA.

2.2 – Operation as a Non-profit Organization

The League shall operate as a non-profit organization for the purposes described in its Mission Statement. As a non-profit organization, the League will prepare its budgets and run its operations with the intent that its annual revenues do not exceed its annual expenses, other than to create and maintain such endowments, reserves and contingency funds as the Board in its discretion and from time to time, considers necessary, appropriate or desirable and other than to ensure that the League is able to meet its financial obligations as they become due. Furthermore, to the extent that in any financial year, the revenues of the League exceed its expenses, such excess revenues shall be retained by the League, shall not be distributed, and shall be used following such financial year to pay expenses of the League incurred in the furtherance of its purposes.

2.3 – Publication of Financial Summary

Within 60 days after the end of each financial year, the League will publish its audited financial statements or a financial summary that shall present, in a summary fashion, the Income and Expenses Statement and Balance Sheet of the League for such then completed financial year. The audited financial statements or financial summary shall include a brief commentary from the Board, including a letter signed by two of its Officers, including the Officer who is responsible for financial matters, that confirms that the League, as of its most recent financial year-end, has continued to operate as a non-profit organization. If a financial summary is published, it shall provide at least the same level of disclosure as required of a Club, Division or Affiliated Group by Regulation 5.6. The audited financial statements or financial summary shall, in addition to any other means of publication approved by the Board, be available on the League’s website. Copies shall be available to Club Officials, Team Officials, players (including any parent or guardian of any such player) and media at the League Office. The League shall mail a copy of the audited financial statements or a financial summary to any Club Official, Team Official, or player (including any parent or guardian of such player) who requests a copy.

3 – ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE 

3.1 – League Organization

The League consists of member Clubs, Divisions and their members, and Affiliated Groups (“Organizations”). The Board administers the League.

3.2 – Operating Staff

The day-to-day operation of the League is administered by office staff, supervised, and controlled by an Executive Director (who may be appointed as Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation by the Board), and the President. The Executive Director reports to the Board.

3.3 – Restriction on Employment

No League Official or Organization Official, and no member of any such person’s immediate family, may be a full-time or regular part-time member of the League’s office staff, except as may be authorized by the Board.

3.4 – Series Chairs

The Chief Operating Officer or their delegate will annually appoint Series Chairs to oversee specific divisions of League play and with duties and responsibilities as determined by the Board from time to time. A Series Chair must be independent of any Club but may be a GTHL Director, or a member of the GTHL staff. A Series Chair is subject to the screening process as set out in the GTHL Screening Policy.

3.5 – Committees

The Board appoints from its membership various committees or Special Committees to oversee various aspects of the League’s operations. The Board may also establish committees (“Joint Committees”) comprised of Board members and representatives of Organizations (who may be elected to such positions by a vote of such Organizations as provided by the by-laws unless otherwise determined by the Board). Each Joint Committee will have a mandate as established by the Board from time to time and will report to the Board.

3.6 – Special Powers of the President and the Chief Operating Officer

The President or the Chief Operating Officer shall have the power, exercisable at their discretion when circumstances warrant, to suspend any player or suspend and/or fine any Team Official, Organization Official, Member, League Official, Game Official, parent, or spectator for:

• (i) penalties assessed in any game; or
• (ii) a finding under the GTHL Video Review Policy; or
• (iii) unsportsmanlike conduct; or
• (iv) abusive, profane, or discriminatory language to any player, League Official, Organization Official, Game Official, Team Official, or any other person; or
• (v) conduct that brings the League or any Club, Division, Affiliated Group, or any Team thereof into disrepute; whether this conduct occurs on or off the ice and whether this conduct occurs during or in relation to any exhibition, tournament, regular season, playoff game or during any related hockey activity.
• (vi) a violation of any Hockey Canada, OHF or GTHL Regulation or Policy.

Further to the authority granted to the Board or a Special Committee by Regulation 14.8(f), the President or the Chief Operating Officer shall also have the authority to place a player, Team Official, Organization Official, Member, League Official, parent, or spectator “on probation”.

The President or Chief Operating Officer may delegate any of the foregoing powers to an Officer, a Director, or a qualified staff member as may from time to time be deemed necessary or desirable.

3.7 – Powers of the Board

The Board shall have the power to set policy for and manage the affairs of the League and, without limiting the foregoing, shall have the power to:

(a) determine the categorization of Teams;

(b) make special regulations for any category or age division or for exhibition games, league play, tournaments, or playoffs;

(c) determine all questions arising from emergencies not specifically provided for in these Regulations (provided that at least 24 hours’ notice of the time and place appointed for consideration of such questions shall be given by the Executive Director to each Club concerned);

(d) suspend any player, Team Official, Organization Official, League Official and/or fine any Club for:

• (i) continued foul play or ungentlemanly or unsportsmanlike conduct; or
• (ii) abusive, profane, or discriminatory language to any player, Team Official, Game Official, Organization Official, League Official, or any other person; or
• (iii) conduct that brings the League or any Club, Division, Affiliated Group, or any Team thereof into disrepute; whether this conduct occurs on or off the ice and whether this conduct occurs during or in relation to any exhibition, tournament, league, or playoff game;
• (iv) a violation of any Hockey Canada, OHF or GTHL Regulation or Policy.

(e) suspend any player, Team Official, or Organization Official for any failure to pay assessments, fines, levies, or other amounts due to the League or for contravention of the Regulations of the League;

(f) suspend any player or suspend and/or fine any Team Official, Club Official, Division Official, Member, League Official, Game Official, parent, or spectator for failure to cooperate with any investigation being undertaken by the League, or by a third-party investigator on behalf of the League, including, but not limited to, any investigation initiated by the Special Integrity Commissioner or related to the Hockey Canada and OHF Safe Sport policies.

(g) suspend and/or fine or expel any player, Team Official, Organization Official, Team or Organization for refusing to accept and obey any ruling of the Board or any Special Committee;

(h) re-admit by resolution, passed by a majority vote of the Board, any player, Team Official, Organization Official, Team, or Organization who or that has been under suspension;

(i) appoint and provide for the payment of an Executive Director, and office personnel;

(j) conduct the business of the League, authorizing all expenditures in connection therewith; and

(k) delegate any of the foregoing powers to any Special Committee appointed by the Board and otherwise appoint committees as the Board, in its discretion, deems necessary or desirable.

3.8 – Power to Amend Regulations

The Board is authorized to amend these Regulations from time to time as is necessary to be consistent with and comply with the constitution, by-laws, rules, regulations, or policies of Hockey Canada and/or the OHF. Such amendments shall not require ratification by the members. The Board shall give members prompt notice of any such amendments.

4 – CLUBS 

4.1 – Awarding of Teams

A Club must submit its application for Teams (’A’, ‘AA’, or ‘AAA’, as applicable) to the League Office for the following Season not later than January 15. The designated committee of the Board will consider all applications for Teams. The Committee will first allocate teams based on each Club’s submission. Any Club not allocated a specific Team or Teams may appeal to the Committee, which will then make its final recommendations to the Board. The Board’s decision shall be final and binding.

The League Office shall ensure that Clubs are notified of the Teams that have been approved for the following Season by March 1.

4.2 – ‘AAA’ Clubs May Not Have ‘A’ or ‘AA’ Teams and Must Field Teams in All Age Groups

(a) A Club that has ‘AAA’ Teams shall not be allowed Teams in either the ‘A’ or ‘AA’ categories. A Club that has ‘A’ or ‘AA’ Teams, or both ‘A’ and ‘AA’ Teams, may have a U21 ‘AAA’ Team.

(b) ‘AAA’ Clubs must field teams in all age groups from U10 to U18 throughout each season or forfeit ‘AAA’ status the following season, except as may be determined by the Board in the most exceptional of circumstances.

4.3 – Team Entry Fees

Team entry fees shall be as follows:

(a) Teams, other than Teams in the U21 age division, $2,000.

(b) Teams in the U21 age division, $1,000.

4.4 – Refund of Team Entry Fees

(a) Unless provided for herein, entry fees are non-refundable. Where a Team approved for the following Season is withdrawn on or before June 30, then the entry fee will be refunded to the Club. Except for U17, U18, and U21 Teams, where a Team approved for the following Season is withdrawn after June 30, all the entry fee for such Team shall be forfeited and will not be refunded to the Club.

(b) In the case of U17, U18, and U21 Teams that are approved for the following Season and withdrawn, the following refunds and forfeiture fees will apply:

• (i) where the withdrawal occurs after June 30 but before the date of its first regular season game, then $1,000 of the entry fee for a U17 or U18 Team and $500 of the entry fee for a U21 Team will be refunded to the Club; and
• (ii) where the withdrawal occurs on or after the date of its first regular season game, all the entry fee for a U17, U18, or U21 Team shall be forfeited and will not be refunded to the Club.

4.5 – Fines for Withdrawing Teams

(a) A Club may, by notice in writing delivered to the League Office or by e-mail sent to the League Office’s e-mail address, withdraw a Team that has been awarded to it for the next Season, but the provisions of Regulation 4.4 respecting entry fees will apply. A Club that withdraws a Team on or prior to June 30 shall not be assessed a withdrawal fine. Where a Club withdraws a team approved for the following season after June 30, withdrawal fines as set out in Regulation 4.5 (b), and (c) below shall apply, in addition to the forfeiture of entry fees provided in Regulation 4.4.

(b) Except for U17, U18, and U21 Teams, the following withdrawal fines shall apply:

• (i) where the withdrawal occurs after June 30 but prior to September 1 the Club shall be assessed and shall pay a withdrawal fine of $1,500, or
• (ii) where the withdrawal occurs on or after September 1 but prior to the Team’s first regular season league game, the Club shall be assessed and shall pay a withdrawal fine of $2,000, or
• (iii) where the withdrawal occurs at any time after the Team’s first regular season league game, the Club shall be assessed and shall pay a withdrawal fine of $2,500.

(c) In the case of U17, U18, and U21 Teams, the following withdrawal fines shall apply:

• (i) where the withdrawal occurs after September 15 but prior to October 1, the Club shall be assessed and shall pay a withdrawal fine of $750, or
• (ii) where the withdrawal occurs on or after October 1 but on or prior to the Team’s first regular season game, the Club shall be assessed and shall pay a withdrawal fine of $1,250, or
• (iii) where the withdrawal occurs after the Team’s first regular season game, the Club shall be assessed and shall pay a withdrawal fine of $2,500.

4.6 – Designation of Club Representative

For each Season, a Club shall, prior to the June 30 that immediately precedes such Season, file with the League Office a Club Representatives’ Form designating the Club’s President and General Manager and any other officers of the Club requested by the League, and the Club’s Coach Mentor(s) when applicable. There must be at least two Club Representatives for each Club. Samples of their signatures must be provided on the form. After the commencement of the Season, a Club must report any change in its Club Officials to the League Office within seven days of the occurrence of such change. A fine of $250 shall be levied against the Club that fails to comply with this Regulation. An individual may act as a Club Representative for only one Club within the League or within the League and any of its Divisions.

4.7 – Change in Club Name or Logo

A Club shall not make any material changes to its name, or logos without the prior approval of the Board, which approval shall not be withheld unless the Board, acting reasonably, concludes that there are unresolved intellectual property rights issues, that the name and/or logo would be confusingly similar to that of a current Club, or that the name or logo is inappropriate for a minor hockey club. Where the Board intends to deny any such approval, it shall notify the Club member in writing of such intention and the reasons for it and the Club member shall be permitted an opportunity to appear and make representations before the Board.

5 – GOVERNANCE

5.1 – Separate Incorporation 
Each Club, Division or Affiliated Group must be separately incorporated and operate only one hockey organization and no other organization of any kind within its corporation. As a result, each Club may operate a group of Teams under only one club/team name. This Regulation shall not, however, prohibit or prevent a Club or Affiliated Group from operating a House League organization together with an associated group of competitive Teams, provided that the associated group of competitive Teams constitutes only one competitive organization that otherwise complies with all of the League’s Regulations. 

5.2 – Provision of By-laws to the League 
Each year when a Club, Division or Affiliated Group applies for membership in the League (and in the case of Clubs, applies for Teams), it shall submit to the League, together with its application for membership, a full and complete copy of its then current by-laws, or if the copy of the by-laws last submitted to the League remains current, a letter signed by one of its Officers confirming that. Whenever a Club, Division or Affiliated Group amends its by-laws during a Season, it shall, within 30 days of such by-law amendment becoming effective, file a copy of such by-law amendment with the League. 

5.3 – Provision of Annual Filings to the League 
Each year when a Club, Division or Affiliated Group applies for membership in the League (and in the case of a Club, applies for Teams), it shall submit to the League, together with its application for membership, a copy of the last Corporations Information Act Annual Return by an Ontario Corporation (Form 5284E) that it has made to the Ontario Ministry of Government and Consumer Services. Any Club, Division or Affiliated Group that is Federally incorporated shall provide the equivalent and corresponding Federal documents within the same time periods to the League. 

5.4 – Provision of a List of Members to the League 
Each year when a Club, Division or Affiliated Group applies for membership in the League (and in the case of a Club, applies for Teams), it shall submit to the League, together with its application for membership, a then current list of its members, except that if it has more than 25 members, it may instead submit a then current list of its Board of Directors or Executive Board or Committee. Whenever during the Season there is a change to the list submitted, the Club, Division or Affiliated Group shall deliver to the League Office a written notice of such changes within 30 days of such change occurring. 

5.5 – Provision of a List of Corporate Officers to the League 
Each year when a Club, Division or Affiliated Group applies for membership in the League (and in the case of a Club, applies for Teams), it shall submit, together with its application for membership, an up-to-date list of those persons who are its then current officers and directors for corporate purposes, unless it has already done so pursuant to Regulation 5.4. In any filing made with the League pursuant to Regulation 4.6 to designate the Registered Representatives of a Club, no person shall be designated in such filing as holding an office unless that person holds that office for corporate purposes. Whenever during the Season there is a change in the composition of its officers or directors, a Club, Division or Affiliated Group shall deliver to the League Office an updated listing of its officers and directors reflecting such change. Such notice shall be delivered to the League Office within 30 days of such change occurring. 

5.6 – Provision of Annual Declaration of Not-for-Profit Status 
Each year when a Club, Division or Affiliated Group applies for membership in the League (and in the case of a Club, applies for Teams), it shall submit, together with its application for membership, a letter signed by two of its Officers, including the Officer who is responsible for financial matters, that confirms that the Club, Division or Affiliated Group, as of its most recent fiscal year-end, has continued to operate as a non-profit organization. At the same time, it shall also submit, to the League, completed financial statements in the form attached as Schedule A (Pages 1 to 3) hereto, as at its most recent fiscal year-end falling no later than within the prior calendar year. Financial statements are to be prepared on an accrual basis and need to include: 

• (i) a Statement of Operations and Changes in Net Assets, and 
• (ii) a Balance Sheet (Statement of Financial Position). 

Financial statements submitted must be in final form and include at least one signature by a Club director approving the financial statements on behalf of the Club’s Board of Directors. The financial statements of the Club, Division or Affiliated Group shall be made available to any participant of the Club, Division or Affiliated Group upon request as indicated in Schedule B. 

5.7 – Provision of Club Policies 
Each Club shall prepare in writing a set of Club Policies in whatever format it deems appropriate. The Club Policies shall describe the Club’s rules, policies, and procedures with respect to the topics listed in Schedule B to these Regulations. The Club Policies must be made available to each player (which for this purpose, where the player is under 18 years of age, shall include at least one of the player’s parents or legal guardians), prior to or at the time they register. The player (including the parent or legal guardian to whom it has been provided), must be afforded an opportunity to review the Club Policies before they register. Each Club will be required to file a copy of its then-current Club Policies with the League prior to the League’s evaluation period. In order for a Team’s registrations to be approved by the League, each Club will be required to have a Club Official or a Team Official who has been involved with the registration of the players on the Team certify that the Club Policies for such Club have been made available to each player who has registered with the Club, and to such player’s parent or legal guardian, prior to registration. 

5.8 – Disclosure Relating to Fees 
Each Club or Affiliated Group shall provide a player (which for this purpose, where the player is under 18 years of age, shall include at least one of the player’s parents or legal guardians) prior to or at the time they register, with a statement in writing disclosing the full amount to be paid to the Club or the Affiliated Group as fees for the Season and setting forth the goods, equipment and services that will be provided to the player for the fee. If a final fee amount cannot be provided, any element that is subject to adjustment, and the reason for that, should be clearly identified and described. 

5.9 – Disclosure of Payments to be Made to Club or Team Officials 
Prior to or at the time a player (which for this purpose, where the player is under 18 years of age, shall include at least one of the player’s parents or his legal guardian) registers, the Club shall disclose to the player whether or not it is intended that: 

• (i) any Club Officials or Related Parties are to be paid any amounts, beyond reimbursement of reasonable expenses. Such disclosure is to be made in the Club’s Policies as described in Regulation 5.7 and Schedule B; and/or 
• (ii) any Team Officials or Related Parties are to be paid any amounts, beyond reimbursement of reasonable expenses. Such disclosure is to be made in the estimated Team budget described in Regulation 5.11(a). Similarly, if it is intended that a Team Official will receive, directly or indirectly, any payment from or on behalf of any parent(s) of the Team, the names of the person(s) making such payments shall be disclosed to the player and will be promptly and separately reported to the League. Notwithstanding the disclosure of any such payment made by a parent to a Team Official or any other payment or assumption by a parent, directly or indirectly, of costs or expenses relating to the operation of a Team, including by way of sponsorship funding or otherwise, the proper Club and Team Officials must retain full control over and responsibility for all decisions relating to the operation of the Team and its activities, all dealings with players and their families, and the Team’s budget, expenditures, rules and policies, in compliance with all League Regulations. 

5.10 – Mandatory Disclosure of Involvement of Club or Team Officials 
Where a Club or Team does, or intends to, purchase goods or services from a supplier who is a Related Party to the Club or Team, that fact is to be disclosed to each player (which for this purpose, where the player is under 18 years of age, shall include at least one of the player’s parents or his legal guardian) prior to or at the time they register or as soon thereafter as it is decided that such purchase will be made. These disclosures are in addition to those required under Regulation 5.9. 

5.11 – Management of Team Finances 
Each Club shall be responsible for ensuring that each of its Teams provides financial disclosure and financial controls with respect to the funding of the Team’s activities in accordance with this Regulation. 

Pursuant to this Regulation, each Team shall: 

(a) provide an estimated budget for the Team to each player (which for this purpose, where the player is under 18 years of age, shall include at least one of the player’s parents or legal guardians) receipt of which must be acknowledged in writing by the player or parent or legal guardian, as the case may be, (and such receipt to be retained by the Team in its records), prior to or at the time they register, which estimated budget shall be in reasonable detail and shall specify in reasonable detail the things (such as practice ice, tournaments, on-ice skills instructors, etc.) on which Team monies will be spent and how it is proposed that they will be paid for; 

(b) except for items that were clearly indicated as being reasonable estimates and subject to finalization, make no material adjustment to such budget or to the program described in such estimated budget without the prior concurrence of the Team Officials and a majority of the parents of players; 

(c) provide interim financial updates within ten business days of September 30 and January 31 regarding the Team finances and the approved budget; 

(d) provide a final, year-end statement of Team revenues and expenses within four weeks of the last Team event for such Team; 

(e) require that there be at least three signing authorities for each Team bank account including at least one Team Official and at least two parents who are unrelated to and independent from any Team Official or Club Official; 

(f) require that at least two signatures be necessary for each Team cheque or withdrawal, including the signatures of at least one of the parent representatives referred to in (e) above; 

(g) where offered as a service by a Team’s financial institution, it will be permissible for each of the signing authorities to obtain a debit card that allows for cash withdrawals from the Team bank account in order to make payments to third parties and/or to deposit cash funds from third parties into the Team bank account. 

In addition, Teams will be permitted to use the INTERAC electronic funds transfer service to make payments to third parties from the Team bank account and/or receive funds from third parties for deposit to the Team bank account. 

Any Club that wishes to allow its Teams to avail themselves of this Regulation 5.11(g) should ensure that each Team has controls in place whereby an individual who is not connected to the Team bank account and is unrelated to and independent from any Team Official or Club Official reviews each cash withdrawal or electronic funds transfer and provides a signed verification that the transaction is in order. This control should, at a minimum, provide the same level of audit protection that the Club requires for existing methods of payment; 

(h) require that the season-end financial statement referred to in (d) above be signed by at least two of the signing authorities, including at least one of the parent representatives referred to in (e) above; 

(i) require that any surplus funds remaining with the Team at the season-end from normal operations be dealt with in accordance with the Club’s stated Policies; 

(j) provide, at the time they are distributed to players, identical copies of the financial disclosures and financial controls provided for in Regulation 5.11 to the Club Officials for review and retention. It is the Club’s responsibility to assess the propriety and reasonableness of these disclosures and controls. The Club shall not be held liable for any errors or omissions in financial disclosures or financial controls. 

Each year when a Club applies for membership in the League, it shall submit, together with its application for membership, a letter signed by two of its Officers, including the Officer who is responsible for financial matters, that confirms that the Club has satisfied itself that its Teams are adhering to the provisions of Regulations 5.11(e), 5.11(f), and 5.11(g). 

5.12 – Provision of Any Team Rules and Policies 
To the extent that the Club Policies permit its Teams to establish certain rules or policies for their operation, the Club shall ensure that the Team provides to each of its players (which for this purpose, where the player is under 18 years of age, shall include at least one of the player’s parents or legal guardians) a statement in writing setting forth any such Team rules or policies prior to the player registering. Such Team rules and policies may be amended or changed from time to time, with the concurrence of the Team Officials and the approval of a majority of the Team’s parents, so long as any amendments or changes to the Team rules or policies are confirmed in writing to each player (which for this purpose, where the player is under 18 years of age, shall include at least one of the player’s parents or legal guardians) prior to becoming effective. 

5.13 – Establishment of Club Dispute Resolution Process 
Each Club and Affiliated Group shall establish a dispute resolution process within the Club’s or Affiliated Group’s structure. Such dispute resolution process shall permit a player (which for this purpose, where the player is under 18 years of age, shall include at least one of the player’s parents or legal guardians) to seek to resolve any complaint about: 

• (i) any financial matter relating to the registration fees of the Club or Affiliated Group or payment thereof; 
• (ii) any Team fees payable by the player or payment thereof; or 
• (iii) any other problem related to compliance with the rules and policies of the Club, Team, or the Affiliated Group, as specified in the Club or Team Polices or any documentation published by the Affiliated Group, and have such complaint resolved. 

The complaint shall be heard within 15 days of receipt of the complaint by one or more directors, officers or members of the Club or the Affiliated Group who are independent of the Team for which the player is registered. While the exact process to be used by the Club or the Affiliated Group shall be determined by the Club or the Affiliated Group, the details of the process shall be set forth in the Club Policies or in materials published by the Affiliated Group. 

5.14 – Review by Special Committee Regarding Club Dispute Resolution Process 
When a player (which for this purpose, where the player is under 18 years of age, shall include at least one of the player’s parents or a legal guardian) submits a request for implementation of the Club or Affiliate Group’s dispute resolution process, the Club or Affiliated Club must deal with such request according to the stated process. The Club or Affiliated Group shall promptly, upon reaching a decision, advise the player of the decision in writing along with the reasons for its decision. 

When a Club or Affiliated Group renders a decision pursuant to its dispute resolution process (including a decision not to engage its dispute resolution process) and when, but only when, it has failed: 

(a) to follow its published dispute resolution process, or 

(b) to enforce its published rules or policies, 

a player may seek to have either or both items reviewed by a GTHL Special Committee. That player must comply with the following review procedures: the application for review must be in writing, must set out the grounds that the player believes entitle them to a review and must be delivered to the League Office, and be copied to the Club or Affiliated group, within seven days of the written decision being delivered by the Club or Affiliated Group to the player. An application under this Regulation shall proceed in the same fashion as would an appeal pursuant to Regulation 15.2 and, except as may be inconsistent with this Regulation, the procedures in Regulations 15.2 and, except as may be inconsistent with this Regulation, the procedures in Regulations 15.2 to 15.6 shall apply. In connection with any such review, the player shall agree to be bound by the conclusions of the Special Committee, which conclusions shall be final and not subject to any right of appeal. To the extent that the decision of the Club or Affiliated Group was based solely or in part on the exercise of reasonable discretion, the Special Committee shall not be entitled to substitute its discretion for that of the Club or Affiliated Group. 

5.15 – Penalties 
The following penalties shall apply with respect to any breach of or failure to comply with the Regulations or Articles indicated: 

(a) Regulation 5.1 (Separate Incorporation): Any Club, Division or Affiliated Group that fails to comply with the requirements of this Regulation may have its membership suspended by the Board if it has not come into compliance within 30 days after the Board has delivered to it a written notice of such failure. The Board may enter into a written agreement, on terms set by the Board, which provides a Club, Division or Affiliated Group with a specified period of time to bring itself into compliance with such Regulation. 

(b) Regulations 5.2 to 5.6 (Provisions of By-laws, annual filings, list of members, list of corporate officers and declaration of not-for-profit status): 

• (i) Any Club, Division or Affiliated Group that fails to provide with its annual application for membership the documents required by these Regulations, may have its application for membership rejected and will not be considered for membership in the League until such documents have been provided to the League. 
• (ii) Each Club Official or Director or Officer of a Division or Affiliated Group who has knowledge of, or who acquiesces in a failure to provide the League with any updating documentation required by these Regulations may be suspended by the Board, or by a Special Committee, for a period of up to one year. 
• (iii) If at any time a Club, Division or Affiliated Group remains in breach of these Regulations 30 days after the League gives it written notice of such breach then the League shall be entitled to refuse to approve its registrations until such breach has been rectified and all its Teams will be denied approvals for tournament applications that are submitted after the giving of such notice until it has made the required filings. 

(c) Regulations 5.7 and 5.8 (Provisions of Club Policies to players/League and disclosure of fees to players/parents): 

• (i) Each Club Official or Team Official who has knowledge of, or who acquiesces in, a Club or Team failing to comply with the disclosure requirements of these Regulations may be suspended by the Board or by a Special Committee for a period of up to one year. However, a Club Official or Team Official shall not be suspended if they are able to demonstrate that they made reasonable efforts to ensure that the Club or Team complied with these Regulations and that they did not participate in or acquiesce in the actual failure to make the required disclosure. For this purpose, a written directive for the current season from the General Manager or the President of the Club to all Team Officials shall be sufficient evidence of compliance with this Regulation by the Club Officials. 
• (ii) Any Club Official or Team Official who supplies a false certificate pursuant to Regulation 5.7 may be suspended by the Board or by a Special Committee for a period of not less than one year or none at all and up to three years. However, such suspension may be less than one year if the Club Official or Team Official is able to demonstrate that they exercised due diligence to ensure the certificate was correct and reasonably believed in good faith that it was correct. 
• (iii) Any Club that has not filed its then-current Club Policies with the League as required by Regulation 5.7 shall not be entitled to have its registrations approved until such filing has been made. 
• (iv) No Team will have its registrations approved until its Club has filed on its behalf the certificate required by Regulation 5.7 certifying that the Club Policies have been provided to the players and parents of that team. 

(d) Regulation 5.9 and 5.10 (Disclosure of payments and of involvement with suppliers): 

• (i) Any Club Official or Team Official who fails to provide the disclosure required by these Regulations, shall be suspended by the Board or by a Special Committee for a period of not less than one year and up to three years. However, such suspension may be less than one year if the Club Official or Team Official is able to demonstrate that they exercised due diligence to ensure the required disclosure was made reasonably and believed in good faith that it was made. 
• (ii) If any Club Official or Team Official or Related Party has received any payment that was not disclosed prior to such payment being made, as required by Regulation 5.9, the Club Official or Team Official shall be suspended by the Board or a Special Committee for a period of not less than one year. Notwithstanding the term of such suspension, it shall not end until the amount so received has been repaid to the Team or the Club from whom such payment was made. 

(e) Regulations 5.11 and 5.12 (Team finances and provision of Team rules/policies): Each Club Official who knowingly permits, or who acquiesces in, any of the Club’s Teams failing to comply with the requirements of these Regulations may be suspended by the Board or by a Special Committee for a period of up to one year. Any Team Official who fails to comply with the requirements of these Regulations may, upon the request of the Club, be suspended by the Board or by a Special Committee for a period of up to one year. 

(f) Article 3.09 of By-law Number One: Any Club, Division or Affiliated Group that operates on a for-profit basis may be expelled from the League by the Board. Where the Board intends to so expel a Club, Division or Affiliated Group, the League shall notify the Club, Division or Affiliated Group in writing of such intention and the reasons for the intention, and it shall be permitted an opportunity to appear and make representations before the Board. 

(g) If a Club Official or Team Official is unable to fulfill any obligation under Regulation 5 due to a cause beyond their control, then provided that they act diligently and in good faith to fulfill the obligation, the time period for fulfilling the obligation shall be extended by the time during which the cause prevents them from fulfilling the obligation. 

(h) Clubs will be liable for the payment of all fines owing by any of their Teams under the By-laws, and Regulations of the League. 

6 – TEAMS 

6.1 – Composition of Teams 
(a) Each Team entered to play in the League in the categories of ’A’, ‘AA’, or ‘AAA’ must register a certified coach (as per Regulation 7.11), a certified Trainer (as per Regulation 7.12) and the following minimum number of Legitimate Players (as defined in Regulation 1):

• (i) U10 – U11: 13 Players, and 
• (ii) U12 – U21: 15 Players. 

This requirement applies before the first regular season game date for all Teams in the U10 to U16 age groups and October 15 for all Teams in the U17, U18 and U21 age groups. Each Team that has registered the required minimum number of Legitimate Players as of November 16 in any season shall be deemed to have that number of Legitimate Players registered for the balance of the Season. 

(b) Teams participating in OHF, Regional or National Championships must have at least 15 registered players, two of whom must be goaltenders. Any Team that does not have 15 Legitimate players, including two goaltenders, registered by no later than January 10 will be ineligible to qualify for any of these events. 

(c) All Teams, other than U18 ‘AAA’ and U21 Teams, may at any time have registered a maximum of 19 players. U18 ‘AAA’ teams may at any time have registered a maximum of 20 players. U21 Teams may at any time have registered a maximum of 25 players. 

(d) For the purposes of determining whether or not a player is a Legitimate Player, a player registered solely for the purposes of conforming to the minimum requirement of Regulation 6.1 (a) is not considered a Legitimate Player. However, the League recognizes that, due to the competitive nature of minor hockey, it is not feasible to provide equal ice time in all cases to all players. Accordingly, the League does not intend to enforce a specific minimum of required ice time that any player must receive in order to be considered as a Legitimate Player. Clubs and Team Officials must be aware that a mandate of the League and its Clubs is to provide resources for the development of all players wishing to participate and develop their skills in minor hockey. Clubs and Team Officials must recognize this in preparing their specific Club/Team programs. However, material participation in practice but not in games is not sufficient for a player to be considered as a Legitimate Player despite the consent of the player or their parents or legal guardian. 

(e) If a Club or Team wishes to dispute another Team’s registration status with regard to Regulation 6.1(a) or Regulation 6.1(b), the Club or Team must do so by delivering a notice of dispute in writing to the League not later than December 1 during the Season for which the dispute is submitted. The notice of dispute must include full details of the alleged non-compliance with Regulation 6.1(a) or Regulation 6.1(b), including, where appropriate, the name of the player or names of the players whose status is being disputed. The League will investigate all documented allegations and take all actions and remedies it considers appropriate. Although the final date for any submission by a Club or Team is December 1 during the Season, the League reserves the right to act on its own initiative at any time during the regular season or playoffs by commencing such investigations and taking such actions as the League considers appropriate in the circumstances. 

(f) A Team wishing to receive special relief from Regulation 6.1(a), owing to exceptional circumstances, may, by application made on its behalf by its Club, apply to the League for such relief. Such application must be made in writing prior to the date on which such team would be in violation of Regulation 6.1(a). Special relief will not be provided to any team that has registered twelve or fewer Legitimate Players. 

(g) Unless it has been granted special relief prior to the playing of any game, a Team shall be fined $100 for each game that it plays in violation of Regulation 6.1(a). All such games will be recorded as a 1-0 victory in favour of the non-offending Team (except in the case of a game won by the non-offending Team, in which case, the actual score shall stand). Where both Teams participating in a game are found to be in violation of Regulation 6.1(a), the score will be recorded as 0 – 0 with no points being awarded to either Team. 

(h) Any Team, other than a U17, U18, or U21 Team, that has registered twelve or fewer players as of September 15 will be treated as a withdrawn Team as of that date and will be subject to the withdrawal fee set out in Regulation 4.5. In the case of a U17, U18, or U21 Team, such date will be October 15. 

6.2 – Goaltenders 
(a) All ‘AAA’ Teams in the U13 age division and all Teams in age divisions higher than U13 must register two goaltenders by the applicable date required by Regulation 6.1(a). All other Teams (being ‘A’ and ‘AA’ Teams in the U13 age division and all Teams in age divisions below U13) are required to register one goaltender but may register two goaltenders. In order to be considered as a goaltender for the purposes of this Regulation, a player must be registered as a “GOALTENDER”. 

NOTE: Teams participating in OHF, Regional or National Championships must have at least 15 registered players, two of whom must be goaltenders. Any Team that does not have 15 Legitimate players, including two goaltenders, registered by no later than January 10 will be ineligible to qualify for any of these events. 

(b) Except in the U10 and U11 divisions, a player registered as a “Goaltender” is not eligible to play any other position. Any registered player not identified as a “Goaltender” is eligible to dress and play as a goaltender, except that in circumstances where a Team already has two registered Goaltenders a player may only dress and play as a Goaltender when one or both of the registered Goaltenders is absent, ill, or injured or has quit the Team but has not been released by the Organization. 

(c) Injured goaltender replacements for Teams involved in regular season and playoff games must come from the Team’s Lower Affiliate Team (as defined in Regulation 6.4 below). 

(d) Injured goaltender replacements for Teams involved in regional and national championships may come from other Teams upon application for assistance under applicable Hockey Canada minor regulations (L21, L22 and L23). Such requests must be made in writing by a Club Official and must be accompanied by a doctor’s certificate, certifying, and describing the injury of the injured goaltender. 

(e) A Team wishing to receive special relief from Regulation 6.2(a), owing to exceptional circumstances may, by application made on its behalf by its Club, apply to the League for such relief. Unless it has been granted such special relief prior to the playing of any League or Playoff game, a Team shall be fined $100 for each game that it plays in violation of Regulation 6.2(a). All such games will be recorded as 1-0 victory in favour of the non-offending Team (except in the case of a game won by the non-offending Team, in which case, the actual score shall stand). Where both Teams participating in a game are found to be in violation of Regulation 6.2(a), the score will be recorded as 0-0 with no points being awarded to either Team. 

6.3 – Maximum Number of Players to be Dressed 
(a) In all League games, whether regular season or playoff, Teams in the U10 and U11 age divisions may dress a maximum of 17 players for any game. If a Team has two goaltenders, it is encouraged to allow the goaltender not playing in that game to dress and play as a player. 

(b) In all League games, whether regular season or playoff, Teams in the U12 and U13 age divisions may dress a maximum of 17 players for any game provided that two of the players dressed are goaltenders. If only one goaltender is dressed, then the maximum number of players permitted to be dressed shall be 16. 

(c) In all League games, whether regular season or playoff, Teams in the U14 to U16 age divisions may dress a maximum of 17 players for any game provided that two of the players dressed are goaltenders. If only one goaltender is dressed, then the maximum number of players permitted to be dressed shall be 16, however, if at the time of a game, a Team has registered 18 or 19 players, then the maximum number of players that the Team may dress shall be equal to the number of players that the Team has registered provided that two of the players dressed are goaltenders. If only one goaltender is dressed then the maximum number of players permitted to be dressed shall be 17 or 18, as applicable. 

(d) In all League games, whether regular season or playoff, each Team in the age divisions of U17 and U18 “A” & “AA” may dress a maximum of 19 players for any game provided that two of the players dressed are goaltenders. If only one goaltender is dressed, then the maximum number of players permitted to be dressed shall be 18. 

(e) In all League games, whether regular season or playoff, each Team in the age divisions of U18 “AAA” and U21 may dress a maximum of 20 players for any game provided that two of the players dressed are goaltenders. If only one goaltender is dressed, then the maximum number of players permitted to be dressed shall be 19. 

(f) In all exhibition games, Teams in age divisions from U10 to U18 inclusive may dress all of their registered players for such games and Teams in the age division of U21 may dress up to 19 players for such games. 

AFFILIATION OF TEAMS

6.4 – General Provision for Affiliation of Teams

Subject to Regulations 6.5, 6.6, 6.7 and 6.9, each Team in the categories of ’A’, ‘AA’, or ‘AAA’ (for this purpose, the “Higher Affiliate Team”) may be affiliated with one other Team (for this purpose, the “Lower Affiliate Team”):

(a) in the same age division and a lower category (e.g., U13 ‘AA’ affiliating with U13 ‘A’); or

(b) in a lower age division and the same category (e.g., U13 ‘AA’ affiliating with U12 ‘AA’); or

(c) in a lower age division and a lower category (e.g., U13 ‘AA’ affiliating with U12 ‘A’).

6.5 – ‘AAA’ Team Affiliations

A ‘AAA’ Team may affiliate only with another ‘AAA’ Team of a lower age division. Other than a U21 ‘AAA’ Team, a ‘AAA’ Team cannot affiliate with any Team in the ‘A’ or ‘AA’ categories. A U21 ‘AAA’ Team can affiliate with a U18 Team in the ‘AAA’, or ‘AA’ categories.

6.6 – ‘AA’ Team Affiliations

A ‘AA’ Team may affiliate with a Select or ‘A’ Team of the same age division or a Select, ‘A’ or ‘AA’ Team of a lower age division. U14 to U18 ‘AA’ Teams cannot affiliate with any Select Teams.

6.7 – ‘A’ Team Affiliations

An ‘A’ Team may affiliate with a Select Team of the same age division or a Select, or ‘A’ Team of a lower age division or nineteen (19) players at large from a House League Club that are from the same age division or lower.

6.8 – Delivery of Affiliation Notice

(a) ‘A’, ‘AA’, and ‘AAA’ Affiliate Teams:

Each Club shall, by notice in writing and delivered to the League Office, or by e-mail sent to the League Office’s e-mail address, submit an affiliation notice which lists the affiliate Teams for each of the Club’s Teams. Where the affiliation notice indicates that a Club’s Team is affiliated with a Team from another Club, a copy of the affiliation agreement between the Clubs pertaining to such affiliation must accompany the notice of Team affiliations. A Club failing to file its affiliation notice by November 1 shall be assessed a fine of $100 and will not be permitted to utilize any affiliated players after this date. All affiliation notices filed with the League Office will be available for review by any Club. No change to the affiliation notice can be made after November 1.

(b) Select Affiliate Teams or House League Players at Large:

When a ‘AA’ Team (U10 to U13 only) is affiliating with a Select Team, or an ‘A’ Team is affiliating with a Select Team or 19 House League players at large, as the case may be, the names of those players must be filed with the League Office by November 15. If a player is listed on an Official Game Report as an affiliated player before November 15, the player must be included in the November 15 listing that is submitted.

6.9 – Automatic Termination of Affiliation Agreements

All affiliation arrangements and designations terminate at the end of the Season, which for this purpose occurs when the higher category or age division team completes its League and Playoff games.

USE OF AFFILIATED PLAYERS

6.10 – Limit of Ten Games

A player of a team of a lower division or category of the same club, or of an affiliated team, or a specially affiliated player, may affiliate to play for a team or teams of higher divisions and categories at any time, to a maximum of ten (10) games. However, if the player’s registered team completes its regular season and playoffs before the player’s affiliated team, the player may thereafter affiliate an unlimited number of times. If a goaltender is brought up by the goaltender’s Higher Affiliate Team but does not play in any part of the game, this game shall not count as one of the ten games allowed provided that a Game Official has verified on the original copy of the Official Game Report that the goaltender did not play. It is the responsibility of the Coach to make the request to the Game Official to make this notation.

For purposes of this Regulation, only League and playoff games will count toward the 10-game limit. 

6.11 – Designation of Affiliated Players on Official Game Report

The Team Official responsible for completing the Official Game Report for any game in which a player participates as an affiliated player shall place the designation “AP” or “API” beside the name of such player, as appropriate, depending on whether or not the player is an import.

7.1 – Participants Must Be Registered

(a) All Participants must be registered in the HCR. For the purposes of this Regulation, “Participants” include Players, Team Officials and Game Officials.

(b) A Participant is not eligible to participate in any sanctioned League, tournament, or exhibition game until they are properly registered.

(c) Teams must comply with the registration requirements for the minimum and maximum number of players as set forth in Regulation 6.

(d) A Team may only register and roster a maximum of five Team Officials.

(e) The last day in any Season for registration is January 15.

(f) The GTHL Executive Director shall have the authority to decline or revoke the registration of any Participant who is not in compliance or becomes ineligible as a result of non-compliance with any GTHL, OHF or Hockey Canada Regulation or Policy. This decision shall be subject to appeal as provided for in Regulation 15.2.

(g) Violation of this Regulation in the case of a Player or Team Official will result in the offending Team:

• (i) losing one player registration for the current Season or one player registration for the following season if the total number of permitted registrations has been used for the current Season, and the Club being fined $500; or
• (ii) being permitted to register no more than four Team Officials for the current Season.

7.2 – Underage Players

A person whose age (as of December 31 of the Season for which the player is to be registered) makes such person eligible to participate in an age division from U9 to U11 (inclusive) may be registered as a player, or participate as an affiliated player, with a Team that is no more than one year beyond the lowest age division in which such person is eligible to participate.

No U10, U11 or U12 Team in the League or a Division will be given approval to register more than three such underage players.

In the case of a U10 Team, it must submit a request to the League for approval for each such underage player to register with the Team for that Season.

This Regulation applies to affiliated players. Where a U10, U11 or U12 Team has registered three underage players, no underage player may be played as an affiliated player. Where such Team has two underage players, it may affiliate with a maximum of one underage player. Where such Team has one underage player, it may affiliate with a maximum of two underage players.

7.3 – Eligibility for Registration

Any person who meets the Player Eligibility requirements set forth in Regulation 1 and who is an amateur in good standing shall be entitled to register as a player with a Team provided that:

(a) such person is a resident within the defined boundaries of the League and/or is a bona fide import, and is registered in the HCR;

(b) such person has obtained any consent(s) required from Hockey Canada, the OHF, or any member of the OHF; and

(c) such person complies with the LOR Regulations or OHF regulations regarding residential qualification.

If, after registering with a team, a player changes their habitual residency such that the player is no longer eligible to play in the League or if they move after December 1 of any Season and such player attempts to re-enter the League’s jurisdiction via ‘AAA’ waivers, such player would remain eligible for the Team to which they were registered unless they receive a release from the Club with which they were registered.

7.4 – Restriction on Registration at Older Age Levels

(a) ‘AA’ and ‘AAA’ Teams

Subject to the restrictions contained in Regulation 7.2, no person whose age makes such person eligible to participate in an age division from U10 to U18 (inclusive) may be registered as a player, or participate as an affiliated player, with a Team that is more than one year beyond the lowest age division in which such person is eligible to participate.

(b) All Other Teams

Subject to the restrictions contained in Regulation 7.2, no person whose age makes them eligible to participate in a specific age division may be registered as a player, or participate as an affiliated player, with a Team that is:

• (i) more than one year beyond the lowest age division in which such person is eligible to participate in the case of the U10 to U13 divisions; or
• (ii) more than two years beyond the lowest age division in which such person is eligible to participate in the case of the U14 to U18 divisions.

7.5 – 20-Year-Olds

A U21 Team may register up to a maximum of six players who will become 20 years of age on or before December 31 of the Season. To be eligible, any such player must:

(a) have been registered as a player with the League in the immediately preceding Season; or

(b) have been registered as a player with a U21 Team in the League in a previous Season; or

(c) if not registered anywhere as a player in the immediately preceding Season, have last registered as a player with a team in the League; or

(d) provide a justifiable rationale acceptable to the Board.

7.6 – Provision of Birth Certificate

For all players participating in an age division where there is an age limit, each Team must provide a copy, certified or not as may be required by the League Office in its discretion, of each player’s official birth certificate or other similar document. A copy of the birth certificate or other similar document need not be provided when it has previously been provided to the League Office.

7.7 – Prohibition on the Provision of False Information

No Team Official, player, parent, or legal guardian shall knowingly provide or allow false information to appear in their Registration Information in the HCR. See Regulation 14.15 for the penalty.

7.8 – Registration with One Team Only

Except for a player who has obtained a release in accordance with Regulation 7.15 no player shall be registered with more than one Team in a single Season.

7.9 – Dealing with Two Registrations

If a player registers with more than one Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group, the player shall be registered with the Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group with which they first register in the HCR or the Organization that first completes the HCR registration process for such player. The order of registration shall be determined by the submission time as determined by the HCR. A player who registers with more than one Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group shall be ineligible to commence play until January 1 of the applicable Season, unless relief is granted by a Special Committee after an appeal hearing at which the player demonstrates that there were special circumstances which justify such relief.

Notwithstanding the above, relief may be granted by the Chief Operating Officer in circumstances where an error has occurred and both Clubs are in agreement as to which Club the player should be registered.

7.10 – Team Officials

(a) Except for persons who have received permission from the President or Executive Director to be a Team Official on more than one Team, no person may be registered as a Team Official with more than one Team or Club within the League or within the League and any of its Divisions or Affiliated Groups. A person who has received permission to be a Team Official on more than one Team may only participate with the Teams for which such permission has been granted.

(b) A person registered as a Team Official, or a Team Official At-Large, with a Club may participate as a Team Official in any game of any other Team of the Club with which they are registered, subject to the restrictions set out in Regulations 7.10(a) and 7.13.

(c) A person registered as a Club Official may participate as a Team Official in any game of any Team of that Club, subject to the provisions of Regulation 7.10(d), and Regulations 7.11 and 7.12 (as applicable).

(d) No Team Official, or Team Official At-Large, shall be registered unless they have the appropriate qualifications as set out in Regulations 7.11 and/or 7.12 and additionally provide proof of certification pursuant to the Respect in Sport Activity Leader/Coach program, the Gender Expression and Identity Training program and the OHF Screening Policy. They must also review and acknowledge the Rowan’s Law Resource material.

(e) All Team Head Coaches and Trainers require GTHL Concussion Education (Branch Concussion Training) and Maltreatment certifications.

7.11 – Coaches

The following coaching certifications apply to all coaches (House League, Select, ‘A’, ‘AA’, & ‘AAA’) who wish to be rostered to a Team:

7.12 – Trainers 
(a) A Trainer must possess a valid HTCP certification as follows: 

(b) A Team’s Trainer must be on the bench at all games (unless attending to injured players from time to time). If the Trainer (or another Team Official who possesses a valid HTCP Level 1 certificate or higher valid HTCP certificate) is not present at the start of any game, the Team must request of the Head Coach of the opposing team that its Trainer serve as the Trainer for both Teams in that game. Such consent must be granted by the Head Coach. If such consent is not granted, the game will not proceed. If an injury occurs to a player that does not have a trainer, the opposing team’s trainer shall be accompanied on the ice by one of the injured player’s Team Officials. If neither Team’s Trainer is on the bench, then the game will not proceed, and it will be declared a defaulted game by both Teams. 

7.13 – Restriction on Team Officials Changing Clubs

A person who is registered as a Team Official in one Season may not, without the consent of the Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group with which such person is registered as a Team Official, be registered or appear on the bench in the immediately following Season as a Team Official for a Team in the immediately higher age division of another Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group. In the case of U17, U18 and U21, this restriction also applies to Teams in the same age division. The consent of a Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group required by this Regulation 7.13 must be sought and granted by that previous Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group prior to the new Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group announcing, publicizing, and appointing an individual. The permission must be provided in writing, signed by a Club Official or by an official of the Division member, or Affiliated Group or be provided by e-mail sent by a Club Official or by an official of the Division member, or Affiliated Group to the e-mail address of the League Office. A Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group may withhold its consent in its sole and absolute discretion, except that the Board or a Special Committee may grant relief from this Regulation 7.13 in exceptional circumstances. The new Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group may not advertise (either in writing or orally) that a person who requires consent under this regulation will be a Team Official for that Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group nor is that individual permitted to participate in evaluations for the new Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group unless written consent has been granted by either the former Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group, the Board or a Special Committee prior to the advertising and/or evaluations being conducted. Any new Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group that violates this provision will be fined $1,000 and the Team Official will not be permitted to register with that Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group for that season.

7.14 – Team Official’s Commitment Form

Any individual committing to accept a Team Official position with a Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group for the following season should sign a Team Official Commitment Form confirming such commitment.

Any action to negate such commitment by the signatory, unless by mutual consent, will result in the signatory being ineligible for registration with any other Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group for the season for which the commitment has been made.

If the individual requires consent from their previous Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group as outlined in Regulation 7.13, such consent must be granted in writing prior to the individual signing the Team Official Commitment Form.

For the commitment to be enforced, the form must be filed by the Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group with the League Office. The League will begin accepting these forms on January 15.

If a Team Official signs a Team Official’s Commitment Form with two or more Clubs, Division members, or Affiliated Groups, the Team Official’s Commitment Form that is filed first with the League Office will be deemed to prevail. The consent of a Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group required by this Regulation 7.14 must be provided in writing, signed by a Club Official, or by an official of the Division member or Affiliated Group or be provided by e-mail sent by a Club Official, or by an official of the Division member or Affiliated Group to the e-mail address of the League Office. A Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group may withhold its consent in its sole and absolute discretion, except that the Board or a Special Committee may make a special ruling with reference to this Regulation 7.14.

7.15 – Releases During the Season

A release is valid only in the following four circumstances:

(a) The first Circumstance is where, after a player is registered with an Organization and on or before October 1 of the current Season, a release is agreed upon in writing by the Organization Officials and player (or their parent or guardian where the player is under 18 years of age), and the release is then entered in the HCR by the Organization Officials. A copy of the release form signed by both parties must be filed with the League Office within 7 days of being signed.

(b) The second circumstance occurs when, after October 1, and on or before November 15 of the current Season (or the first business day following November 15 when November 15 is a Sunday or statutory holiday):

• (i) the release has been entered into the HCR by the Organization Officials of the Organization providing the release; and
• (ii) a copy of the release form signed by the Organization Officials has been filed with the League Office (provided that in any event, a release will only be effective if it has been filed with the League Office within seven days of being signed).

Any failure to observe the provisions of (i) and/or (ii) above will result in the Organization being assessed a fine of $1,000.

(c) The third circumstance occurs when, after November 15, a player requests a release for a reason deemed reasonable and appropriate by the Executive Director and the Organization with which the player is requesting the release has no objection to the release being granted. The request must be in writing, or via electronic mail, and must be submitted to the Executive Director.

(d) The fourth circumstance occurs when, after a hearing, the release has been granted by the Board or a Special Committee. However, before the League schedules any such hearing, confirmation must be provided by the Organization that there are no outstanding administrative or financial issues between the Organization and the individual seeking the release, in particular:

• (i) no monies are owed to the Organization or the Team, and
• (ii) there is no equipment that must be returned to the Organization.

A verbal release will not be accepted by the League Office.

7.16 – Released Player is a Free Agent

A player who has been released in accordance with the requirements of Regulation 7.15 shall be considered a free agent.

7.17 – Player Not Released May Not Participate

A player who has not been released from a Team may not participate in any game, whether regular season, exhibition, tournament, or playoff, with another Team prior to their release being properly completed in accordance with the requirements of Regulation 7.15 and being signed and registered with the other Team. No exceptions will be made to this Regulation.

7.18 – No Third Registration

A player may not register with more than two Teams in a single season without the prior approval of the Executive Director. If a Club wishes to release a player from their second registration of the Season, then, prior to the release being approved, the Club and player/parents must provide written evidence and/or an explanation satisfactory to the Executive Director. If the Executive Director is satisfied with the written submission(s) then they may allow the release and allow the player to register for a third time for the Season. Should the Executive Director consider the second release not to be appropriate or warranted, then the Club or player may appeal to the Board or Special Committee.

7.19 – Releases At and After the End of the Season

(a) All players are released from their Teams at the conclusion of each Season and, subject to compliance with all League Regulations, are free to register with any Team in the League for the following season effective the first day of evaluations.

(b) No Team Official or Club Official may make an offer in writing to register a player for the subsequent Season and/or seek or require a deposit of any nature from a player for the subsequent Season until on or after the first day of evaluations. Any Team Official or Club Official who is found, after a hearing by a Special Committee, to have violated this provision may be suspended for a period of up to one year and the Club may be fined up to $2,000.

7.20 – Outstanding Equipment and Registration Fees

(a) Players accepting equipment from any Organization must return same upon request. Any player failing to return an Organization’s equipment shall be indefinitely suspended until such time as said equipment is returned to the Organization. Any player failing to return an Organization’s equipment within 14 days from the communication of such request shall, in addition, be further suspended one week of regular league play for every week the equipment has not been returned in good condition after such request is made. Such requests must be made in writing or via electronic mail to the player, quoting Regulation 7.20 in its entirety, with a copy of such letter or electronic mail being forwarded to the League Office and such requests shall be considered sufficiently completed if mailed to the player’s last known residential or electronic mail address. Failure on the part of the Organization to notify the League Office of the date of return of the equipment shall invalidate any suspension accumulated pursuant to Regulation 7.20 and shall result in an automatic fine to the Organization of $50.

(b) Any player who owes money (whether in respect of registration fees, Team dues or fund raising obligations) to an Organization or any Team of that Organization will not be eligible to be registered with another Organization until such money has been paid, provided that the Organization to which the money is owing has given notice, which may be in writing or via electronic mail, together with a statement of the monies owing, to the player’s parents or guardians on or before the end of the Season in which failure to pay money has occurred. A copy of such notice, including the statement of monies owing, should simultaneously be sent to the League Office. The statement of monies owing provided by the Organization shall include the amount of money that the Organization states has been paid by or on behalf of the player and the amount of money that it states remains owing. Any player who wishes to dispute that any money is owing to the Organization or any Team of the Organization, or who feels aggrieved by the Organization’s claim of money owing shall be entitled to a hearing. However, a hearing will only be scheduled if the player first provides evidence to the League that they have endeavoured to resolve the matter using the Organization’s dispute resolution process. If a copy of the notice required by this Regulation is not delivered to the League Office on or before the end of a Season, the League will not, for that reason alone, refuse to approve the player’s registration for the following Season.

(c) No Club, Team, Club Official or Team Official shall:

• (i) receive or demand or seek to obtain any payment of money, goods or services from a parent, player, or other person or from any other Club or Team in connection with, or as a condition to, the granting of a release to a player. This prohibition shall not apply to development or development/release fees paid or payable by a junior club or to any demand for payment of amounts due or the return of equipment pursuant to this Regulation 7.20; or
• (ii) require the execution of any written agreement, such as a Non-Disclosure Agreement, by any parent or player in connection with, or as a condition to, the granting of a release to a player.

Any Club, Team, Club Official or Team Official that is found to have violated this Regulation 7.20(c) shall be subject to a penalty that is determined by the Board or a Special Committee, in their sole discretion. Such penalty may include a suspension, in the case of a violation of paragraph (ii) of this Regulation 7.20(c), or a fine in an amount not exceeding three times the amount of money, or the value of the goods or services received or demanded, or both.

7.21 – Return of Equipment, Collateral and Finances by Team Officials

Any Team Official who accepts equipment and/or collateral or who owes money to their Organization must return such equipment and/or collateral or repay such funds upon request of the Organization. Such requests must be made in writing or via electronic mail to the Team Official with a copy of such letter or electronic mail being forwarded to the League Office and such request will be considered sufficiently completed if mailed to the person’s last known residential or electronic mail address. Failure to comply shall result in the Team Official being requested to appear before the Special Committee. Any person with outstanding equipment, collateral or amounts owing to their former Organization will not be eligible to be registered as a Team Official with another Organization.

7.22 – Development Fees

(a) If a Team proposes to release a player to any junior club, the Team must, as a condition of giving such release, require the junior club to pay to the League a maximum development fee in accordance with the fee schedule listed in Regulation 7.22(b).

(b) The player release is automatically granted upon receipt of the maximum dollar figure paid by the new organization to the previous organization’s OHF member. Teams can negotiate lower development fees only. A release is automatically granted upon receipt of the negotiated Development Fee with signed approval by the previous organization to its OHF member. The League will not approve or process such release pending the physical receipt of the development/release fee from the junior club by the League Office. The League will then immediately pay the player’s former Club the amount received from the junior club.

7.23 – Ineligible Players and Team Officials

An ineligible player or Team Official is defined to be a player or Team Official who is not in compliance with the Regulations governing participation in the League including, but not limited to, membership or suspensions.

7.24 – Conditions to Signing Players

A Team Official or Club Official cannot, as a condition of signing and registering a player or, while that player is registered with a Team, demand or require such player to pay for, attend or participate in any private hockey school, educational institution, or non-sanctioned Team event. Any Team Official or Club Official who is found, after a hearing by a Special Committee, to have made such a demand may be suspended for a period of up to one year and the Club may be fined up to $2,000.

7.25 – Player Cannot Register with More Than One Team

A player, with the exception of players affiliating to Junior Hockey, may not register with or be eligible to play as an affiliated player (including a female development player) with any team that is not a member of the Greater Toronto Hockey League.

8.1 – Evaluations or Other On-Ice Sessions 

(a) The player evaluation process is governed by Section G4 of the OHF Playing Regulations.

(b) Evaluations will start on the Monday immediately following the completion of the OHF Championships.

(c) Evaluations will be held in sequential order with the ‘AAA’ category being held first, then ‘AA’, and finally ‘A’.

(d) Evaluations at U10 to U13 will be subject to the provisions contained in the LOR Regulations.

(e) ‘AAA’ evaluations, with the exception of the U21 age division, will commence first and be permitted for seven consecutive days only. ‘AA’ evaluations will commence immediately thereafter and be permitted for seven consecutive days only. ‘A’ evaluations will commence immediately thereafter and will be permitted for seven consecutive days only. U21 age division evaluations will be permitted during the same period as the ‘A’ and ‘AA’ evaluations.

(f) Once sequential evaluations have commenced, no player evaluations, or related on or off-ice activities (including skating parties, conditioning camps, refresher programs etc.) may be conducted for any category until that category is eligible. For greater certainty, this would include any evaluation, or on or off-ice activity organized by or on behalf of a Club Official, a Team Official, a prospective Team Official, or a person who becomes a Team Official at which one or more of the players on the ice is not registered with the Team with which the Team Official is registered, proposes to be registered, or becomes registered. 

(g) Evaluations may only be conducted, and Teams may skate (including practices, on-ice sessions, and exhibition games) during the allocated time set forth above. No evaluations shall be scheduled prior to 5:00 p.m. on a school day. 

(h) After the entire 21-day evaluation period has ended, Teams may conduct practices and may continue to fill any positions that are available on their rosters. Any advertising for evaluations, practices and/or on-ice sessions for dates after the permitted evaluation period will constitute a violation of this Regulation. This Regulation will not prevent a Team from placing a “player wanted” advertisement after the evaluation period, so long as the advertisement does not specify a specific evaluation time. U21 Teams shall be exempted from this provision. 

(i) During the Season, no player who is registered with one Team will be entitled to participate in any practice or on-ice skating session conducted by or that is organized by or on behalf of a Team Official with any Team with whom that player is not registered, except for a player from a Lower Affiliate Team participating with their Higher Affiliate Team. 

(j) The penalty for conducting evaluations and practices or any on-ice sessions outside the allocated time period, or allowing players registered with another Team to participate in practices or on-ice sessions as provided by this Regulation 8.1, is as follows: 

• (i) the Head Coach shall be suspended for up to one year as is determined by a Special Committee, and 
• (ii) the Club may be fined up to $2,000. 

(k) During the Season, any player who, while registered with one Team, participates in practice or on-ice skating session of the kind prohibited by Regulation 8.1 above that is organized by or on behalf of a Team Official with any Team with whom the player is not registered may not be permitted to register with that Team (or a successor team in the next higher age group) for the balance of the current season or the following season unless otherwise determined by the Board or Special Committee. 

8.2 – Prohibited Advertising 

(a) Teams and Clubs shall not advertise the time, date or location of evaluations or the name of Team Officials for the following Season before January 15. For this purpose, any form of printed, whether public or private, solicitation (including promotional articles about existing Teams) that contains this information shall be considered as a form of advertising; however, responding to inquiries from individuals as to the names of Team Officials for the following season will not be considered “advertising”. 

(b) Teams and Clubs shall not advertise “Players Wanted” anywhere until after the 21-day evaluation period has concluded. No “Players Wanted” advertisement shall specify a specific evaluation time. U21 Teams shall be exempted from this provision. 

(c) Any Team Official found responsible by the Board or a Special Committee for the publication of such prohibited advertising shall be suspended for a period of not less than 15 games or such further period of time as is considered appropriate by the Board or a Special Committee. 

(d) Any Club Official found responsible by the Board or a Special Committee for the publication of such prohibited advertising shall be suspended for a period of not less than 60 days or such further period of time as is considered appropriate by the Board or a Special Committee. 

(e) Two or more individuals may be found responsible for the same publication. 

(f) The Club in respect of which the prohibited advertising has been placed will be fined up to $500. 

8.3 – Tampering 

(a)

• (i) Tampering is defined as any attempt or act, directly or indirectly, by any Team Official(s) or individuals, to recruit for the following Season a player away from the Team with which the player is currently registered. For purposes of this Regulation, a “Team” includes a House League Team and/or a House League Select Team. 
• (ii) Tampering shall not exist when the action to recruit the player occurs after the applicable Club, Division or Affiliated Group Official for the Team with which the player is registered has provided to the other Team Official or prospective Team Official a consent in writing, which authorizes them to speak with the player and/or the player’s parent(s) for the purpose of recruiting the player to their team. 
• (iii) For greater certainty, tampering may include any skating session organized during the Season by or on behalf of a Team Official, a prospective Team Official or a person who becomes a Team Official at which one or more of the players on the ice is not registered with the team with which the Team Official is registered, proposes to be registered or becomes registered. Tampering can occur regardless of whether the Team Official or prospective Team Official is on the ice and regardless of whether the ice rental for the skating session is in their name. Such skating sessions include any that are held for the purpose of evaluating players for any unsanctioned Spring or Summer hockey team if such session occurs prior to the completion of GTHL evaluations. Any player in the U12 to U18 age groups attending a skating session for an unsanctioned Spring or Summer hockey team prior to the completion of GTHL evaluations, without the prior written permission of the Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group with which the player is currently registered, will be suspended for the period commencing with the start of the following Season to and including November 15 of that Season. 
• (iv) Tampering shall not include any regularly scheduled skating session held by a legitimate skating or hockey skills instructor who in the ordinary course operates a school for the teaching of skating or hockey skills, provided that such skating session is part of the program ordinarily offered by the instructor, and the skating session is made available to the general public and the skating session has been advertised publicly for not less than 60 days prior to being held and provided that the instructor or the instructor’s business is legitimately insured to protect the participants against injury or accident. 
• (v) The exemption provided in paragraph (iv) above shall not apply if the skating or hockey skills instructor is a Team Official, or a prospective Team Official or becomes a Team Official and if any player at the skating session is in the age group for which they are registered, proposes to be registered or becomes registered. The Board or a Special Committee may, in its absolute discretion, choose to provide relief from this sub-paragraph (v). 
• (vi) For the purpose of Regulation 7.14, tampering shall also include any attempt or act, directly or indirectly, by any Club, Division or Affiliated Group Official, Team Official or individuals, to recruit a Team Official away from the Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group with which that Team Official is currently registered. Tampering shall not exist when the action to recruit the Team Official occurs after the applicable Club, Division or Affiliated Group Official for the Team with which the Team Official is registered has provided to the other Club, Division or Affiliated Group Official a consent in writing, which authorizes them to speak with the Team Official for the purpose of recruiting that Team Official to their organization. 

(b) In the event a Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group and/or Team is found to have violated any portion of Regulation 8.3, the offending Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group will be assessed a fine of $2,000, the Head Coach of the offending Team will be suspended for a minimum of 10 games and the offending Team Official(s) may be suspended for a period of up to one year. Any individual not currently registered with a Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group or a Team, and who is found guilty of tampering or complicity in tampering, will not be permitted to register with any Club, Division member, or Affiliated Group or Team for the balance of the current season and for the following season. In addition to the penalty provided in this paragraph 8.3(b), any player who, while registered with one Team, participates in any training camp, practice or on-ice skating session of the kind prohibited by Regulation 8.3(a) above that is organized by or on behalf of a Team Official with any Team with whom the player is not registered shall be suspended for the period commencing with the start of the following Season to and including November 15 of that Season. 

(c) Any charge for an alleged violation of Regulation 8.3 must be submitted in writing, within 60 days of the alleged violation, to the League Office accompanied by a $50 fee (refunded if the charge is validated) and including: 

• (i) nature of alleged infraction or charge; 
• (ii) date and location of alleged infraction; 
• (iii) names of individuals (players, Team Officials, Club, Division or Affiliated Group Officials) involved; 
• (iv) names of Club(s), Division or Affiliated Group/Team(s) involved; and 
• (v) names of organization(s) involved. 

Any member of the Board or of the League’s staff may initiate a complaint under Regulation 8.3 by following the same process as is provided in this paragraph 8.3(c) (other than payment of the $50 fee). 

9.1 – Player Registration Fee

The Board shall determine the annual Player Registration Fee.

9.2 – Limit on Number of Games

No Team shall play more than three games in a calendar day.

9.3 – Notice for League and Playoff Games

As a general rule, a minimum of 48 hours’ notice of any league or playoff game will be given. However, where circumstances are beyond League control, Teams must be prepared to play any game on 24 hours’ notice. Notification by fax transmission or e-mail is acceptable providing it has been confirmed by a telephone call as a backup.

9.4 – Uniforms

(a) For all regular season and playoff games, the HOME team must wear light or white-coloured sweaters, and the VISITING team must wear dark-coloured sweaters. Matching team socks in team colours must be worn at all times (NOTE: not applicable to goaltenders). The referee will make the final decision if teams are unable to resolve any sweater conflict.

(b) Sweaters must be complete with numbers and must be available at game time as called for by the League schedule. Failure to comply with Regulation 9.4(a) will result in the offending team being assessed a fine of $50.

(c) All players registered on competitive teams and all On-ice Officials shall be required to wear or have embossed on their jersey a standard Canadian Flag patch either on their left sleeve or on their upper right chest. No flag of any other nation will be permitted to be worn or embossed on any part of a player’s or on-ice Official’s uniform.

9.5 – Game Officials’ Fees

The fees payable to Game Officials shall be determined annually by the Board. Game Officials’ fees shall be paid by Teams at the arena box office prior to games. Access to the electronic Official Game Report will not be granted until both Teams have paid the Game Officials’ fees.

9.6 – Completion of Official Game Reports

Prior to each game, a Team Official shall complete the Official Game Report identifying and selecting the players and Team Officials participating in that game. (NOTE: A Team Official who will not participate in a game by being on the bench during the game should not be selected on the Official Game Report). The Head Coach of the Team is responsible for ensuring that the Official Game Report has been correctly completed in accordance with the requirements of this Regulation 9.6 and, even if the Official Game Report has been completed by another Team Official, shall verify such correctness by reviewing the Official Game Report. Players who are affiliated players should be designated as “AP” or “API”, as appropriate. Each Team shall be permitted to designate one captain and up to three alternate captains. Players who are designated as the captain or alternate captains shall be designated on the Official Game Report as ‘C’ or ‘A’, as appropriate. The Head Coach shall ensure that players who do not participate in the game are removed from the list on the Official Game Report. Players and Team Officials not participating in a game should not be selected on an Official Game Report except in the case of a player who appears to be late and is expected to arrive and participate in the game, in which case, such player’s name should in accordance with Regulation 9.8 be selected prior to the game commencing). Players or Team Officials who are suspended should be identified as such in the appropriate location on the Official Game Report.

9.7 – Identification of Illegitimate Player

If a Team suspects that a player in a game is not, in fact, the player listed on the Official Game Report, the referee will, immediately upon notification of such suspicion by the Team Captain or Alternate Captain, require that player to write their name and birth date on a piece of paper and then forward same to the League Office. Failure to sign as requested shall be noted in a game report by the referee.

9.8 – Adding Player’s Name to Official Game Report

Where a player is late and the player’s name has been selected on the Official Game Report prior to the game, the player will be permitted to participate. When the player’s name has been inadvertently omitted from the Official Game Report, the Game Official shall permit the name of such player to be added to the Official Game Report before the game has ended, provided that the player was in uniform and on the ice or the players’ bench at the start of the game.

9.9 – Supply of Pucks

It is the home team’s responsibility to supply ample pucks in proper condition at all games. Failure to comply with this Regulation shall result in a two-minute bench minor penalty being assessed.

9.10 – No Suturing on Bench

Suturing or the administration of any form of medication to a player by any Team Official (including a trainer), other than a medical doctor or a parent, is forbidden. Any violation of this regulation may result in the immediate suspension of the administering individual and an accompanying fine to the Club concerned, the amount of which will be determined by the Board or President or Chief Operating Officer.

9.11 – No Non-Registered Individuals on Bench

Except in the case of injury to their child, non-registered individuals are not permitted under any circumstances on the Team’s bench during a game. Where it is found that a non-registered individual is on the bench and is participating in the game, the game shall be recorded as a 1-0 victory in favour of the non-offending Team except in the case of a game won by the non-offending Team, in which case, the actual score shall stand. Further, the Team Official found responsible for permitting the non-registered individual to be on the bench will be suspended for six games.

9.12 – Defaulted Game

(a) If a Team defaults a game, a fine of $500 shall be levied, payable within 30 days to the League Office. Teams failing to pay fines within a reasonable time period may be removed from further competition and/or subject to whatever discipline is deemed necessary by the Board. Teams guilty of defaulting a game more than once in a season shall be reported to the President or the Chief Operating Officer for further disciplinary action.

(b) The score for a defaulted game shall be 1-0 for the non-offending Team.

(c) The Team Officials of any Team deliberately defaulting a game for any reason shall be indefinitely suspended until the case is reviewed by the President or the Chief Operating Officer.

9.13 – Effect of an Ineligible Player or Team Official Participating in a Game

(a) If any player or Team Official participates in a game while the player or Team Official is suspended or ineligible, then, in addition to any other penalties provided elsewhere in these Regulations to the player or Team Official, except in the case of an ineligible player or Team Official participating as a result of an understandable mistake as referred to below, the game shall be recorded as 1-0 win in favour of the opposing Team except in the case of a game won by the non-offending Team, in which case, the actual score shall stand. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the opposing Team won the game in any event, then the actual game score shall stand.

(b) Where a Club or Team Official submits that the participation of an ineligible player or Team Official was the result of an understandable mistake (and not an error resulting from a failure to review the Official Game Report or the Team’s roster form), and where the points lost by the Team as a result of this Regulation would exceed six (6), the Club or Team Official may provide a written explanation to the Executive Director and request a hearing before a Special Committee to determine whether or not circumstances exist for relief from this Regulation.

(c) Any protest under this Regulation can only be filed by the non-offending Team involved in the game in question.

9.14 – Effect of Dressing More Than the Permitted Number of Players

If a Team dresses more than the maximum number of players permitted for a game, then, in addition to any other penalties provided elsewhere in these Regulations to the Team Official or Team Officials responsible, the game shall be recorded as 1-0 win in favour of the opposing Team except in the case of a game won by the non-offending Team, in which case, the actual score shall stand.

9.15 – Games Included in the Standings.

Only completed games, or games deemed to be completed are to be included in the standings.

10 – PLAYING RULES

10.1 – Hockey Canada Playing Rules to Apply 
Hockey Canada Playing Rules shall apply except as varied from time to time by the League. A referee shall have full authority and the final decision in all matters under dispute. The referee’s decision shall be final on all questions of fact and not subject to appeal. 

10.2 – Protective Equipment 
If, while two players are engaged in a fight, either player’s helmet is removed, intentionally or unintentionally and in any circumstances whatsoever, both players must cease fighting immediately. Any player who fails to do so will be assessed a gross misconduct penalty. (Hockey Canada Playing Rule 10.6(f) iii/iv). 

10.3 – No Jewellery 
All players participating in any regular season, exhibition, tournament, or playoff game shall not wear any personal jewellery during such game. Violations will result in the offending player’s Team being assessed a bench minor and the offending player being prevented from participation until such time as the jewellery is removed. 

10.4 – Zippered Hockey Pants 
Pants with a zippered inseam shall be worn with the zipper completely closed. If a zipper is broken or if the inseam of the hockey pants is torn, then the player will be required to tape or otherwise repair the pants to produce the same effect as the zipper being closed or the tear being fully repaired. If a player comes onto the ice to participate in a game with pants that do not comply with this Regulation, the player shall be ordered off the ice as soon as a game official becomes aware of the problem. At that stoppage of play or the next stoppage of play (if this occurs during play), a warning shall be issued by a game official to both Teams. After such warning has been given by the game official to the Teams, any player who comes onto the ice to participate in the game with pants that do not comply with this Regulation shall be assessed a misconduct penalty for illegal equipment. 

10.5 – Injured Players 
When, in the opinion of a Game Official, a player other than the goaltender is injured due to an infraction of the rules by an opponent and the offending player is assessed a Major penalty plus a Game Misconduct penalty or, alternatively, a Match penalty for deliberate injury for the infraction, the injured player shall retire to their players’ bench or dressing room when the penalty/penalties are assessed and must remain out of the game for the next five minutes of playing time. If the injured player returns to the ice before the five minutes have elapsed, they shall be considered an ineligible player. If the presence of an ineligible player is brought to the attention of the Game Official prior to resumption of play following the first stoppage of play after the five-minute restriction has expired, the offending team shall be assessed a Bench Minor for ‘Ineligible Player’. Additionally, any goal scored by the offending team while the ineligible player is illegally on the ice shall not be allowed. 

10.6 – No Bodychecking in the ‘A’ Divisions 
Hockey Canada Playing Rule 7.3 will be applied in the League with respect to all divisions in the ‘A’ category. 

10.7 – U10 and U11 Teams 

(a) Players on U10 and U11 Teams must be provided with Fair and Equal Ice Time in all games, including regular season, playoff, tournament, and exhibition games. “Fair and Equal Ice Time” means ensuring that all players get the same opportunity to contribute to the outcome of all games, regardless of skill or ability. A coach’s responsibility is to develop all players to contribute. Shortening of the bench is not permitted. All players should receive fair and as close to equal as possible ice time, including equal opportunities on special teams. 

Organizations are responsible to monitor compliance with this Regulation 10.7(a) by their Team Officials. In turn, Team Officials should be aware that the League will take action where it is determined that there have been violations of this Regulation. 

(b) It is recommended that all skaters rotate through all positions to ensure each player has the opportunity to try out each position (forward – LW/C/RW and defence ‐LD/RD) at least once. 

(c) It is recommended that all players get a chance to start the game and play end‐of‐game situations. 

(d) Where a Team has two registered goaltenders, it is recommended that: 

• (i) the goaltenders play alternate games or split games to as close to 50/50 as possible; 
• (ii) the rotation schedule be done in consultation with the goaltender and parents (share games or alternate playing full games); and 
• (iii) each goaltender plays the final game in an equal number of tournaments; 
• (iv) the goaltender not participating in a game be permitted to participate as a player. 

11.1 – Rulings by Board or Special Committee

The Board, a Special Committee, the President, or the Chief Operating Officer may make any special rulings that may be required during or in respect of playoffs.

11.2 – Breaking Ties

(a) All ties for first place or the last playoff position shall be resolved in accordance with paragraph (b) below. All other ties shall be resolved in accordance with the tie breaking procedures set forth in paragraphs (c), (d), (e) or (f), whichever is applicable, below.

(b) If at the end of the regular schedule, two Teams are tied for either first place or the last playoff position, the tied Teams will play a one-game playoff to determine which Team is awarded first place or the last playoff position, as the case may be. If at the end of the regular schedule, more than two Teams are tied for first place or the last playoff position, the Teams will play a single-game elimination tournament to determine which Team will be awarded first place or the last playoff position. A coin toss will determine which Team will get a “bye” from the first game and will play the winner of an extra game between the other two remaining Teams. If more than two Teams tie for the last two playoff positions (similarly, if more than three Teams tie for the last three playoff positions, etc.), then the tie-breaking formulas set forth below shall be used to determine all of the positions that are higher than the last playoff position and a playoff game or games in accordance with this paragraph (b) shall be used to determine the final playoff position. In all of these cases, a coin toss will be used to determine the home team for each game.

(c) When two Teams are tied for a playoff position at the completion of a balanced schedule:

• (i) the Team with the most wins shall be awarded the higher position.
• (ii) if still tied after (i) above, the Team having the most wins against the other shall be awarded the higher position.
• (iii) if still tied after (i) and (ii) above, utilizing all games of the regular season schedule, divide the total goals for by the total number of goals (for and against), with the Team having the highest percentage being awarded the higher position. Example:
  • For: 10 goals
  • Against: 4 goals
  • Percentage: 10/(10+4) = 0.714

• (iv) if still tied after (i), (ii) and (iii) above, the Team that scored the first goal in the season series between the tied Teams is awarded the higher position.
• (v) if still tied after (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, a one-game playoff will be played to determine which Team is awarded the higher position.

(d) When more than two Teams are tied for a playoff position at the completion of a balanced schedule:

• (i) the Team with the most wins shall be awarded the highest position.
• (ii) if all the Teams are still tied after (i) above, utilizing all games of the regular season schedule played between the tied Teams, divide the total goals for by the total number of goals (for and against), with the Team having the highest percentage being awarded the highest position. Example:
  • For: 10 goals
  • Against: 4 goals
  • Percentage: 10/(10+4) = 0.714

Once this method determines the Team to be awarded the highest position, the tie-breaking process is repeated from the beginning with the remaining Teams to determine which Team is awarded the next highest position. If only two Teams remain, Regulation 11.2(c) should be used to determine which Team is awarded the next highest position. If more than two Teams remain, then Regulation 11.2(d) shall continue to be used until only two Teams remain tied.

(e) When two Teams are tied for a playoff position at the completion of an unbalanced schedule:

• (i) utilizing the games between the two Teams, the Team that won the most games shall be awarded the higher position.
• (ii) if still tied after (i) above, utilizing all games of the regular season schedule played between the two Teams, divide the total goals for by the total number of goals (for and against), with the Team having the highest percentage being awarded the higher position. Example:
  • For: 10 goals
  • Against: 4 goals
  • Percentage: 10/(10+4) = 0.714

• (iii) if still tied after (i) and (ii) above, a one-game playoff will be played to determine which Team is awarded the higher position.

(f) When more than two Teams are tied for a playoff position at the completion of an unbalanced schedule:

• (i) if the tied Teams have played an equal number of games against each other during the regular schedule, then the Team with the most wins in games between the tied Teams shall be awarded the highest position.
• (ii) if still tied after (i) above, utilizing all games of the regular season schedule between the tied Teams, divide the total goals for by the total number of goals (for and against), with the Team having the highest percentage being awarded the highest position. Example:
  • For: 10 goals
  • Against: 4 goals
  • Percentage: 10/(10+4) = 0.714

• (iii) if still tied after (i) and (ii) above, a single coin toss will determine which Team is awarded the highest position.

Once this method determines the Team to be awarded the highest position, the tie-breaking process is repeated from the beginning with the remaining Teams to determine which Team is awarded the next highest position. If only two Teams remain, Regulation 11.2(e) should be used to determine which Team is awarded the next highest position. If more than two Teams remain, then Regulation 11.2(f) shall continue to be used until only two Teams remain tied.

11.3 – Playoff Teams
The number of Teams that participate in the playoffs shall be as follows:

11.4 – Overtime in Playoffs 
(a) Overtime may take place in playoff games at the discretion of the President or the Chief Operating Officer. Only a maximum of two 10-minute, stop-time overtime periods can be played unless otherwise extended or authorized by the Board. 

(b) Where overtime is necessary and is advised by the League Office, each overtime period will be a 10-minute, stop-time sudden-victory period. Teams will not change ends before the first period of overtime but will change ends after each overtime period. 

(c) Despite Regulations 11.4(a) and 11.4(b) above, the League Office shall, for scheduling purposes, have the discretion to amend the overtime provisions, provided that in doing so the League Office shall notify both Teams of the applicable overtime rules prior to the commencement of each game. 

11.5 – Players Eligible for Playoffs 

Only players who are registered with and approved by the League will be recognized in ’A’, ‘AA’, and ‘AAA’ playoffs. Any Teams having player(s) who are not registered with the League Office are ineligible for playoff or playdown competition.

11.6 – Standard Playoff Formats and Variations in Playoff Formats 

(a) Playoff formats for U14-U18 Teams shall comply with specified standards, including: 

• (i) the number of Teams that participate in playoffs for each age division and category as per Regulation 11.3 and 
• (ii) the duration of a playoff series being based on the Team that first reaches six (6) or eight (8) points, as designated prior to the commencement of the playoff series, shall be declared the winner. 

(b) Clubs will be notified by the League Office of proposed playoff formats on or before January 1. 

Variations to standard playoff formats shall only be considered in the most exceptional of circumstances, and Clubs will be notified by the League Office of any such proposed variations in advance of consideration and/or approval by the Board. The implementation of any variation to standard playoff formats shall require prior approval by the Board. 

11.7 – Last Playoff Date 
Playoffs shall be completed by the last day of the OHF Championships, subject to there being no overriding exceptional circumstances that may cause playoffs to be delayed. 

11.8 – Championships 
Teams participating in OHF, Regional or National Championships must have at least 15 players, two of whom must be goaltenders, registered by no later than January 10 to qualify for any of these events. 

12.1 – Exhibition Games

Any Team wishing to play any exhibition game must first notify the League Office, advising the place, date, time, and opponent for the game. If the exhibition game is outside the League boundaries, a written application must be made to the League Office (on the form provided) in order to be considered for approval. If a Team fails to obtain permission from the League for an exhibition game, the Team Official deemed responsible for the breach of this Regulation shall be indefinitely suspended until the President or the Chief Operating Officer reviews the case.

12.2 – No Changes to Scheduled Games

Regular season games cannot be changed in order to play exhibition games for any reason whatsoever.

12.3 – Filing of Official Game Reports for Exhibition Games and Tournaments

(a) Any Team playing an exhibition or tournament game must use an Official Game Report and certified officials.

(b) A copy of each exhibition or tournament Official Game Report must be forwarded to the League Office. The responsibility of filing the Official Game Report with the League office is as follows:

• (i) For tournament games hosted by a GTHL Club, the Official Game Report(s) must be filed with the League Office as per GTHL Regulation 16.1(w).
• (ii) For tournament games hosted by an Organization other than a GTHL Club, the participating GTHL team must file a copy of the Official Game Report with the GTHL Office within 7 business days after the completion of the tournament. Failure to do so will result in a $500 fine being levied to the Club.
• (iii) For exhibition games involving two GTHL Teams, both teams must file a copy of the Official Game Report with the GTHL Office within 7 business days after the completion of the game. Failure to do so will result in a $500 fine being levied to the Club.
• (iv) For exhibition games involving one GTHL Team, that team must file a copy of the Official Game Report with the GTHL Office within 7 business days after the completion of the game. Failure to do so will result in a $500 fine being levied to the Club.

12.4 – Overseas Trip Applications

All applications for Overseas Trips must be received in writing by the League Office no later than 90 days prior to the Team’s scheduled departure date. All such applications must comply with Regulation 12.5 and Hockey Canada overseas trip rules shall apply unless stated otherwise.

12.5 – Content of Overseas Trip Applications

Each overseas trip application must include the following:

(a) Country or countries to be visited.

(b) Copy of the invitation from the host country, such invitation to indicate affiliation with the IIHF or its branch.

(c) Dates for leaving and returning to Canada.

(d) Copy of financial arrangements and guarantees.

(e) Copy of itinerary.

(f) Application, to be accompanied by a $150 sanction fee, plus a deposit cheque in the amount of $1,000, both cheques payable to the League.

(g) A written statement acknowledging the guarantee of payment of travel, accommodation, and meals for the official representative of the League or the Hockey Canada representative.

(h) Non-compliance with these Regulations will result in approval being voided and forfeiture of the deposit.

(i) Upon confirmation of the Team trip itinerary, purchase of overseas transportation and adherence to all parts of Regulation 12.5, the aforementioned deposit will be refunded to the applicant.

12.6 – Inclusion of League or Hockey Canada Representative

Each Team wishing to travel overseas must include, at the Team’s expense, an appointed representative of the League or Hockey Canada (Transportation, private accommodations, meals).

12.7 – Hosting Overseas Teams

Teams wishing to host a team from overseas must submit a formal letter of application to the League Office no later than ninety (90) days prior to the overseas team’s proposed arrival, such letter of application to include:

(a) Name, age level and classification of overseas team.

(b) Name, age level and classification of the hosting team.

(c) Confirmation of affiliation with the IIHF or its member federation.

(d) Places and dates of proposed games, if available, at the time of application.

(e) Hosting fee of $150.

(f) A listing of any other teams the host will be contacting regarding playing a game against such overseas team.

12.8 – Applications to Participate in Tournaments and for Other Schedule Exemptions

(a) Any Team wishing to have an exemption period from the League schedule may, no later than 7 weeks prior to the start of the period for which the application is being made, submit to the League Office a duly completed Schedule/Tournament Exemption Application Form signed by the Team’s Club President or General Manager. Schedule Exemptions may be requested for Tournament Play, Religious Holidays, or any other reason whatsoever. Any team entering a tournament at any time must first have an approved Schedule/Tournament Exemption form in order to be sanctioned to participate in such tournament.

(b) When a Team has submitted a Schedule/Tournament Exemption Form in full compliance with Regulation 12.8, the League will schedule no conflicting games for that Team.

(c) No Team shall be allowed to have more than three Schedule Exemptions during the regular season, whether or not they conflict with its scheduled games, with the exception of early bird tournaments which are completed prior to the commencement of the regular season and Christmas tournaments. If a Club fails to make the application prior to the 7-week deadline, it may, once per season per Club, seek an exemption, provided that such request is made in writing to the League Office within 3 business days after the schedule has been posted on the schedule section of the GTHL website.

(d) A Team may not enter two tournaments operating at the same time.

(e) Schedule Exemptions will not be granted during the last two weeks of the regular season schedule except as provided for in Regulation 12.8 (h).

(f) U10 and U11 Teams are limited to a maximum of 4 tournaments in a season, one of which may be taken during the Development Phase with the remainder being taken during regular season play and following the conclusion of Playoffs.

(g) Any Team eligible for, or participating in, a playoff series shall not participate in a tournament, with the exception of Regional or National Championships.

(h) A Team may request schedule exemptions for a maximum of two days during the last two weeks of the Season and the League playoffs for recognized religious holidays which may be found at www.calendarlabs.com/holidays/religious/ or http://www.interfaith-calendar.org/ or http://www.diversityresources.com/interfaith-calendar-2024. A request will be granted only if it is made 5 weeks prior to the date for which an exemption is being sought.

(i) Any Team entering a tournament must have a minimum of 12 players in uniform at the commencement of the tournament. For a violation of this regulation, the Club will be fined $250.

(j) Following completion of each tournament, a copy of the Official Game Report for each game played in the tournament must be submitted to the League Office as per Regulation 12.3 (b). For Violation of this regulation, the Head Coach will be suspended for 3 games.

(k) The Head Coach of any Team, once accepting an invitation to a tournament, who fails to notify the Tournament Chairperson that the Team cannot meet its obligation to the tournament at least 3 weeks before the tournament, or withdraws during the tournament, may be suspended up to 6 games. In addition, the Club may face a fine of up to $500.

(l) Any non-body checking team within the GTHL shall not be allowed to participate in body checking games. If a non-body checking team does participate in a body checking game, they will be subject to disciplinary action.

NOTE: Any Team that has been given a conditional tournament approval and which fails to fulfill a commitment to the League by defaulting a League game as a result of participation in such tournament will for the current season or the following season, as determined by a Special Committee, lose one tournament approval and the Head Coach for such Team shall be suspended for up to 6 games as determined by a Special Committee (to be served as directed by the Special Committee so that the Team is not without Team Officials for any particular game).

12.9 – Club Fundraising Night


Each Club shall be entitled to designate one night during the season when none of its Teams will be scheduled to play a game in order to permit the Club to stage a Club event. The Club must designate such night to the League Office in writing no later than seven weeks prior to the night requested.

12.10 – Obligation to Play League Games

Teams playing in tournament, exhibition or playdown games must first fulfill their obligations to the League.

12.11 – Non-Application of Affiliation Regulations

The affiliation Regulations do not apply to the status of a player participating in a tournament, e.g., U14 playing in a U15 tournament.

12.12 – Tournament Must be Sanctioned

No Team whose players are registered with any Branch of Hockey Canada or with a town or city local League which is affiliated with a Branch, shall compete in any tournament unless that tournament has been granted a sanction permit by the Branch in whose territory the tournament is to be conducted or by the minor committee or minor association which is recognized by the Branch for that territory.

12.13 – Out-of-Town Requests

Requests for out-of-town trips shall be made to the League and not directly to the OHF.

13.1 – Standard of Behaviour

(a) Players, Team Officials, Club Officials, Game Officials, League Officials, parents, volunteers, League employees and spectators are expected to behave in a sportsmanlike manner at all games, whether regular season, exhibition, playoff, tournament, OHF, Regional or National Championships.

(b) Players, Team Officials, Club Officials, Game Officials, League Officials, parents, volunteers, League employees or spectators shall refrain from comments or behaviours that show disrespect toward any participant because of their sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender identity, skin colour, religion, weight, appearance, disability, nationality, or other things that are perceived to make them “different”. In particular, the GTHL will not tolerate behaviour that constitutes harassment or abuse or bullying.

(c) All electronic communication of any kind between Team Officials and players under the age of 18 years must always include their parents or legal guardians.

(d) Players, Team Officials, Club Officials, Game Officials, League Officials, parents, volunteers, League employees or spectators shall not use abusive, profane or discriminatory language or gesture that is directed at any other person or is related to any sanctioned hockey activity, whether this conduct occurs on or off the ice, including any such language that is posted on internet chat lines, on social networking sites or via text messaging or other forms of electronic information transfer.

(e) Any act of physical violence (other than physical acts that are part of the game of hockey), or threatened physical violence, by any player, Team Official, Club Official, Game Official, League Official, parent, volunteer, League employee or spectator against any other person, will not be tolerated, whether such act or threat occurs on or off the ice. For the purpose of clarity, physical violence includes but is not limited to: “locker boxing” and hazing or other initiation practices.

(f) No player, Team Official, Club Official, Game Official, League Official, parent, volunteer, League employee or spectator shall engage in conduct, whether on-ice or off-ice, that brings the League, any Club or Team into disrepute.

Any complaint or allegation of misconduct against an individual under this Regulation 13.1 shall be brought forth in an expeditious manner without any undue or unreasonable delay.

13.2 – Ejection from Game

Any player, Team Official, Club Official, League Official, parent, volunteer, League employee or spectator who behaves in a manner that does not meet the standard described in Regulation 13.1(a) may, in the Game Official’s discretion, be ejected from the game or the playing area of any game. In the case of any player, Team Official or Club Official participating in the game, any such ejection may be in addition to any penalty that may be imposed by the Game Official under the rules of hockey. In the case of any ejection of a parent, volunteer, League employee or spectator, the onus of ensuring that the parent, volunteer, or spectator obeys the ejection falls upon the Team to which the parent, volunteer or spectator is related. The Game Official may delay any game until any ejection is complied with.

13.3 – Damage to Arenas or Failure to Abide by Arena Rules

Any player, Team Official, Club Official, League Official, parent, volunteer, League employee or spectator who causes any damage to any arena or any property therein or who fails to abide by the arena’s rules or regulations will be subject to such discipline as may be imposed by the Board or a Special Committee. The President or the Executive Director shall have the power to impose any interim discipline pending a hearing before the Board or a Special Committee. In addition, the individual responsible for the damage may be assessed the expenses related to fixing such damage and may be barred from further competition.

13.4 – Prohibition of Parent or Spectator

Any parent or spectator whose conduct is found by the Board or any Special Committee to be disruptive and not conducive to the well-being of the game may be prohibited from attending games and/or any arena(s) as determined by the Board or a Special Committee for a specified period of time. The President or the Executive Director shall have the authority to impose any interim prohibition pending a hearing. The onus of enforcing such a prohibition falls upon the Club to which the parent or spectator is related. In any instance where the Club has difficulty enforcing the prohibition, the Board or a Special Committee may suspend the player to whom such parent or spectator is related or may void the player’s registration.

13.5 – Suspension of Players, Team Officials, Club Officials and Others

In addition to ejection from a particular game pursuant to Regulation 13.2, any player, Team Official Club Official, League Official, parent, volunteer, or spectator whose conduct does not meet the standard required by Regulation 13.1(a) may be required by the President or the Executive Director to appear at a hearing before the Board or a Special Committee. The President or the Executive Director shall have the authority to impose any interim suspension pending a hearing. Upon completion of the hearing, the Board or the Special Committee shall be entitled to impose such further suspension or discipline as it, in its discretion, considers appropriate having regard to the behaviour of the individual(s) concerned.

13.6 – Suspension or Discipline of Game Officials

Any Game Official whose behaviour does not meet the standard described in Regulation 13.1 may be disciplined for such failure by the Executive Director or may be required by the President or the Executive Director to appear at a hearing before the Board or a Special Committee. Upon completion of the hearing, the Board or the Special Committee will be entitled to impose such further suspension or discipline as it, in its discretion, considers appropriate having regard to the behaviour of the Game Official.

13.7 – Prohibition on Food and Beverages

In arenas that have snack bars, restaurants or other food and beverage facilities in operation before, during and after games, Teams are required to respect any requirement by the arena management that Teams not bring food or drink into the arena. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in suspension of the head coach of the Team by the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Board, or a Special Committee.

13.8 – Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs, and Illegal Substances

The use of alcohol, tobacco products (including chewing tobacco, smokeless tobacco, or e-cigarettes), drugs (including cannabis) and illegal substances by any Participant is prohibited during any sanctioned league, playoff, exhibition or tournament game, or practice (on or off ice), including use in dressing rooms or in public, non-licensed areas.

Any player or Team Official found to be using any prohibited substance in any arena during a game will be ejected from that particular game and may be reported to the President for further disciplinary action.

13.9 – Disrupting Play

Game Officials may stop play immediately whenever any spectator or group of spectators disrupts play using, for example, a whistle, air horn or a laser pencil. The offending spectator(s) may be ordered to leave the arena by the Game Official(s). Play will not resume until the spectator(s) leave(s).

14 – SUSPENSIONS AND PENALTIES

14.1 – Responsibility of Team Officials to Enforce Suspensions

It is the responsibility of Team Officials to ensure that any suspended player or Team Official fully serves their suspension. Any player or Team Official who incurs a suspension, whether in a regular season game, an exhibition game or a tournament game, must, except as provided in this Regulation 14, serve the suspension with the Team with whom the player or Team Official is registered in the next following regular season or playoff games and, until the suspension has been fully served, the player or Team Official will not be eligible to participate in any tournament or exhibition games of the Team with whom the player or Team Official is registered or any affiliated Team with whom the player is eligible to play or the Team Official is eligible to act as a team official.

14.2 – General Provision for Suspensions

Any player, Team Official or Club Official found by the Board or a Special Committee to have violated the League’s Constitution, By-laws, Regulations, or Policies may be suspended for a period as determined by the Board or Special Committee.

14.3 – Allowing Participation of Suspended Team Official

Any Team Official who knowingly participates in a game while that Team Official is suspended or with another Team Official of the same Team who has been suspended will be automatically suspended for a period of six games for each game in which this occurs.

14.4 – Allowing Participation of Suspended or Ineligible Player or Team Official

Any Team Official who participates in a game and allows a suspended or an ineligible player or Team Official to participate in a game shall be automatically suspended for a period of two games for each game in which the suspended or ineligible player or Team Official participates. If, after a hearing, it is determined that any Team Official knowingly allowed a suspended or ineligible player or Team Official to participate in a game, that Team Official shall be suspended for a minimum of six games for each game in which the suspended or ineligible player or Team Official participated. The Board or Special Committee may determine which Team Official was responsible for permitting the suspended or ineligible player or Team Official to participate in the game. If the Head Coach has participated in the game, they will be found to be the Team Official responsible for permitting the suspended or ineligible player or Team Official to participate in the game and the onus will be placed upon them to provide compelling evidence as to why another Team Official should be held responsible for permitting the suspended or ineligible player or Team Official to participate in the game. Where the Team Official deemed responsible for permitting the ineligible player or Team Official to participate in a game believes that the participation of the ineligible player or Team Official was the result of an understandable mistake (and not an error resulting from a failure to review the Official Game Report or the Team’s roster form or a failure to clarify the nature of the penalty awarded with the Game Official), the Team Official deemed responsible may submit a written explanation to the Executive Director and request a hearing before a Special Committee to determine whether or not circumstances exist for the Team Official’s suspension to be reduced below the number of games that would otherwise apply. The Special Committee, upon hearing the explanation, may, in its discretion and upon being satisfied that the circumstances demonstrate that an understandable mistake occurred, reduce the suspension to a number of games that is less than the number of games that would otherwise apply.

14.5 – Suspension of a Player

A player who participates while suspended or ineligible, shall be required to appear before a Special Committee. If, after a hearing, it is determined that the player knowingly participated in a game while the player was suspended or ineligible, that player shall be assessed an additional one (1) game suspension for each game in which they participated while suspended or ineligible. The player shall also be required to serve the total suspension that was originally assessed.

14.6 – Failure to Report

Any Team Official who is found by the Board or a Special Committee to have knowingly permitted their Team to play against ineligible players and to have not reported such ineligibility to the League Office shall be suspended for a period determined by the Board or a Special Committee. Such report shall be made to the League Office by the close of business on the second business day following the day of such game.

14.7 – Dressing More Players Than Permitted

If a Team dresses more than the maximum number of players permitted for a game, then, in addition to the effect on the outcome of the game provided in Regulation 9.13, the offending Team shall be fined $100 and the Team Official who is found by the Board or a Special Committee to be responsible will receive a six-game suspension.

14.8 – Minimum Suspensions – Probation

(a) All minimum suspensions shall be in accordance with the GTHL Minimum Suspension List, which is posted on the League’s website. If there is any discrepancy between the GTHL Minimum Suspension List and the OHF Minimum Suspension List, the GTHL Minimum Suspension List shall be applied, provided that the discipline imposed by the GTHL Minimum Suspension List exceeds the discipline imposed by the OHF Minimum Suspension List in relation to the same offence. The Board, a Special Committee, the President, or the Chief Operating Officer shall have the authority to impose Supplemental Discipline over and above the minimum suspension wherever conditions and circumstances warrant.

Divisions and Affiliated Groups may use either the GTHL or the OHF Minimum Suspension List or create their own but minimum suspensions cannot be reduced from those contained in the OHF Minimum Suspension List.

(b) In accordance with the GTHL Minimum Suspension List, all suspensions will commence with the next scheduled game immediately following the game in which the suspension was incurred. In all cases the game in which the violation occurred will not count as part of the suspension assessed.

(c) Clubs will be notified by the League Office of all suspensions levied which are in excess of those specified in the GTHL Minimum Suspension List. Notification will be given within 24 hours of the ruling(s) and prior to the completion of the related automatic minimum suspension.

NOTE: If a supplemental suspension is assessed in addition to the minimum suspension, and the total suspension is beyond six (6) games, only the games in the supplemental suspension are appealable.

(d) Minimum suspensions that are provided in the GTHL Minimum Suspension List cannot be appealed unless an appeal is brought forward pursuant to the provisions contained in the GTHL Video Review Policy. The length of suspensions, which, according to the GTHL Minimum Suspension List, are “indefinite”, will be determined after either a telephone conference call hearing with any one of the President, the Chief Operating Officer or one of the Directors or alternatively at a hearing by a Special Committee or any two members of the Board, and such decisions will be final and not appealable, except where permitted by OHF Regulation 6.

(e) Where multiple minimum suspensions are issued to a player or Team Official, all suspensions are to be served consecutively and not concurrently.

In this example, the individual must serve all eight games. Further, because this is an accumulation of minimum suspensions, they are not appealable, either in whole or in part.

NOTE: A player’s and/or Team Official’s discipline records indicating an unacceptable accumulation of suspendable penalties may result in further discipline to the player and/or Team Official.

(f) A player, Team Official, Organization Official, parent, volunteer, spectator, or Organization may be placed “on probation” by the Board or a Special Committee and may expect that any further infractions occurring during the probationary period will be dealt with more severely than if not on probation.

14.9 – No Activity During Suspension

When a Team Official is assessed a suspension, they will not be allowed to participate in the League-sanctioned games from the time of the assessment of the suspension(s) until the suspension(s) have been served in their entirety.

14.10 – Team Officials and Club Officials Not to Participate While Under Suspension

Any Team Official or Club Official under suspension will not be permitted to direct a Team during any game that is played during their suspension. A Team Official or Club Official under suspension must not be in the vicinity of the dressing room, players’ bench, or at rink level, before, during or after any game in which the suspension is being served. Failure to comply with this Regulation shall result in a suspension of 6 games pursuant to Regulation 14.3, or such other number of games as determined appropriate by the Board or a Special Committee.

14.11 – Players Not to Participate While Under Suspension

A player must not be in the vicinity of the dressing room, player’s bench, or at rink level, before, during or after any game in which a suspension is being served. Failure to comply with this Regulation shall result in a further suspension of a length as is determined appropriate by the Board or a Special Committee, but which shall in any event not be less than one game.

14.12 – Ejection from Game for Four Penalties

Any player assessed a total of four penalties of any kind in any game (whether regular season, exhibition, tournament, or playoff) shall be ejected from that game only notwithstanding any suspensions that may occur as a result of the assessment of another type of game ejection penalty as the fourth penalty or subsequent penalties in the same game.

14.13 – Serving Suspensions

(a) Any player or Team Official who incurs a suspension, whether in a regular season game, an exhibition game or a tournament game, must, except as provided in either paragraphs (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) below, serve the suspension with the Team with which the player or Team Official is registered in regular season or playoff games and, until the suspension has been fully served, the player or Team Official will not be eligible to participate in any tournament or exhibition games of the Team with whom the player or Team Official is registered or any affiliated Team with whom the player is eligible to play or the Team Official is eligible to act as a team official.

(b) A player or Team Official who incurs a suspension in an exhibition game or in a regular season game and who has not fully served their suspension prior to their team participating in a Hockey Canada-sanctioned tournament (which for this purpose includes an approved international tour or series of games) for which the team obtained a tournament approval prior to the occurrence of the event (except as provided in (g) below) giving rise to the suspension shall not participate in any such tournament game until the team has played the same number of tournament games as equals the number of games remaining in the suspension immediately prior to the commencement of the tournament. Once the team has played that number of tournament games, the player or Team Official may participate in any remaining games in that tournament. However, if the suspension is not fully served by the time that the tournament ends, the player, or Team Official must serve the number of games remaining in the suspension in the next following regular season games. The relief granted by this paragraph (b) is not available with respect to any tournament that is not a Hockey Canada-sanctioned tournament. In order to access the relief granted by this paragraph (b), Official Game Reports for the tournament games must be submitted to the League Office within three business days following the completion of the tournament.

(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b) above, a player who has incurred a suspension as a result of being assessed a Match Penalty shall, for all purposes, be and remain suspended until the President or the Chief Operating Officer has made a determination as to whether or not to impose any suspension in excess of the suspension imposed by the OHF Minimum Suspension List. Accordingly, a player who incurs a suspension as a result of being assessed a Match Penalty shall not be eligible to participate in a Hockey Canada-sanctioned tournament game, notwithstanding having served the number of games specified in the OHF Minimum Suspension List, if prior to the commencement of such tournament the President or the Chief Operating Officer has not made a determination as to whether or not to impose a suspension be greater than the minimum prescribed by the OHF Minimum Suspension List.

(d) A player or Team Official who is suspended in a tournament game shall commence serving the suspension in the next following tournament game. If the suspension is fully served before the tournament is over, the player or Team Official may participate in any remaining tournament games and there will be no carryover of the suspension into League games. However, if the suspension is not fully served by the time that the tournament ends, the player, or Team Official must serve the number of games remaining in the suspension in subsequent League games (whether regular season or playoff).

(e) A player or Team Official who is suspended in a tournament game and whose suspension is not fully served by the time the team commences participation in a subsequent Hockey Canada-sanctioned tournament shall be entitled to apply the relief provided in paragraph (b) above with respect to any games remaining in the suspension at the commencement of such subsequent tournament.

(f) Any suspension received as a result of a Match Penalty prior to participation in a Branch or Provincial Playdown must be fully served prior to such Player being deemed eligible for participation in such playdown.

(g) Any suspension incurred by any player or Team Official during a tournament shall be reported to the League Office prior to the close of business on the third business day following the last day of the tournament. Any Team failing to report any suspension within this period of time shall be fined $500. Any tournament game used to serve a suspension will not count for the purpose of League play until such time as the Official Game Report for such tournament game has been submitted to the League Office. (Example: If a player completes serving a suspension in games in a weekend tournament, and their team has a League game scheduled for the following Monday, the relevant Official Game Reports must be submitted to the League Office on Monday for the player to be eligible to play Monday evening.) Suspensions may be reported for the purposes of this Regulation to the League Office by phone call, voicemail, or email, provided such notice is received during normal business hours.

14.14 – Serving Suspensions at the End of the Season

(a) Except as provided below, if a player or a Team Official receives a suspension that is not served fully by completion of League play and playoffs (including the Clancy or Founder’s Cup tournaments), that suspension will “carry over” for the next Season with the player or the Team Official to the Team with which the player or Team Official registers for the following Season. The player or the Team Official is eligible to participate in evaluations, but once the player or Team Official has registered, the suspension is revived following evaluations, and the player or Team Official is not eligible to participate in any Hockey Canada on-ice event until the suspension has been served.

(b) If at the time of completion of League play and playoffs (including the Clancy or Founders’ Cup tournaments), a suspended player or Team Official still has suspensions not fully served, the player or Team Official may serve such suspended games as follows:

• (i) to the extent provided in paragraph (c) below and provided that the requirements of that paragraph are satisfied, the player may serve the suspension as an affiliated player with the player’s Higher Affiliate Team during the Higher Affiliate Team’s playoff games; or
• (ii) the player or Team Official may serve the suspension in a sanctioned post-season tournament.

(c) In order for a player to serve a suspension following the completion of League play and playoffs (including the Clancy or Founder’s Cup tournaments) as an affiliated player with the player’s Higher Affiliate Team during its playoff games, the player must have, prior to the incurrence of the suspension, participated as a Legitimate Player with the Higher Affiliate Team. The playoff games of the Higher Affiliate Team in which the player is listed on the Official Game Report of the Higher Affiliate Team as a suspended player will only reduce the number of “carry over” suspension games for the player to the extent of the number of playoff games of the Higher Affiliate Team in which the player subsequently participates as a Legitimate Player (i.e. a player with a two-game suspension at the end of League play and playoffs may by serving the suspension with the player’s Higher Affiliate Team eliminate the carry-over aspect of the suspension provided that the player sits two games and then plays in two playoff games with the Higher Affiliate team. If the player sits two games but only plays in one playoff game, the carry-over aspect of the suspension would only be reduced by one game). The player must attend the games of the Higher Affiliate Team in which the player is listed on the Official Game Report as a suspended player and the player must sign the Official Game Report to evidence the player’s attendance. Finally, before the player is eligible to participate in any playoff game for the Higher Affiliate Team, the Club must apply in writing to the League Office for confirmation of the player’s eligibility and provide the League Office with copies of all relevant Official Game Reports to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of this paragraph (c). The League Office will review the material and confirm eligibility within two business days of receipt of all written material.

(d) Prior to completion of League play and playoffs (including the Clancy or Founders Cup tournaments), a player may not utilize the provisions of paragraph (c) above to serve a suspension with a Higher Affiliate Team.

(e) A player who is receives a suspension while playing as an affiliated player after the completion of their registered Team’s League play and playoffs (including the Clancy or Founder’s Cup tournaments), will be permitted to serve all or part of the suspension with the affiliate Team as if they were a member of the affiliate Team. Any unserved portion of the suspension will “carry over” to the next Season as per Regulation 14.14(a).

(f) Carry over suspensions may be served at the beginning of a Season in sanctioned pre-season tournaments.

14.15 – Providing False Information

Any Team Official or player who allows false information to appear on a player’s or Team Official’s Registration Information or who knowingly makes a false representation to the League shall be suspended for a period to be determined by the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Board, or a Special Committee. Where the false information is provided by or allowed to appear on a player’s Registration Information by a parent or legal guardian, any suspension shall apply to the player.

15 – PROTESTS AND APPEALS

15.1 – Right to Appeal Grievance

Any Participant who feels aggrieved with regard to their status with a Team, a Club or the League, or a Club that feels aggrieved with regard to its status with the League, may appeal their situation as set out below. Such appeal will be heard either by the Board or a Special Committee, at the discretion of the President or the Chief Operating Officer. Such appeal must be accompanied by an appeal fee of $250. A Special Committee may provide for a refund to the appellant of such fee in whole or in part if, based on the evidence presented at the appeal hearing, such refund is warranted at the Committee’s discretion. The Participant or Club must appear at the hearing and the hearing will not proceed in the absence of the Participant or Club unless otherwise determined by the Board or Special Committee hearing the matter.

15.2 – Notice and Appeal Fees

Appeals to the League from a decision of the President or Executive Director or from an automatic suspension with the right of appeal as outlined in the League Regulations shall be filed with the League Office within seven days of receipt of notice of any such decision or suspension and must be accompanied by a deposit of $50. An administration fee of $20 will be charged for all hearings under this Regulation with payment to be made to the League separately from the deposit that is to accompany each appeal.

15.3 – Appeal Procedures

The following procedure shall be adhered to in the case of appeals:

(a) Appeals may be heard by the Board or a Special Committee. Appeals will not be considered unless accompanied by the required fee.

• (i) All copies of the documentation provided to the League Office, by the Applicant or by the Respondent, as the case may be, shall be faxed, e-mailed, or couriered to the Respondent or the Applicant, respectively.
• (ii) The Respondent shall be required to fax or e-mail confirmation to the League Office indicating receipt of the documentation.
• (iii) The League Office shall set a date for a hearing not sooner than 72 hours after it has received confirmation from the Respondent involved that it has received the documentation.
• (iv) Written documentation which has not been provided to the League Office prior to the time at which the League Office sends a notification to the parties of the date for a hearing shall not be introduced as evidence during the hearing by a party unless consented to by the other party prior to or during the hearing or agreed to be accepted by the Board or Special Committee conducting the hearing.
• (v) The League Office shall use reasonable efforts to determine whether any parties other than the Applicant or the Respondent are reasonably likely to be affected by the decision of the Board or Special Committee in connection with the appeal and, if so and if considered appropriate by the President or the Executive Director, will notify them of the date of the hearing and advise them that they might be affected by such decision of the and therefore will have an opportunity to make submissions at the hearing to the extent determined necessary or appropriate by the Board or Special Committee.

(b) Where a player has been suspended and an appeal hearing has been requested, the League shall schedule a hearing not fewer than three days and not more than seven days (three days during playoffs) after receipt of the request from the Club involved. The player must appear at the hearing and the hearing will not proceed in the absence of the player.

(c) Where a Team Official has been suspended and an appeal hearing has been requested and granted, the League Office shall schedule a hearing not fewer than three days and not more than seven days (three days during playoffs) after receipt of the request from the Club involved.

(d) Any Respondent who is required to appear at a hearing and who withdraws or cancels from a scheduled hearing less than 48 hours from the time scheduled for the hearing, or fails to appear at the hearing, will be assessed a fine of $250 (except for exceptional circumstances).

(e) Recording Devices. The use of a recording device such as a mobile or “smart” phone or any other device by any participant during a hearing to record the proceedings, either aurally or visually, is strictly prohibited. Recording devices belonging to any of the participants must be turned off and not visible during the hearing and may only be used with the permission of the Special Committee Chair.

15.4 – Retention of Deposit

The League will retain the deposit that accompanies an appeal if the appeal is disallowed.

15.5 – Decisions

Decisions of the Board or a Special Committee will be communicated to the parties within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the Board or Special Committee considering all relevant circumstances. A decision may be delayed should the Board or the Special Committee conclude that further information or investigation is required before a decision can be rendered.

15.6 – Appeals of Past Decisions

(a) Appeals of automatic suspensions, where such appeals are permitted by the Regulations, or appeals from decisions made by the President or the Chief Operating Officer, may be heard either by a Special Committee or by the Board as a whole, the choice of forum to be at the sole discretion of the Officers of the League.

(b) An Applicant or Respondent who may feel aggrieved by a decision of the Board or a Special Committee may appeal to the OHF in accordance with OHF Regulation 6, unless the matter is one that is not appealable by virtue of that Regulation.

Where a matter is appealed to the OHF and the Coordinator of the OHF Appeals Committee determines, under OHF Regulation 6, that the matter does not qualify for a hearing, the matter shall not be subject to any further appeal.

(c) Appeals to the OHF must conform to the requirements of OHF Regulation 6 and be filed within 7 days, or the first business day following, if such date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Statutory holiday, from the date the decision sought to be appealed was sent to the appellant and must be accompanied by a non-refundable fee of $300.

15.7 – Forfeiture of Appeal Fee

(a) Where any appeal, protest, defence or charge is accompanied by a stipulated fee and such written documentation is withdrawn by the sender after being submitted to the League Office, the accompanying fee will be forfeited.

(b) Failure to attend any hearing without due cause will result in the appeal fee being forfeited.

15.8 – Procedures for Protests

The following procedures shall be required for any protest, except during the playoff schedule, where the Playoff Bulletin, containing Protest Procedures during Playoffs, shall prevail. Protests made regarding games played must be made in writing. Documentation relating to any protest, including a summary of any evidence to be submitted and a list of any witnesses to be called, shall be prepared in triplicate (one copy for the League Office and one copy to the opposing Team and one copy for the protesting Team). The following procedures shall be followed for any protest:

(a) TIME: Protests must be submitted to the League Office, to the attention of the Executive Director, and a copy must be provided to the opposing Team, within 48 hours of the scheduled time of the game being protested. If the protest documentation cannot be delivered to the League Office during regular business hours, the Executive Director shall be notified by telephone during regular business hours that the protest is being submitted and a copy of the protest documentation shall be delivered to the League Office, by hand, facsimile, or e-mail within the 48-hour period. For the purposes of this Regulation, if the 48-hour period would end on a Sunday or statutory holiday, the 48-hour period shall be extended to the same time on the business day next following the Sunday or statutory holiday.

(b) THE PROTEST: The protest shall specify the Regulation(s) or playing rule(s), by number, pursuant to which the protest is being made. The protest shall be signed by a Club Official of the Club of which the protesting Team is a representative. The protest shall include a summary of the evidence to be submitted. Any letter of complaint submitted to the League Office which may result in a penalty to the Club whose conduct is being protested must be submitted under this protest procedure.

(c) PERSONAL DELIVERY: For the purposes of this Regulation, the copy of the protest to be delivered to the opposing Team will be considered to have been delivered to the opposing Team if it has been delivered to a Team Official of the opposing Team or to a Club Official of the Club of which the opposing Team is a representative. A fax or e-mail transmission of the protest shall be deemed as personal delivery if verified as being received by the opposing Club Official.

(d) DEFENCE: The Team against which a protest has been submitted shall be allowed 96 hours from the published time of the game under protest (except in playoffs) to file its defence, together with copies of documentary evidence, if any, to be used at the hearing and a list of the witnesses to be called by the defence. Delivery shall be in the same manner as provided for in the delivery of protests. If no defence is filed within the proper time frame, the protest(s) will be automatically upheld. For the purposes of this Regulation, if the 96-hour period would end on a Sunday or statutory holiday, the 96-hour period shall be extended to the same time on the business day next following the Sunday or statutory holiday.

(e) FEES: Each protest must be accompanied by a payment of $100, which will be forfeited to the League should the protest be disallowed. Each defence must be accompanied by a payment of $50, which will be forfeited to the League should the protest be sustained.

(f) THE HEARING: Both Teams will, by notice given to a Club Official of the Club to which the Team belongs, be notified by the League of the date and place of the hearing. Each Team may be represented at the hearing of the protest. The General Manager of the Club, or any other Club Official, may also participate in the hearing. All protests will be heard by the Board, the Executive Committee, or a Special Committee. The hearing shall take place within seven business days after all of the parties have been notified that a protest has been filed.

(g) REFEREE’S DECISION: A protest on a referee’s decision will not be considered unless it concerns a question respecting their interpretation of the rules of the game.

(h) THE PARTIES: Except for a protest relating to residence qualifications, only the two competing Teams shall have the right to file a protest with respect to any game.

15.9 – Appeals from a Division

A person, team or Association aggrieved by a final decision of a Division of the GTHL in relation to any dispute, difference, or question and who was party to that decision may appeal the following standing issues to the League when or where:

(a) the decision is in conflict with the Articles, By-Laws, Rules, Regulations and/or Policies of the relevant Division, GTHL, OHF or Hockey Canada and such conflict may have had a material impact on the decision rendered;

(b) the party making the decision committed a material procedural error, or failed to provide the aggrieved party with a fair Appeal hearing and such error or failure may have had a material impact on the decision rendered;

(c) the party making the decision did not have the authority or jurisdiction to make the decision.

15.10 – Non-Appealable Division Decisions

The following decisions made by a Division, provided that any such decision is not contrary to Hockey Canada, OHF or the GTHL Constitution, By-Laws, or Regulations, shall be final and not appealable to the GTHL:

(a) any decision by a Division as to the outcome of any game or games;

(b) any decision relating to the classification of teams within the jurisdiction of a Division;

(c) any decision relating to a tournament or exhibition game sanctioning;

(d) any suspension of fewer than seven (7) games;

(e) any suspension pursuant to its Minimum Suspension List.

16 – TOURNAMENT HOSTING 

16.1 – Hosting Regulations

(a) League approval must be obtained for any Organization, or group of Organizations, to host a tournament. Any Organization wishing to host a tournament that will begin at any time between pre-season and December 31, inclusive, must submit a “Tournament Hosting Application” form no later than January 31 of the calendar year in which the tournament is to be hosted. Any Organization wishing to host a tournament that will begin between January 1 and April 15, inclusive, must submit a “Tournament Hosting Application” form no later than the March 31 preceding the tournament date.

NOTE: For the 2023-2024 Season, no tournament can commence before September 22, 2023.

(b) Applicable tournament sanction fees are as follows:

• (i) For each tournament involving teams from an OHF member (i.e., Alliance, GTHL, NOHA, OMHA) the fee shall not be less than the amount equal to $10 times the number of teams applied for in the Tournament Hosting Application, plus an additional $10 for each team from another Hockey Canada Branch and $50 for each team from outside Canada;
• (ii) For each inter-branch tournament there shall be a minimum sanction fee of $50 plus a fee of $10 for each team from outside the Hosting Branch; and
• (iii) For each international tournament, there shall be a minimum sanction fee of $100 plus $50 for each team from outside of Canada.

(c) The tournament sanction fee shall include an additional payment to the League of $50 as a donation to the GTHL Legacy Fund.

(d) All tournaments sanctioned by the League must designate a Discipline Committee, the Chairperson of which shall be approved by the League.

(e) No tournament sanctioned by the League shall include the involvement or participation of any unrecognized (non-Hockey Canada) hockey organization unless approved by the Board. Non-compliance will automatically terminate the application, the Hockey Canada tournament permit and all rights conferred thereby.

(f) No tournament sanctioned by the League shall offer a cash prize to be paid to a team or an Organization or a cash sponsorship donation to be made to a team or an Organization based, in either case, on the team’s results or placing in the tournament. This Regulation shall not prohibit gift certificates or merchandise being awarded to a single member of a team who is selected as the “player of the game” (or equivalent), or the giving of gift certificates or merchandise donated by sponsors for distribution to all players or Team Officials participating in the tournament.

(g) The Tournament Chairperson must send written confirmation of acceptance or non-acceptance to the tournament to all applicant teams at least six weeks in advance of the tournament. Failure to comply may result in a fine of up to $500. If the hosting organization decides to cancel a category for any reason, it must offer a full refund to any team that did not cause the cancellation. Full refunds must also be given to teams which decline to play up a category.

(h) For any tournament hosted by a Club, or by a group of Clubs, a preliminary schedule must be submitted to the League Referee Co-coordinator four weeks prior to the start of the tournament. The final schedule must be submitted no later than 7 days prior to the commencement of the tournament. Failure to comply will result in an administrative fee of $500. No changes will be permitted within one week of the start of the tournament.

(i) Any Organization, or group of Organizations, that has hosted a tournament is required to submit a financial statement of income and disbursements jointly signed by the Tournament Chairperson and President(s) of the Hosting Organization(s), to the League within 60 days following the tournament.

(j) Failure to comply with (i) above shall result in a fine of $500 and shall also result in the refusal to sanction any further tournaments until the fine has been paid.

(k) During the league schedule, there will be no more than one tournament on any given weekend for a specific age division and category.

(l) Clubs must apply for a specific number of teams. If the tournament falls short of the specific number of teams requested, the tournament request for the following season may possibly only be approved for the number of teams that participated in the previous season.

(m) Any approved tournament can increase the number of approved team entries by applying the following formula for:

• (i) Tournaments with 6 to 39 teams, up to 2 extra teams.
• (ii) Tournaments with 40 to 60 teams, up to 4 extra teams.
• (iii) Tournaments with 61 to 80 teams, up to 6 extra teams.
• (iv) Tournaments with 81 to 120 teams, up to 8 extra teams.
• (v) Tournaments with more than 120 teams, up to 10 extra teams.

However, any such increase must be reported to the League at least four weeks prior to the commencement of the tournament. Should the tournament seek to obtain approval to increase by more than the optional limit, a written application must be submitted to the Executive Director or, in the absence of the Executive Director, the General Manager, at least six weeks prior to commencement of the tournament. Any Organization or group thereof which hosts a tournament and exceeds the number of teams sanctioned without first having received approval to do so will be fined the amount equal to the total tournament entry fees for the number of teams it accepted above the number for which they were sanctioned and for the subsequent two seasons the Organization or group thereof will only be sanctioned to host the number of teams it was originally sanctioned for, less the excess number of teams.

(n) No tournament will be allowed to accept applications from teams of divisions and/or categories other than the tournament divisions/categories approved by the League without permission from the Executive Director or, in the absence of the Executive Director, the General Manager.

(o) No Organization, or group thereof, may host a tournament division and/or category in which it does not have an identical division/category Team(s) participating in the same season, except that the Executive Director or, in the absence of the Executive Director, the General Manager, may approve an application to co-host with another Organization or group thereof, that does have an identical division/category Team(s). In such instances, the co-hosting arrangements must be clearly set out in the application and the co-hosts must certify that they accept joint responsibility for adhering to all of the requirements of Regulation 16.1, including those related to discipline and financial reporting.

(p) Permission to fill a vacancy in any tournament by a lower category team will be based on that team’s standing at the time the request is made. It is recognized that in some instances tournaments may need a limited number of non-category aligned teams to “round-out” scheduling for the sake of economy and efficiency. Therefore:

• (i) In the case of a Select team participating in an ‘A’ tournament, the Select team must be within the top four teams in the standings in its own category at the time of its application to the tournament. In the case of early bird tournaments, the Select team must have been one of the top four teams at the completion of the previous season. For the purposes of this paragraph, “Select team” would additionally include a Mississauga Hockey League “Red” team.
• (ii) In the case of an ‘A’ team participating in a ‘AA’ tournament, the ‘A’ team must be within the top four teams in the standings in its own category at the time of its application to the tournament. In the case of early bird tournaments, the ‘A’ team must have been one of the top four teams at the completion of the previous season.
• (iii) In the case of a ‘AA’ team participating in a ‘AAA’ tournament, the ‘AA’ team must be within the top four teams in the standings in its own category at the time of its application to the tournament. In the case of early bird tournaments, the ‘AA’ team must have been one of the top four teams at the completion of the previous season.
• (iv) In the case of a ‘AAA’ team participating in a ‘AA’ tournament, the ‘AAA’ team can only be from the age group immediately below the tournament category within which it is seeking participation.

NOTE: An Organization or group thereof hosting a tournament for teams eligible to body check that accepts non-body checking teams, with the exception of representative U15 teams from USA Hockey entering representative tournaments, must make the division(s) of the tournament in which those team(s) participate non-body checking. The tournament organizers have the option to accept or refuse a non-body checking team.

(q) The host Organization(s) may include such non-aligned category teams in their tournaments at their own discretion based on the following formula for:

• (i) Tournaments with 6 to 39 teams, up to 2 such teams.
• (ii) Tournaments with 40 to 60 teams, up to 3 such teams.
• (iii) Tournaments with 61 to 80 teams, up to 4 such teams.
• (iv) Tournaments with 81 to 120 teams, up to 5 such teams.
• (v) Tournaments with more than 120 teams, a maximum of 8 such teams.

(r) Tournaments are to be hosted only by and for the benefit of the hosting Organization(s) and not for the benefit of private enterprise or non-related organizations.

In situations where a third party is used to organize, market, and advertise a tournament on behalf of an Organization, or group thereof, at the time of application for such tournament the third party involved must be named and evidence must be provided that the ice contract is or will be in the name of the Organization, or group thereof. Furthermore, the tournament must be advertised on the website(s) of the hosting Organization(s).

(s) Tournament hosting applications will be approved on the basis of longevity of the tournament. If a tournament does not operate in any given year or loses its sanction, it loses its seniority.

(t) No approval will be given to any new hosting Organization(s) for a tournament which will compete/conflict with the GTHL ‘A’ Challenge Cup tournament unless that tournament has reached capacity or does not operate in a particular year.

(u) No team or player may compete in more than three tournament games in one day. No games shall be scheduled prior to 5:00 p.m. on any school day that falls on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.

(v) Tournament hosts only have the authority to impose suspensions for the duration of their tournament. Minimum suspensions (as per the current OHF Minimum Suspension List for Minor Hockey) that carryover to competition outside the tournament duration must be reported as per OHF Playing Regulation B4 and served in accordance with the OHF Minimum Suspension List. The League has the authority to impose Supplemental Discipline for any infraction(s).

(w) Club tournament hosts must submit all Official Game Reports to the GTHL Office within 48 hours of completion of the tournament. Official Game Reports having Major, Match or Game Misconduct Penalties must have the penalties highlighted so the League Office can review them. For tournaments between December 26 and January 1, such Official Game Reports must be brought into the GTHL Office on the first business day the office opens in January. Failure to comply with this regulation may result in a $500 fine being levied on the Club(s) hosting the tournament.

(x) A Club or Association hosting a tournament for teams in the U7, U8 and U9 age groups must ensure that the tournament is either jamboree or festival format.

A jamboree is designed to engage players in a fun environment; it is the coming together of players who are then placed onto teams. Games may or may not be competitive and the emphasis is on fun and fair play.

A festival is designed to engage players in a fun environment: it is the coming together of teams to participate in games and fun activities. Games may be competitive, but no standings are kept.

17.1 – House League Guidelines

The purpose of this Article is to establish operating guidelines for House League Organizations in order to ensure the integrity and success of their house league and house league select programs. These guidelines are intended to provide general principles that House League Organizations should apply in a manner appropriate to their community, size, and the best interests of their members. By complying with these guidelines, House League Organizations can ensure that their house league programs, and house league select programs are legitimate and meet the required standards of their governing bodies. Nothing in this Article shall be construed as preventing a House League Organization, with respect to either its house league or house league select programs, or an affiliated division, operating a tournament or house league select league, from imposing stricter standards than as set out in this Article.

17.2 – Compliance with House League Guidelines

No House League Organization, nor house league select program, may operate under any guideline less strict than as set out in this Article unless it has obtained the prior written approval of the League.

17.3 – Definitions for House League Guidelines

The guidelines in this Regulation 17 fit the definitions of “House League”, “House League Organization” and “House League Select” contained in Regulation 1 and recognize both the community-oriented and recreational nature of House League programs and House League Select Programs. These guidelines also reflect the distinction made by the League between House League Select Programs and competitive programs.

17.4 – Philosophy Related to House League Select Programs

The House League Select Program is a hockey program that is based in the House League and should be an extension of that program. Players and their families that choose to participate in a House League Select Program do so because it reflects the attitudes and community affiliation of the House League to which they belong and in which they participate. Therefore, the focus of a House League Select Program should not be to emulate higher levels of competitive hockey (‘A’ and above), but to offer the values of House League programs to a group of House League players participating in an advanced program.

17.5 – Registration of House League Players and Team Officials

(a) House League organizations must ensure that each player is registered in the Hockey Canada Registry. Players may be registered up to January 15 in any Season.

(b) Team Officials of all House League and House League Select Program Teams affiliated with the League must be registered in the Hockey Canada Registry prior to the commencement of participation in the applicable House League or Select Program.

17.6 – Penalty for Failure to Properly Register Participants

Any House League Organization that fails to comply with Regulation 17.5 shall be assessed a fine of $1,000.

17.7 – Payment of Insurance and Assessment Fees

House League organizations are required to pay 25% of their Insurance and Assessment Fees (based on the previous year’s registration numbers) prior to being provided with access to the Hockey Canada Registry for the subsequent season. The balance of the fees (based on the previous year’s registration numbers) is due on or before November 1 of the current season. A reconciliation will occur after the last registration date of January 15 with either the balance owing being due upon receipt of the invoice or the League issuing the appropriate refund.

17.8 – Operating Guidelines for House Leagues

(a) Residency. A House League is a community-oriented program and therefore the residency of its membership should reflect the geographic area surrounding its home arena or organizational base.

(b) Solicitation. A House League may solicit new registrants by way of general advertising. While players registered with other House League Organizations in the previous season are not prohibited from choosing to move to a different House League Organization for the next season, such players should not be specifically and individually solicited by a House League Organization or any of its officials or representatives, including select coaches, officials, or representatives.

(c) Acceptance of Players. All applicants should be accepted to play in a House League, subject to any significant physical limitation and ice availability.

(d) Player Registration. All players must be registered in the HCR. A player may be registered with only one House League Team in a Season (subject to release provisions).

(e) Team Membership. House League players should play on the same Team all Season, subject to transfers within the House League Organization for Team balancing purposes which should be completed by a date set by each individual House League Organization. This date should be as early as possible and, in any event, no later than January 1.

(f) Team/Division Organization. House League divisions should be organized based upon the age of the players. It is recognized that some large House League Organizations (i.e., Mississauga Hockey League) group players of various divisions into separate subdivisions based upon skill levels. This format is acceptable provided it complies with these guidelines.

(g) Ice Time. All players should receive equitable ice time during games.

(h) Skill Development. Players in the U7 to U11 age groups (inclusive) must be offered skill development programs consistent with Hockey Canada’s U7, U9 and U11 Player Pathways.

(i) Number of Teams. A House League division or a subdivision/tier must consist of a minimum of three Teams, whose players may be of more than one birth year.

(j) Team Sweaters. House League Teams should each have their own distinctive numbered sweaters, and these should be distinct from the House League Organization’s select Team sweaters.

(k) Game Schedule. The posted schedule should consist of a minimum of 16 regular season games plus playoffs. All Teams should play at least once each week if ice availability permits. If there is a bye Team, it should not go more than one week without a game.

(l) Playoffs. All Teams should qualify for playoffs in order to reflect a House League’s spirit of inclusiveness and equal play.

(m) Officials. All games should be refereed by a minimum of two HCOP-certified officials.

(n) Official Game Reports. All games should be properly recorded on legitimate Official Game Reports that are retained by the House League Organization’s convenor for each division or subdivision.

(o) Membership Fees. There should be a fixed fee for House League membership that is separate and apart from any fee related to participation in the House League Select Program.

17.9 – Operating Guidelines for House League Select Programs

(a) Intent of House League Select Hockey. Teams participating in House League Select Programs, while considered more competitive than House League teams, are an extension of the House League and are intended to reflect the same spirit of community-oriented recreational hockey. Therefore, they should seek to be inclusive and provide as much opportunity as possible for House League players to participate.

(b) House League Membership. All House League select players must be registered and active participants in a legitimate House League that is sanctioned by the League. The prime and important considerations are that:

• (i) Each player in a House League Select Program is playing on a legitimate House League team whose membership is substantially different from the membership of the House League select team.
• (ii) Each player in a House League Select Program is playing on a bona fide and posted schedule of a minimum of 16 regular season House League games, plus playoffs, that are separate and distinct from the House League Select Program games, practices, and skill sessions.

(c) Evaluations. All House League players should be invited to be evaluated for their own House League Select Program. A player must be registered in the House League in the immediate prior Season or for the coming Season prior to being eligible to participate in any evaluations for that House League Organization. In accordance with Regulation 17.8 (b), a Program and its coaches, officials and representatives should not solicit players who were registered with another House League Organization in the previous Season, whether or not such players also played in a Program. A Program shall not conduct evaluations, nor finalize team selection (until after the conclusion of ‘A’ evaluations as defined in Regulation 8.1), and then, only with the provision that players have been registered with the League Office. Failure to comply with any of these provisions shall nullify the eligibility of the offending team to participate in any aspect of the Program.

(d) Number and Membership of Select Teams. The ideal norm is viewed as one select team coming out a single age House League division of at least four House League teams. In these circumstances, the select players would constitute approximately 25% (less if more than four Teams) of the total number of House League players in the House League division. While this is regarded as the ideal norm, it is recognized that access to participation in the House League Select Program should not be unduly restricted in situations where a House League Organization has a lesser number of House League players in certain birth years. Further, it is recognized that there are situations where it may be appropriate for a second select team to be formed out of the same birth year. In order to accommodate these situations, the following variations from the ideal norm will be acceptable provided that the House League program and the House League Select Program are fully in compliance with both the letter and spirit of these guidelines:

• (i) In accordance with Regulation 17.8(i), the minimum number of House League teams in a House League is three. In this situation, one select team is permitted to be formed from House League players in that division and the select players may not constitute more than 40% of the total number of House League players in the three-team House League division.
• (ii) In a situation where there are four House League teams in a combined-age division, there may be a maximum of two select teams from that division, usually with one select team being for the older age group and the other select team being for the younger age group.
• (iii) In circumstances involving a House League division of four or more House League teams, the select players in the House League may not constitute more than 50% of the total number of House League players in the House League division.

(e) Size of Teams. Select teams must carry a minimum of 13 players (including goalies) and should try to carry as full a roster as possible (consistent with the number and skill level of applicants) in order to reflect the inclusive nature of House League Select Programs.

(f) Ice Time. All players should receive equitable ice time during games.

(g) Attendance at House League Games. A House League Select Program player is expected to attend all House League games unless for reasons of illness or injury. A House League Select Program player should miss no more than three regular season House League games because of attendance at tournaments and should not miss any House League playoff games because of tournaments. A House League Select Program player who attends less than two-thirds of their House League games will be considered ineligible for further participation in the House League Select Program. House League Organizations may apply to the Board of the applicable Affiliated Division that is operating the House League Select Program’s league for relief from this provision due to illness or injury of the player.

17.10 – Affiliation

Applications by a House League Organization for affiliation with the League must be submitted by September 1. Each application must be accompanied by the applicable affiliation fee and insurance premium as outlined in the application form.

17.11 – Intermediate Fees

The affiliation fee for an Intermediate House League is $100.

17.12 – Volunteers

All affiliated House Leagues must register all other associated volunteers on special forms provided by the League.

17.13 – U11 and Below Teams

(1) U7 Teams

(a) Players on U7 Teams must be provided with Fair and Equal Ice Time in all games, including regular season, tournament, and exhibition games.

(b) It is recommended that all skaters rotate through all positions to ensure each player has the opportunity to try out each position (forward – LW/C/RW and defence ‐ LD/RD).

(c) It is recommended that all players get a chance to start the game and start the second half.

(d) There are no full-time goaltenders. All players get the opportunity to play goal.

(e) There are no playoffs in U7 hockey.

(f) The maximum size of the ice surface is 100 feet by 60 feet (100×60).

(g) U7 games will be played cross‐ice for the entire season.

(2) U8 and U9 Teams

(a) Players on U8 and U9 Teams must be provided with Fair and Equal Ice Time in all games, including regular season, tournament, and exhibition games.

(b) It is recommended that all skaters rotate through all positions to ensure each player has the opportunity to try out each position (forward – LW/C/RW and defence ‐ LD/RD).

(c) It is recommended that all players get a chance to start the game and start the second half.

(d) There are no full-time goaltenders. All players have the option to play goal at least once before anyone gets a second chance. After the first rotation, all players who wish to get another turn in net will get a chance to play goal in games again.

(e) There are no playoffs in U8 and U9 hockey.

(f) For half-ice games, the maximum size of the ice surface is 100 feet by 85 feet.

(3) U10 and U11 Teams

(a) Players on U10 and U11 Teams must be provided with Fair and Equal Ice Time in all games, including regular season, playoff, tournament, and exhibition games.

(b) It is recommended that all skaters rotate through all positions to ensure each player has the opportunity to try out each position (forward – LW/C/RW and defence ‐ LD/RD) at least once.

(c) It is recommended that all players get a chance to start the game and play end‐of‐game situations.

(d) Where a Team has two registered goaltenders, it is recommended that:

• (i) the goaltenders play alternate games or split games to as close to 50/50 as possible;
• (ii) the rotation schedule be done in consultation with the goaltender and parents (share games or alternate playing full games); and
• (iii) each goaltender plays the final game in an equal number of tournaments;
• (iv) the goaltender not participating in a game be permitted to participate as a player.

(e) Playoffs must be tournament style. No elimination rounds.

NOTE: “Fair and Equal Ice Time” means ensuring that all players get the same opportunity to contribute to the outcome of all games, regardless of skill or ability. A coach’s responsibility is to develop all players to contribute. Shortening of the bench is not permitted. All players should receive fair and as close to equal as possible ice time, including equal opportunities on special teams.

Organizations are responsible to monitor compliance with the Fair and Equal Ice Time requirements of this Regulation 17.13 by their Team Officials. In turn, Team Officials should be aware that the League will take action where it is determined that there have been violations of this Regulation.

18 – INSURANCE

18.1 – Mandatory Fees

Hockey Canada Insurance premiums and associated Hockey Canada, OHF and GTHL assessment fees are mandatory for all teams and affiliates (including House League teams) in the League. Hockey Canada Insurance coverage is effective from September 1 of each year to August 31 of the following year.

18.2 – No Registration Privileges Until Insurance Premiums Are Paid

The League will not provide access to the Hockey Canada Registry to Clubs, Divisions or Affiliated Groups until the applicable insurance premiums for all players and Team Officials for its Teams have been paid for the past Season and the necessary deposits have been made for the next Season.

18.3 – Tournaments

There will be no insurance coverage for exhibition or tournament games unless written permission to participate in such tournament or exhibition games has been received from the League Office. This does not apply to those teams using their practice ice for an exhibition game, provided that the Team has notified the League Office of the date, time, arena and opponent for the game.

18.4 – Filing of Insurance Claims

All insurance claims must be accompanied by a legible copy of the Official Game Report relating to the game in respect of which the claim is made.

18.5 – Sanctioned Activities

At least one registered Team Official must be present with any Team that is conducting a sanctioned activity. For clarity purposes, if the sanctioned activity is an on-ice event, the Team Official(s) must be on the ice with the Team. If the sanctioned activity is off ice, the Team Official(s) must be present in the immediate area where the activity is being conducted. Failure to comply with this provision will result in an indefinite suspension to the Head Coach until such time as the suspension length is determined by a Special Committee.

Where such sanctioned activity is being conducted by an individual or individuals not registered to the Team, it is the responsibility of the registered Team Official(s) present to ensure that such individual(s) carry their own liability insurance or are properly registered with another Team.

18.6 – Dressing Room Policies

It is the responsibility of Team Officials to ensure that both the Ontario Dressing Room Policy and the GTHL Policy on Dressing Room Supervision are adhered to at all times.

19 – MEDIA

19.1 – Permission Required for Broadcasting, etc.

Permission to televise or broadcast any League sanctioned game, or any part of a game, which shall include publishing video to the internet, any video sharing platform such as YouTube or any social media platform, must first be obtained in writing from the League. All requests must be in writing addressed to the Executive Director. Non-authorized auxiliary lighting will not be permitted in any arena.

19.2 – Photography and Video

(a) Only the following persons are permitted to take photographs and/or video at any League sanctioned game (including the warm-up) or practice occurring in any on-ice or off-ice facility:

• (i) a parent, grandparent, sibling, or any other direct relative of a player participating in such game or practice;
• (ii) Team Officials and Club Officials of the team(s) participating in such game or practice;
• (iii) Officers, Directors, Life Members, and employees of the League;
• (iv) Individuals assigned to do so by the League; and
• (v) Recognized media outlets or other qualified persons expressly authorized in writing by the League in its absolute discretion.

(b) These provisions are subject to, and shall not diminish, any rules and/or restrictions imposed by a municipality or an owner or operator of a facility.

(c) Any permission noted above may be withdrawn at any time by the League in its absolute discretion.

(d) Video taken during any League sanctioned game, or any part of a game, shall not be published on the internet, any video sharing platform such as YouTube or any social media platform without the prior written consent of the President or Executive Director.

(e) Any Team Official who violates Regulation 19 may be suspended by a Special Committee or the Board for a maximum of six (6) games. Any Club Official who violates Regulation 19 may be suspended by a Special Committee or the Board for a period not to exceed 30 days. Any other person who violates Regulation 19 may be barred from entering arenas and facilities leased by the League for a period of time determined by a Special Committee or the Board.

(f) Unless specifically approved by the President or Executive Director, the taking of photography and/or video in the players’ dressing room is strictly prohibited. Any individual(s) found to have violated this provision will be suspended indefinitely until such time as that individual(s) appear before a Special Committee. The Special Committee may impose a suspension of no less than 6 games for each violation.

19.3 – Use of League Marks

Use of the League logo or any other current or former marks of the League on any website or any advertising or other promotional materials is strictly forbidden without written authorization from the League.

20 – CHAMPIONS, AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

20.1 – Awards

(a) A team trophy will be presented to the winner of each series of GTHL Playoffs, Greater Toronto ‘A’ Championships, Clancy Cup and Founders Cup. In addition, a set of individual awards will be provided to the players and Team Officials of the championship and finalist Teams. A maximum of two additional individual awards may be purchased in addition to those provided.

(b) Any Team Official who refuses to allow a Team to remain on the ice for a League, Playoff, Provincial or National trophy presentation, or any other presentation sanctioned by the League, shall be suspended for the balance of the Season, and not have their registration accepted for the following Season.

20.2 – Return of Trophies

(a) All GTHL Playoff, Greater Toronto ‘A’ Championship, Clancy Cup and Founders Cup trophies must be returned to the League Office not later than December 1, of each hockey season. The General Manager or contact person is responsible for the return of all trophies. Failure to return trophies by December 1 (no extension) will result in a $100 fine being levied against the Club or organization for each such trophy plus the cost of replacement if the trophy is lost or is not returned by February 1 of the following year.

(b) OHF Championship trophies must be returned to the OHF Office not later than December 1 of each hockey season.