Metropolitan Hockey League
Metro Hockey League Rules
MISSION STATEMENT:
It is the sole purpose of the Metro Hockey League to provide and administrate the Sport of Recreational Youth Hockey. We strive to maintain a supervised hockey program that embodies the core qualities of Sportsmanship, Leadership, Team Work and Respect.
LEAGUE MEMBERS
- Everett Youth Hockey Association
- Jr Kraken Youth Hockey Association
- Kent Valley Hockey Association
- Seattle Junior. Hockey Association
- Sno-King Amateur Hockey Association
- Tacoma Junior Hockey Association
- West Sound Minor Hockey
Member Association’s location and contact information can be found in the Appendix.
League Game Procedures
Game Clock
The minimum game time is 60 minutes for 8U-14U age divisions.
The 18U age division requires a minimum of 75 minutes for games.
The following formats are recommended for each time block for 12U-18U.
60-minute time block:
5-minute warm-up
2 x 15-minute running clock
1 x 12-minute stop clock
75-minute time slot:
5-minute warm-up
3 x 13-minute stop clock
*No Timeouts during regular season games*
Please see the 8U Game Setup page and 10U Game Setup pages for information on those specific age divisions.
Game Slot Curfew: It may be necessary to shorten the 3rd period to complete a game within allotted time. This is determined by the following formula: Actual ice time remaining divided by 2 equals the time on scoreboard. Penalty times remaining on the clock at the completion of the second period, should also be divided by 2 to adjust to the stop-clock play time.
Minor Penalty Length
8U & 10U:
See the Division specific pages on how to handle penalties.
12U & 14U:
Run Time - 3:00 minutes
Stop Time - 1:00 minute
18U
Stop Time - 1:30 minutes
GAME SHEET/SCORE REPORTING
Home teams are responsible for recording the game scores each week on the MHL website.
DETERMINATION OF LEAGUE STANDINGS
Points for games shall be 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss. The League uses the following standings tiebreakers:
- Points
- Win Percentage (First if number of games played is not equal)
- Goals for/Goals against differential
- Greatest number of wins in head-to-head competition
- Goals for/Goals against differential in head-to-head competition.
- All Divisions: Officials will be at least one age group higher than the age of the players.
- The host association will be responsible for seeing that officials are supplied for each game and pay for such officials. If officials don’t show up the following will govern:
- If only one official shows up, the HOME teams will supply the other official and must be either a carded official or a USA Hockey carded coach.
- If no official shows up, the home and the visiting team will each supply an official and they must be either a carded Official or USA Hockey carded Coach.
All calls made by the on-ice officials will be upheld by the Metropolitan Hockey League. There is no appeal or change of official call made during a game. Multi-game suspensions may be reviewed as described in the Multi-game Suspension Appeal Special Rule
Each Association must maintain a USA Hockey Roster for each team playing in the Metropolitan Hockey League and submit rosters to the League Commissioner no later than the first league game.
Any roster changes or player movement whether to a different team within the association, or players being released to the ‘C’ Level teams from Representative teams must be reported to and approved by the League Commissioner. An updated USA Hockey Roster must be submitted for approval before the player can participate in a league game.
*Acceptable reasons for the Roster Changes include balancing teams within the League, accommodating move ups, if allowed by individual Associations, accommodate players released from representative teams, allow for movement of beginners (learn to play) and to add players that move into the area after the teams have been formed. Roster changes are further addressed in the Special Rules Section.
Teams at each house age group within an association are required to be balanced. The Metropolitan Hockey League requires balanced house teams to maintain the credibility of the league and our core values. If house teams are recognized as unbalanced within an association, The Metropolitan Hockey League will communicate with the Director of the association and request the teams be re-balanced. Failure to re-balance teams will lead to forfeit of game/games by those teams and those teams will also be ineligible for Metropolitan Hockey League Playoffs until approved by Metropolitan Hockey League Commissioner and/or Rules Committee.
Note: Players whose primary team is a Select Team (Tier I, Tier II or B) are not allowed to play on any Metropolitan Hockey League house team. All house teams should be “balanced” teams. House teams cannot be drafted placing all top players on one team if there is more than one house team at an age division. This rule does not apply to goalies. See Goalie Substitution Policy. There is no "dual rostering" allowed in the Metropolitan Hockey League House League. A player must be assigned and on the roster of one house team only in the Metropolitan Hockey League, the only exception may be a goalie based on need and only when approved by the Metropolitan Hockey League.
Any questions concerning a team’s roster should be submitted to the League Commissioner.
LEAGUE WEBSITE
The Metropolitan Hockey League website (www.themhl.org) is the central point of information for the League.
In addition to the rules outlined here the website will host all relevant information for the league, including: Game Schedules, Score Results and Division Standings as well additional information as deemed appropriate by the League.
During the season, each team is responsible for reporting game scores, penalties (including Major and Game Misconduct), goalie substitutions and other information as needed on the Metropolitan Hockey League website.
LEAGUE Participation
- Members as of September 1st are listed on the top of this page.
- Participation of any future associations will require the completion of an application process
LEAGUE REQUIREMENTS
- Accepted by Rules Committee
- Submit a $300.00 bond to the league to cover any fines or fees
- Provide game times by League deadline
- Fulfill all financial obligations to Metropolitan Hockey League
- Accept and sign Metropolitan Hockey League Letter of Agreement prior to each year of participation.
- A League Administrative Fee will be established each season from each participating Association to cover the cost of League Banners and other League expenses.
Every year each Association will be required to sign a Letter of Agreement that outlines the requirements for league participation.
Associations who conduct themselves in a manner that causes harm to the credibility of the Metropolitan Hockey League and to any or all the participating programs in the Metropolitan Hockey League will face disciplinary action which shall include termination of their participation in the Metropolitan Hockey League as part of the possible disciplinary decisions
- Conduct in this manner includes but is not limited to organizational / institutional recruitment of players or teams from other associations participating in the Metropolitan Hockey League at all levels. This includes employees, coaches and members.
- Associations must adhere to the policies and rules as described in the Metropolitan Hockey League Handbook.
- Associations must meet all financial obligations to the league in a timely manner.
- Associations must play all league games as scheduled except as provided for in the Metropolitan Hockey League Handbook
- Associations must have a beginner program.
Associations must provide personnel resources to aid in operations and management of the league.
- Each association is required to submit a $300 bond to cover any costs for fines or protest/appeal fees.
If a team is fined by the Metropolitan Hockey League, the league will obtain the fine from the $300 bond. The fined team’s association is responsible for obtaining replacement funds from the fined team from their association.
Fined team association is immediately responsible for paying a new $300 bond to Metropolitan Hockey League. No teams from this association will be allowed to play games until this Bond has been paid.
MHL 8U Game Setup
Allow 5 extra minutes when scheduling your ice cuts for setup of boards/bumpers. Have volunteers ready to put the bumpers/boards on the ice and take them off after the game.
Cross ice (up to 6 teams)
5 minute warm up
24 minute game - running time
2 minutes to switch teams and shake hands
24 minute game - running time
5 minutes to shake hands and get bumpers or boards off the ice
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60 MINUTES
- Goalies will be used with 3 x 4 nets
- Bumpers / boards at 1/3rd mark depending on the rink (cross ice)
- Blue pucks
- Share players boxes, 2 teams in each box…Designated visiting teams switch after the first 24 min game.
- Clock is used for all games…90 second buzzer
- Do not keep score.
- Minimal penalties. Ref will explain the infraction to the player.
PLAYERS ON THE ICE
Cross ice plays 4x4 (plus a goalie) If the lowest bench is under 10 players we play 4 on 4. If both benches have over 10 players we play 5 on 5.
REFEREES
If association has ordered referees, each game going on will require 1 official.
If association does not order referees, each team will be required to have to provide a coach to act as a referee. There will be 2 coaches on the ice per game; one from each team.
*OFFICIATING PROCEDURES FOR CROSS-ICE GAMES
Once again, flexibility is the key word here and this section will attempt to present several different ways to manage a game that are commonly used. There is no absolute right way to handle every possible scenario and as long as the official knows what the expected protocol is prior to the game, it should not be a problem to adjust and keep the game moving.
*FACE-OFFS
In most cases, each new shift (signified by a buzzer or coach’s whistle) or beginning of a period will start with a face-off in the vicinity of the center area for the space being used. As with any face-off in these games, the most important thing is to get the puck in play as quickly as possible. The coaches should be hustling the players into the face-off area and as soon as one player from each team are ready to face-off, drop the puck and let them go. The position of the other players not facing off is not critical.
The ref/coach just introduces a "new puck" after frozen pucks by tossing a new puck into a neutral space
GOALS
When the puck enters the goal, the officials quickly line up two center men and drop the puck immediately.
There is no recording of who scored or any other statistics.
FROZEN PUCKS
When play needs to be stopped for a goalkeeper freezing the puck, for a player falling on the puck, the puck is frozen along the boards or the puck leaves the playing area, the official will throw another puck off to the side to allow play to continue.
The official should always carry multiple pucks with them during the game that they can use to get play going again quickly. There should not be any delay in the game while the official goes to retrieve a puck. Throw one into play and then retrieve the original puck at a convenient time while play is going.
PENALTIES
Very seldom will there be a situation that occurs that require the official to stop play for a penalty. When minor infractions occur, allow play to continue and the coach will address the action with the player during the next shift change. For a more severe infraction that involves an injury potential action, the official shall stop play to quickly assess the penalty and award a penalty shot (quickly) The then allow the coach to address the player regarding the action while the penalty shot is going on.
If a player gets injured, allow play to continue unless a dangerous situation exists with play around the injured player. A coach will likely skate to the player who is on the ice and assist him/her in getting back into the play or onto the bench for a change
10U Half Ice Rules Rep/Rec
10U Rules for 60 minute slots:
- 60 Minute Ice Slots
- 3 x 15 minute run clock periods
- No timed shifts
- 4 minute warm up
- 4 on 4 full strength
- 1 minute break between periods
- No timeouts in any game
- Minimum of 1 official per game
Penalties:
All minor penalties will be 1 minute in length, with the time starting when play resumes. When there are two half ice games occurring on the same ice slot, penalty time remaining will be tracked by the scorekeeper rather than on the scoreboard.
When a penalty is called, play is blown dead after the offending team gains control. The official will report the offense to the scorekeeper. The offending player goes directly to their player bench. The offending player will not be allowed to participate for 1 minute. During this 1 minute, the offending player’s team will play shorthanded 4 on 3. The faceoff will occur at the dot nearest to the puck when play was stopped. If a team takes another penalty during their shortage, another 1-minute shortage will start and play will resume 5 on 3. If more penalties are taken during the 5 on 3 by the shorthanded team, penalties will stack.
If a penalty is taken while you are on a 4 on 3 power play, play will resume 3 on 3. If a penalty is taken by the power play team while playing 5 on 3, play will resume 4 on 3. If another penalty is taken by the power play team, play will then resume 3 on 3. This is so no team is playing with less than 3 players.
When players are released, play will continue 4 on 3, 4 on 4, 4 on 5 and then 5 on 5 until the next stoppage of play. Play will then resume 4 on 4.
We will comply with USA Hockey playing rules that if a player takes 4 penalties in a game, they will then receive a game misconduct.
Frozen Pucks / Pucks Out of Play:
Frozen pucks and pucks out of play will result in a faceoff at the nearest of the 5 faceoff dots.
10U Half Ice Rules Rep
10U Rules for 75 minute slots:
- 75 Minute Ice Slots
- 3 x 18 minute run clock periods
- No timed shifts
- 4 minute warm up
- 4 on 4 full strength
- 1 minute break between periods
- No timeouts in any game
- Minimum of 1 official per game
Penalties:
All minor penalties will be 1 minute in length, with the time starting when play resumes. When there are two half ice games occurring on the same ice slot, penalty time remaining will be tracked by the scorekeeper rather than on the scoreboard.
When a penalty is called, play is blown dead after the offending team gains control. The official will report the offense to the scorekeeper. The offending player goes directly to their player bench. The offending player will not be allowed to participate for 1 minute. During this 1 minute, the offending player’s team will play shorthanded 4 on 3. The faceoff will occur at the dot nearest to the puck when play was stopped. If a team takes another penalty during their shortage, another 1-minute shortage will start and play will resume 5 on 3. If more penalties are taken during the 5 on 3 by the shorthanded team, penalties will stack.
If a penalty is taken while you are on a 4 on 3 power play, play will resume 3 on 3. If a penalty is taken by the power play team while playing 5 on 3, play will resume 4 on 3. If another penalty is taken by the power play team, play will then resume 3 on 3. This is so no team is playing with less than 3 players.
When players are released, play will continue 4 on 3, 4 on 4, 4 on 5 and then 5 on 5 until the next stoppage of play. Play will then resume 4 on 4.
We will comply with USA Hockey playing rules that if a player takes 4 penalties in a game, they will then receive a game misconduct.
Frozen Pucks / Pucks Out of Play:
Frozen pucks and pucks out of play will result in a faceoff at the nearest of the 5 faceoff dots.