Yes, it may seem like overkill, but here's our official rule book mostly to be clear to all players and rule out any confusion of what is fair conduct on the ice.

Rule 1: No contact.  MDHL is a NON-CONTACT league, emphasizing fun and sportsmanship; thus, rough play, and/or verbal/physical abuse will NOT be tolerated (which includes, but not limited to: intent to injure, fighting, instigating, unsportsmanlike conduct). Breaking this rule is subject to game suspensions or expulsion from the league WITHOUT refund. If incidental contact occurs between you and other players, it is YOUR responsibility to ensure that opposing players are not injured and that no hard feelings are incurred. Suspension history as follows:

• Lonny Wong - 1 game (instigating, roughing)
• Robert Watson - 1 game (roughing, unsportsmanlike conduct off-ice)
• Derek Lowe - 3 games (instigating, fighting, unsportsmanlike conduct on-ice)

Rule 2: Substitution fee guidelines. A full-time player's absence at games is discouraged but understandably, at times unavoidable (due to work or personal reasons). In these events, players are responsible to secure a substitute to ensure the integrity of their team and the overall game. Drop-in fees will be assessed to the substitute player (collected by GMs in attendance during that game). Unlike past seasons, these fees will not be refunded to the absent full-time player, whereas all sub fees collected will be re-distributed to the league as a whole in some form to be determined by the GMs (e.g. year-end party, keep overall costs low, etc.). The drop-in fee applies for any substitute arranged using the MDHL online sub system or via that full-time player's personal arrangements. Should the full-time player choose the latter, the attendance and conduct of his substitute remains the responsibility (of the full-time player). Also, please exercise the courtesy to notify the league GMs (and team captains) in the event that you will be fielding your own replacement player, as well as brief that subsitute on the rules and conduct of our league. As such, using the online MDHL sub system provides a "convenience feature" and is recommended, but not required.

Rule 3: Only blueline off-sides are enforced.  Only positional blueline off-side rules ARE enforced. Two-line passes are permitted. In the former, that means "any part of one skate must be in contact with the blue line as the puck crosses (and clears) the blue line". Contact with boards or referee do not negate this rule. Off-side calls are enforced on an *honour basis* at all times by any player on any team (unless in the presence of a referee... while the "turnover of the puck, no faceoff" rule would still apply).

Rule 4: Honour system applies in absence of referee.  In the event that no referee is present for a game, positional off-sides will be enforced on an honour basis by any player. Each team may call off-sides on themselves, or opposing players, whereby possession of the puck must be surrendered and clearing of the offensive zone should take place. Penalty calls may only be called by designated team captains, assistants, and game-designated callers (i.e. wearing arm bands). When a referee is present, he/she shall call all penalties, off-sides, and perform face-offs (after goals, or goalie stoppage only).

Rule 5: No end-to-end rushes.  Goals will not count on "end to end" rushes; i.e. when starting from a *dead* play (e.g. goalie stoppage, off-side turnover (via positional or two-line pass), you cannot take the puck directly and score... i.e. you must make a pass, a play, or generally include one of your team mates in the goal. This may include a goaltender starting the play with an obvious pass to a teammate (as opposed to just releasing the puck into play).

Rule 6: No "pick" plays or interference. Players must play *the puck* at all times; i.e. for the interests of safety, you must direct your effort to play the puck and NOT impede, hit, block, or otherwise interfere with opposing players.

Rule 7: Clear the zone on goalie puck freezes. In the absence of a designated referee, after the goalie freezes the puck, the attacking team's players must all clear the offensive zone (i.e. the blue line) before resuming play. No offensive player may re-enter until the zone is clear (i.e. treated like a positional off-side); this gives the puck-possessing player (i.e. the defensive team) a fair chance to make a play in their own end.

Rule 8: Penalties calls are in effect. In the event of a penalty call (by the referee, or in their absence, by the team captains and/or assistants), the penalized player will spend the next THREE (3) minutes (running time) in the penalty box with a self-regulated timer (or as indicated by referees or team captains).

Rule 8A: Penalty definitions.  Penalties are defined as:

• intent to injure
• cross-checking
• roughing
• hitting from behind
• body checking
• intentional tripping
• slashing
• hooking (any use of stick to impede or pull down player body parts, not inluding their stick)
• interference (impeding players, includes "pick" plays)

Rule 8B: No "Delayed" Penalty Situations.  All penalty calls exclude any "delayed" call aspect based on reasons of play stoppage practicality and cognizance during the action, as such, any penalty calls will result in an immediate stoppage in play.

Rule 8C: Penalty shots are discretionary.  In the event of a penalty call where a clear scoring opporutunity is taken away, the referee (or team captains, in the event that referees are not present) will have the discretion to award a penalty shot. If the player awarded the penalty shot is unable to take it (due to injury), then any player that was one the ice at the time of penalty is eligible to take the shot.

Rule 9: Limited use of slapshots. Slapshots are permitted, however, when shooting into traffic (i.e. players in front of net), the onus is on the shooter to keep their shot *low* (i.e. below the waist). Failure to do so may result in a penalty.

Rule 10: Face-offs for unintentional stoppage in play.  In the event that play has stopped due to unintentional means (penalty calls, on-ice injuries, puck out of play or caught in mesh, dislodged goalpost), a face-off will be held at in the neutral zone (when in the absence of a referee). The "advantaged" team will be responsible to drop the puck (e.g. team in the offensive zone, full-strength in power-plays, or that put the puck out of play in the neutral zone).

Rule 11: Scoring mercy clause. At any stoppage in play after a goal where a 5 (or more) goal differential occurs, the losing team captain may enforce a switch of goaltenders with the other team.

Rule 12: No ringers allowed. In the interests of fair play and maintaining a level tempo of competition (which ultimately benefits both teams), certain players will be deemed unacceptable for MDHL sub duty. The following players are:

• Ryan Abel
• Dave Atkinson
• Ryan Mah

Rule 13: Player Demerit Point system in effect. Consistent player attendance is instrumental in maintaining our games' fun and competitive levels with respect to predictable rosters and total skaters. As such, missing games, (frequently) subbing out, or showing up late is discouraged and as such, a player demerit point rating system is in effect for all current regular roster members. Please click here for more details.

Rule 14: Right to Choose Goaltender.  In the interests of maintaining a competitive series, the underdog team captain (based on current team standings) retains the first choice of goaltender selection.  In the event that the series record is tied, the selection shall be based on 50/50 chance (e.g. coin flip or rock-scissors-paper) EXCEPT in the event of a disproportionate substitution disadvantage for one team (as ruled solely by the GM), in which case, that team may be awarded the first choice of goaltenders.

Rule 15: Disallowed Goals.   To maintain safety for our goaltenders and to clarify player-in-the-crease situations, offensive players shall not occupy the crease area or else, face goalie interference penalties. Also, any opposing player in the crease area at the time of a goal with one or two feet in the crease will result in a disallowed goal with three exceptions:

1. Offensive player is forced into the goal keeper's area by a defender.
2. Offensive player is in the act of scoring happens to cross the goal crease area e.g. breakaway / deke, or going into the crease area for the puck (which happens to be loose in that area).

In the event of a disputed goal, the ruling shall be as follows: GMs may provide input, and if both captains and/or assistants from each team agree on a decision then that decision stands.  If there still a dispute then goalie states whether it was a goal or not and that decision shall be final.

Rule 16: Roster Levelling Per Game.   In the interests of maintaining fair competition on a game by game basis, in the event there is a player differential of 2 or more persons between teams (e.g. 13 vs 11, or 10 vs 8, or 9 vs 7, etc), then the shorthanded team captain may request a player from the other team. The advantaged team captain will elect a player to play on the shorthanded team for that game in this priority sequence of any available substitute, followed by any regular member. It is the shorthanded team captain's perogative to initiate this request, whereas it is the advantaged team captain's call on which player is sent over.

Rule 17: Series Shootout Clause.   In the event of any final game of a series which results in a potentially tied series record, that game will:

• Start 10 minutes early (i.e. 5 minute warmup) to accommodate a possible shootout scenario, where, if occurring will:
• Have goalies face shooters in alternating pairs (i.e. 1st goalie faces a red and a blue shooter; 2nd goalie faces a red and blue shooter, etc.); goalie order is determined by last name sequence.
• All players on each team will take a turn. In the event of a substitution, that sub will shoot in the order of the regular member he replaced (TBD by captains in the pre-game depending on available subs).
• Each shootout attempt consist of one shot only; forward motion, no rebounds.
• Choice for which team shoots first (or second) is determined by captains (i.e. rock-scissor-paper) at the conclusion of the regular game.
• Have the shooter order submitted by team captains BEFORE the game starts (if a captains does not submit a list, the order listed in this web site will be used in place).
• In the event of a total points tie after all initial shooters, there will be sudden death alternating shootout (with goalies continuing their odd/even pairs) with captains choosing different shooters each time.

Rule 18: Sub Parity.   In the interests of maintaining fair competition on a game by game basis, all substitutes shall be assigned to a team at the GMs discretion. Subs will continue to pay for roster spots to the orignally departing member as agreed upon in the MDHL database sub system.

Rule 19: Early Trade Criteria.   In the interests of maintaining fair competition on a running series basis, the usual mid-series trade review may be enacted earlier than the mid-way mark, based on the competitive status to-date which considers factors including goal differential, and current standings. The option to enact Rule 19 is at the sole discretion of the GMs.

Rule 20: Late Game Stop Timing.   Where practical (i.e. extra ice time in the session usually available), the game may be subject to "stop time" in the final 2 minutes of play in games that are deemed "close" (i.e. 1 or 2 goal differential in the current score). The onus is on the losing side to operate stop timing (i.e. start/stop the timer) in the instance of delayed play (e.g. penalty calls, puck out of play, net off mooring, or injuries) in those final two minutes.

Rule 21: Goalie Crease Occupation.   No offensive player shall occupy the crease area (i.e. blue paint) with any part of their skates at any time, with the exception of:

1. being forced in by a defending player.
2. being in the act of scoring, e.g. breakaway / deke, or going into the crease area for the puck (which happens to be loose in that area).