Official Website of Northern Lakes Hockey League

NLHL Rules and By-Laws

Purpose:
The purpose of the following is to ensure that all teams within the NLHL have a clear understanding of the rules & guidelines governing the playing of games in the NLHL.

Game Rules: Rule:
USA Hockey Rules
Except as provided herein, the applicable rules of USA Hockey and the NLHL shall apply to all games played by teams competing in the NLHL Midget Major AAA Division

Game Rules:
1. Time Length - All games will be played with 3 – 18 minute stop-time periods with one (1) ice resurface after the first period.
2. Warm-Ups:
* All NLHL games shall have five (5) minute pre-game warm-up
* The Home team will provide warm-up pucks for the visiting team
* Warm-up clock shall start immediately after the zamboni leaves the ice
3. Rest time between periods shall be one (1) minute. At the end of the second period, the timekeeper shall immediately run one (1) minute on the game clock and the next period shall begin promptly thereafter.
4. Each team may utilize one (1) time out per game.
5. Running clock shall take effect if, at any time during the third period, a team has a five (5) or greater goal lead. The clock shall continue to run until the goal differential is reduced to three (3) goals.
*The on-ice officials may direct the scorekeeper to stop a running clock, in the event of an on-ice injury or other circumstances that in their judgment warrant
6. Penalty time will follow the game clock (e.g. stop-time and running-time). Penalty time shall follow the 2/5/10 minute format. Under running-time conditions, players must remain in the Penalty box until the puck is dropped if the penalty expires during the stoppage of play.
7. Faceoffs: Teams are reminded of the changes to USA Hockey Rule 611. in particular the implementation of the five (5) second rule under 611(a).
8. Home team shall wear light sweaters and visiting team shall wear dark sweaters.
9. Teams shall participate in a handshake at the completion of the game.

Referees:
1. Only duly registered officials holding USA Hockey referee cards shall referee league games.
2. Referees have been instructed to strictly enforce infractions such as fighting, removal of helmets for the purpose of fighting (constitutes a fight), stick work, and holding.
*Referees are direct that the NLHL does not condone fighting. Players and Coaches involved are subject to disciplinary action for their involvement in a fight. DO NOT FIGHT.

Refusal to Compete:
1. Any team not completing their league schedule may, by decision of the Board of Directors, be assessed a penalty as deemed appropriate.

Coaches Cards:
1. All coaches must have a valid coaching card after December 31st of the current season. The coaching card must be a Level 4 or above.

Scoresheets:
1. Home team is responsible for posting games in Pointstreak.. If real-time is unavailable, the game must be posted within 24 hours of completion.
2. All teams must have a blank scoresheet available at every game in case it needs to be utilized.

Suspensions:
1. If any team official or player is serving a suspension, he/she may not sit on or near the player bench of his/her team or in any way attempt to direct the play of his/her team.
2. Players and team official serving any suspensions will be considered “ineligible players” for every game in which they participate, until their suspension is served.
3. When a game suspension is being served, it must be clearly indicated on the scoresheet. The team with the suspended player or a team official shall include on the scoresheet the name of the suspended player or team official, and the total number of games being served.
4. All suspensions will be served in the team’s next scheduled game for that team.
5. If a team official or player violates his/her suspension, he/she is subject to additional discipline, including but not limited to individual suspensions, team suspensions, and game forfeitures.

Off Ice Officials:
The Home team is responsible for providing a timekeeper, scorekeeper, and goal judges at all NLHL league games. If the rink has a tall glass door, each team is responsible for providing a penalty box attendant. The conduct of any timekeeper and scorekeeper shall be governed by the applicable USA Hockey rules governing off-ice officials. (See the “USA Hockey Off-Ice Officiating Manual” for further information about the responsibilities of off-ice officials).

Protests:
A team wishing to protest a game may only protest the opposing teams’ use of an ineligible or illegal player or a coach. A protested game must be recorded as a protest on the game sheet. A copy of the game sheet and a $50 protest fee must be received by the Commissioner within 48 hours of the protested game. If the protest is ruled to be valid, a decision will be reached and the $50 fee will be refunded.

League Standings:
League Standings will be determined by following USA Hockey rules.

NLHL Jersey Patch:
Players shall wear one (1) NLHL patch which shall be appropriately placed on the front left corner of the jersey.

Zero Tolerance:
The NLHL supports USA Hockey’s Zero-Tolerance Policy. In order to achieve the objective of teaching good sportsmanship to our players it is imperative that spectators conduct themselves appropriately. Each team shall take action to ensure that spectators are not abusive to officials, players, team officials or other spectators.