FHL45 Rules for all Hockey Seasons (Fall/Winter & Summer)
The Ford Hockey League 45 & Over (FHL45) is a member of the Ford Employee Recreation Association.
The FHL45 is an organized adult ice hockey league which plays at the Dearborn Ice Skating Club (DISC) located on the corner of Ford Rd and Greenfield Rd in Dearborn, Mi.
The league plays at 4:30PM & 5:30PM & 6:30PM on Wednesdays and 4:30PM & 5:30PM on Thursdays, from early September thru early April. The Full season is 28 weeks with one game per week and will consist of two 14 week halves, a Fall Season that runs September thru December and a Winter Season that runs Jan thru early April.
The league plays the no-check format but slapshots are allowed. The referees are sanctioned by the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA).
New teams are re-selected for each season by a draft. There are currently 10 teams in the league. Each team consists of 10 players and 1 goalie. Each 14 week regular season (one game per week) will finish with a 4 week Playoff Bracket where all teams will be allowed to play for the championship cup.
The total cost for the league is $475 per skater. Players are also required to obtain MAHA/USA Hockey Registration which is about $45 per season. Goalies are required to pay $125 plus MAHA/USA Hockey Registration fees.
Games will consist of 2 periods with a 2 minute warm-up. The teams will not change ends. The first period will be 20 minute stop time. The second period will be run time until the curfew clock expires.
All games are played within the 50 minute curfew clock.
Teams or team members cannot enter the dressing room earlier than 30 minutes prior to their schedule game time. Teams or team members must vacate dressing room no later than 20 minutes after their game has ended.
Any and all alcoholic beverages, cans and/or bottles carried into the dressing room prior to the teams games MUST be removed from the dressing room once the teams vacate. (PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE BOTTLES OR CANS IN THE TRASH CONTAINERS)
No alcoholic beverages will be allowed on or in the player’s bench, penalty bench or score keepers area.
LEAGUE RULES:
1) The FHL45 will follow USA Hockey rules with the exception of the following;
- 45 years of age by September 1st prior to the start of the season, exceptions to this must be approved by the Board
- No body checking
- Slap shots are allowed
2) Attendance Policy: A player can be removed from the league after 4 unexcused absences. For an absence to be excused, the player must contact his/her team representative or alternate team representative by noon the day of the game. If a team wishes to exercise this option, the team must notify the player in question and call a team meeting. At this meeting, the player in question should be given an opportunity to speak on his/her behalf prior to conducting a vote. The board will make a final ruling.
3) Long Term Substitution Policy – Skaters/Goalies (Regular Season): If a player plans to miss four or more consecutive games, the team representative must notify the league board to arrange for a substitute. The league board will provide the latest sub list and waitlist to assist the captain in selecting an equally rated player to fill the vacancy. Refunds for any money paid will be the responsibility of the team rep, player, and board to work out.
4) Short Term Substitution Policy – Skaters (Regular Season): Substitutes may be used, except for reasons due to suspension (see rule #17 for suspended players guidelines). The sub must be less than or equal to the numerical player rating that they are replacing.
All effort should be made to notify the other team rep prior to game time of any substitutions. If a Team Rep feels there is a sub violation, the Team Rep must notify the President in a written email, and the President will act accordingly. Violations can result in game forfeitures, and/or Team Rep suspensions, up to the discretion of the President.
In the event an equal rated player is not available, the team can use a lower rated player for the substitution.
No external subs are allowed.
Any exceptions to the above rule must be approved in advance by the President.
5) Short Term Substitution Policy – Goalies (Regular Season): All efforts should be made to replace a goalie with an equal rated goalie from within the league. All goalies rated lower than the Team rated goalie should be asked prior to asking any higher rated goalies or looking for any external goalie subs. If all goalies rated equal to or lower cannot sub, notify the President before asking any higher rated goalies. External goalies will be allowed to sub, but only on an as equal rating basis and only if approved by the President.
All effort should be made to notify the other team rep prior to game time of any substitutions. If a Team Rep feels there is a sub violation, the Team Rep must notify the President in a written email, and the President will act accordingly. Violations can result in game forfeitures, and/or Team Rep suspensions, up to the discretion of the President.
6) Playoff Substitution Policy – Skaters:
a) No external subs for skaters in the playoffs.
b) Players rated 3.5 or higher that are missing games, the first sub can be any player rating for player rating, but if your second 3.5 or higher is also missing that sub has to be 0.5 rating lower.
c) For players rated 3.0 or lower, subs can be rating for rating. You can pick from any team, but should still look to the bye team first.
d) All positions need to be subbed for in the playoffs. You need to have 10 skaters
e) Suspended players may not sub in any games during the term of their suspension. In the event of a player suspension and subbing for that player, please consult the league president prior to arranging a sub.
f) All effort should be made to notify the other team rep prior to game time of any substitutions.
7) Playoff Substitution Policy – Goalies:
a) There will be a Goalie rating Tier system created for all goalies within the league and will be posted prior to the start of the playoffs. If a goalie of equal or lesser tier cannot be found to sub, it must be brought to the attention of the President before any external subs or higher rated goalies are allowed to sub. Rule 5 above should be used as a guideline, but the posted Tier system will take precedence for the playoffs.
8) Playoffs & Playoff Overtime Policy:
a) Playoffs will be single elimination, and will occur in the last 4 weeks of the season.
b) All 10 teams advance to the playoffs. The top 6 teams will play a position round in Week 1 to determine final seeding 1-6, and the bottom 4 teams will play against each other in Week 1 of the playoffs with the winners deciding seeds 7 & 8 to advance to the Final 8.
c) The Cup is awarded to the winner of the Final 8 Playoffs.
d) In case of a tie at the end of regulation, a 3-person shootout will take place. If tied after the initial 3-person shootout, a sudden death shootout takes place (i.e. one skater at a time until we have a winner). Note: No skater may shoot twice before everyone has participated in the shootout.
e) All 10 teams will play each week regardless of win or lose in the playoff season.
9) The board will set the league entry fee prior to each season. Full payment for both seasons must be made prior to the Fall Season Draft which is in early September. If payment is not received by the first game, that player may NOT participate in any games. It is the responsibility of the team representative to make sure the player has paid once the season has started. The league board will provide the team representatives with a list of who is unpaid at least a week before the season begins If an unpaid player plays in a game, the team will forfeit the game.
10) A $35.00 fee will be charged for all bounced checks.
11) General Hockey Rules:
a) Icing is from the opposing teams blue line.
b) Slap shots are allowed.
c) No checking allowed – follow USA Hockey rules.
12) Three penalties in one-game suspension rule:
a) If a player receives 3 penalties in one game, he is suspended immediately from that game. The Board will review the incident and determine if an additional game is necessary. It is the responsibility of the referees to enforce this rule. Failure by the referees to enforce the rule will be discussed with the referees to prevent future occurrences, but no forfeitures will result.
1) Double-minors count as 1 penalty.
2) Two or more penalties occurring at same time each count as 1. (e.g. Roughing & unsportsmanlike would equal 2 penalties)
3) Penalties all count as 1, regardless of severity.
b) If the 3rd penalty is a Game Misconduct, the player would automatically have to sit the next game, and it will be determined by Board review whether the player sits an additional game.
c) Board review is done by following method:
1) FHL45 statistician notifies the Board that a 3 penalty infraction has occurred.
2) The Board contacts the team reps of the two teams that played to get the details of the event. If one of the team reps is unavailable, the highest rated player available will be consulted for input.
3) The Board then determines if an additional game is required.
d) Repeat Offenders Rule:
1) Second time with 3 penalties in one game: Automatically suspended the following game
2) Third time with 3 penalties in one game: Automatically suspended the following 3 games
3) Fourth time with 3 penalties in one game: Expulsion from the league. Your status will be reviewed by the board to determine if you will be allowed back in the league the following year.
13) Team Representative complaint about opposing player conduct policy: Any team representative has the right and responsibility to file a complaint about an opposing player if he deems that that opposing player's conduct is injurious, reckless, or acting in a manner not in line with the goals of the FHL45. The Board will review any complaints filed, and will take appropriate action, including warnings, suspensions, and/or expulsion from the league. Repeated complaints against individual players will be taken into consideration in these actions, including complaints from previous seasons.
14) If a player leaves the league due to work, injury, or for family reasons, he/she will be given priority (over people on the waiting list) during registration for the following two seasons. The player who becomes the permanent substitution for the person that leaves the league will have priority (over people on the waiting list) during registration the following season. If a player leaves the league for any other reason, they will be placed at the bottom of the waitlist, if they so choose.
15) If a person on the waiting list is offered a spot on the active roster at the beginning of the season and for whatever reason declines to play, he/she will be placed at the bottom of the waiting list
16) Regular season tie-breakers for seeding in the playoffs.
a) 1st tie-breaker is head to head record
b) 2nd tie-breaker is wins
c) 3rd tie-breaker is GF-GA
17) If a player is suspended, either by referees or by the league board for a period exceeding 4 games (including expulsion), the player will not be allowed to be subbed for until after the 4 games. After the 4 games, temporary subs will be allowed if the player's suspension has 3 or less games remaining. If there are 4 or more games remaining or the player has been expelled, a permanent replacement sub will be given. The exception to this rule is that the player's 4 game suspension must be over at least ONE full game before the playoffs (i.e. suspension must start at least 5 weeks before the end of season, or no replacement will be given). The player will be allowed to return during the playoffs if his suspension is fully served.
18) The league board reserves the right to act accordingly for any incidents not specifically addressed by the aforementioned rules. On occasion, the BOD will commence a meeting with all Team Reps to vote on any issue brought forth for attention. A majority Rule will decide most cases.
