Alberta Junior Female Hockey League

Rules and Regulations

(Updated July 19, 2022)

The mission of the AJFHL is as a nonprofit organization to provide an opportunity for young females aged eighteen to twenty two years of age to participate in an elite hockey program. 

Subject to the approval of Hockey Alberta, the following regulations are hereby adopted as the regulations of the league: 

1 NUMBER OF PLAYERS IN UNIFORM

1. Each member team may dress a maximum eighteen (18) players and two (2) goalies for each regular season and playoff game.
2. The minimum number of players to be dressed for each regular-season and playoff game shall be twelve (12), of which one (1) must be a goalie. The President and Vice President will review any extenuating circumstances.

2 OFFICIATING

1. Each home team is responsible for assigning officials for all league and playoff home games.
2. The referee must be registered and certified by Hockey Alberta.  The Referee shall be at a level that is sufficient to officiate the Junior A Female caliber.  The referee is to have full authority and complete charge of each game.
3. A referee or linesman for each game shall be visible and on time to watch the entire pre game warm up and report any unusual instance to the league office.
4. Home teams are responsible for paying for the officials during the regular season and/or playoffs.

3 RULES OF THE GAME

3.1 General

1. Expect where altered herein, all games shall be played in accordance with the current rules of Hockey Canada
2. The rules herein contained shall be in force for all exhibition, regular season and playoff games.
3. The AJFHL will fall under the jurisdiction of Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada. The AJFHL can add additional rules as long as they do not diminish or come into conflict with the rules that are already in place by Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada.
4. Hybrid icing is in effect for all regular and playoff games.

3.2 Pre-game Warm-ups

1. Each game shall start with a ten (10) minute warm-up starting at the exact time the game is supposed to start.
2. The home team shall supply a minimum of twenty pucks for the visiting team for its use during the pre-game warm up period.   
3. Any player who enters the opposition zone and engages a player from the opposing team in an altercation during the pre-game warm-up is liable to a suspension of up to 5 games. A minimum $250.00 fine will be levied against the Team whose Player is identified as the first to cross the center red line and come in contact with an opposing player.
4. The official observing the pre-game warm-up pursuant to Regulation 2.3 will monitor the warm-ups and record any unusual infraction in the opposing zone by any player.
5. A team that dresses an unregistered player or a suspended player and allows her to skate in a warm-up will be fined. The team spotting the unregistered player or a suspended player must report it to the referee, who can then inform the league office on his referee's report.

3.3 Regular Season Games

1. Regulation time winner will receive 3 points; Regulation time loser will receive 0 points; Overtime winner will receive 2 points; Overtime loser will receive 1 point; If for some reason the game is tied due to ice restrictions each team will receive 1 point.
2. Should a regular season game be tied after the end of the third period the game will continue as follows:
   1. A two (2) minute intermission;
   2. A five (5) minute sudden-death 3 on 3 period; if tied, 3 player shootout; if tied then sudden death shootout
3. Unexpired penalties from the third period continue to carry onto the overtime period such that the overtime period will start 4 on 3 and will continue to be 4 on 3 until the end of the game or the expiration of the penalty.
4. Penalties taken while the teams are playing 3 on 3 will commence 4 on 3. If there is another penalty taken by the shorthanded team then it will commence to a 5 on 3.

3.4 Playoffs

1. Play-off format and dates are to be confirmed at the AJFHL executive meeting after all teams have been accepted into the league
2. The first and second round in the playoff series will be Best-of-Three (3).
3. The second round has the winners of the first round playing off against one another. The highest placed team between these two teams in the league standings will have home ice advantage.
4. The final round has the top team from the north division playing off against the top team from the south division the series will be Best-of-Five (5).  The highest place team between these two teams in the league standings will have home ice advantage.

Games 1 and 2 highest placed team. Games 3 and 4 lower placed team. Game 5 highest placed team..

5. The play-off overtime procedure will follow the Hockey Canada rulebook.
   1. A ten (10) minute sudden death period with 3 on 3; then flood,
   2. Followed by twenty minute sudden death periods with 5 on 5.  In the case of the rink manager not allowing the play-off game to continue into 20 minute sudden death periods, the game will be determined by shootout in the same format as regular season.

4 DISCIPLINE

4.1 Penalties / Conduct

1. With respect to matters concerning game play and on and off ice conduct of players and team officials, the league shall follow the Hockey Canada Play Book and the Minimum Suspension Guidelines contained in the Hockey Alberta Junior Female Supplement.
2. With respect to matters that concern the governance and conduct of members within the league, the Executive of the league shall be responsible to ensure that the by-laws and the rules and regulations are complied with and enforced.
3. The authority to make a decision concerning any disciplinary matter shall be vested in the Discipline Director (President and/or delegate) although, the Discipline Director may delegate this authority to any member of the league executive. The Discipline Director shall not make any disciplinary decision that involves a team official or player from the Discipline Director’s team and must delegate that authority to another member /of the executive, provided such member is not also in a conflict with respect to the same matter.
4. The Discipline Director (President and/or delegate) shall communicate the decision in writing to the person facing the disciplinary action and, in the first instance, may be communicated verbally. The decision shall be effective immediately upon being notified of the decision.  Except where altered herein, all games shall be played in accordance with the current rules of Hockey Canada

4.2 League Suspensions

1. Any Player that is suspended or expelled by any other hockey league, including, but not limited to any other minor hockey, collegiate, university, professional league, is deemed to be suspended from the League until such suspension or expulsion is lifted by the other league.
2. A player who has signed an agreement, contract, or is registered in the Hockey Canada Player Allotment system (HCR), and refuses to fulfill or carry out its provisions may be suspended by the Member by notification thereof to the President. 
3. A suspended official shall not exercise any duty or function for his/her member team, or for any team of a league or team affiliated with the league during the period of his/her suspension.
4. A suspended bench staff shall not exercise any duty or function for his/her member team, or for any team of a league or team affiliated with the league during the period of his/her suspension.
5. A player or person expelled shall be permanently barred from any connection with any league team, or any league or team affiliated with the member team or league, or any organization with which the league or member team has an agreement respecting rights to services of players.

4.3 Fines

1. All fines imposed under the provisions of these rules and regulations shall be made payable to the league and shall form a part of the league's funds, unless otherwise provided.
2. Fines must be paid within ten business days or they will be doubled.

5 ICE SLOTS AND GAME PROCEDURES

5.1 Ice Slots

1. All teams participating in the AJFHL shall provide the minimum number (25) of required home ice times for all league and playoff games
2. Each Team shall furnish to the League, no later than July 15th, of each hockey season, a list of available dates at the arena in which it is prepared to play its home games in the ensuing season.
   1. Dates must include both Saturday and Sunday options in order to give the league scheduler the required flexibility.
3. Each Team is entitled to an equal number of home games and road games. If scheduling is an issue then the scheduler will do the best they can to make it fair, considering what had occurred the previous years.

5.2 Game Procedures

1. Games start no later than 8:45pm unless agreed upon by visiting team.
2. Home Team must provide an off ice official to run the score clock and penalty box.
3. Teams must have a certified coach on the bench as per Hockey Alberta regulations. 
4. Home Teams must provide the game sheet.

6 COACHES

6.1 Respect in Sport (RIS)

1. By November 15 of the current Hockey Season:
   1. All registered Tem Officials must have a current certificate of completion of the Respect in Sport “Leader/Coach program” if the team roster includes Minor aged Players or Minor Aged Affiliates.

6.2 Hockey Canada Safety Program (HCSP)

1. By November 15 of the current Hockey Season:
   1. Must have one Team Official registered to their team who has completed the Hockey Canada Safety Program (HCSP).

6.3 Criminal Record Check (CRC)

1. By December 15^th of the current Hockey Season no coaching staff is allowed on their bench without a valid Criminal Record Check:
   1. All coaching staff on the bench will have a security check done by the RCMP or Police Services that the staff reside in. The security check must include vulnerable sector.  The respective teams will cover any fees for this check. 
   2. The CRC to be handed into the President of the League no later than December 15th of that hockey year.  Security checks have to be renewed every four years.

7 UNIFORMS

i.7.1 General

1. Each team shall have 2 sets of uniforms.
2. Team colours, logo design and team name will be approved by the Executive Committee.
3. All uniforms shall ;
   1. Bare a number on the back;
   2. Bare all emblems or advertising mandated by the League:
4. All uniforms may bear;
   1. A team crest or lettering; or
   2. Any other form of emblem or advertising approved by the League;

ii.7.2 Regular Season and Playoffs

1. The predominantly dark uniform is to be worn for all home games.
2. The predominantly white uniform is to be worn for all road games.

8 PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

1. All Players shall wear a helmet with a full face cage or full face shield; and a chinstrap.
2. Helmets must be worn, and chin straps must be fastened at all times during games and pre-game and pre-period warm-ups. A Coach who fails to instruct his players to wear their helmets properly could be assessed a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00).
3. All players will wear a neck guard approved by Hockey Canada / Hockey Alberta.

9 GAME SHEETS AND GAME REPORTS

iii.9.1 General

1. The home team shall furnish the game sheet for all exhibition, regular season and playoff games.

iv.9.2 Submission of Game Sheets

1. Within 24 hours of the completion of any game, including exhibition, regular season and playoff games, each team shall submit the game sheet to the league website as provided; [game reports directly into our website now].
2. If there is a write up on a disciplinary matter for a game played, that game report shall be forwarded to the Disciplinary Director and Vice President within 24 hours by both teams involved.
3. Within 24 hours each team is responsible for updating the website on team standings.
4. Any Member, which fails to comply with Article 9.2 is subject to a $50 fine unless there are extenuating circumstances deemed by the Disciplinary Director.

10 ELIGIBILITY OF PLAYERS

v.10.1 Eligible Players

1. Hockey Albert governs competition in amateur hockey in all divisions.
2. Players are to be 21 years of age and under to be eligible to play in the AJFHL. Each team is allowed to have four (4) over age players on their team provided they turn 22 years of age on or before December 31st of that hockey season.
3. Notwithstanding Hockey Canada regulations, a Player is eligible to participate in a game, only upon the following:
   1. Registration in the Hockey Canada Registry (HCR), or in the case of an Affiliated Player, registered as an Affiliated Player in the HCR;
   2. The Hockey Canada Roster must be the same as the Roster on the AJFHL website.
   3. Each team is allowed to dress 18 eligible players and 2 goalies.  Affiliates will be according to Hockey Alberta regulations.

vi.10.2 Ineligible Players

1. Dealt with by Hockey Alberta; Notwithstanding section 10.1, a Player is ineligible if the Player has been:
   1. Expelled from any other hockey league
   2. Suspended by the President, Disciplinary Committee; or
   3. Suspended by her Team, is ineligible to play for a member team while such expulsion or suspension remains in force.
2. A player transferred from one Team to another Team is not eligible until the President or the Vice President has been notified of the transfer.
3. The President or Vice President shall be deemed to have been notified at the time of receipt of the document (electronic and/or paper) informing him of the transfer.  A telephone call shall not be deemed sufficient notification and will be used only as additional confirmation.

vii.10.3 Article 10.1

1. If a Member allows a Player who has failed to comply with Article 12.1 or is deemed to be ineligible pursuant to Article 12.2 to play in a game, such game, upon ruling by the President, shall be counted as a win for the opposing member team.  The President will also have the authority to suspend the member and/or issue a minimum $500 fine each time the offending team inserts or uses the ineligible player or players during the playing season.  However, the Disciplinary Committee is empowered to impose alternative penalties at its discretion.

viii.10.4 Article 10.3

1. If a Member allows a Player who has failed to comply with Article 12.3 only by reason of a clerical error as deemed by the President, including but not limited to a spelling mistake or a failure to list “AP” after the Hockey Alberta’s affiliation submission date, to play in a game, such game result, upon ruling by the President, shall be allowed to stand.  The President will also have the authority to issue a minimum $50 fine for each time the offending team inserts or uses the Player.  However, the Disciplinary Committee is empowered to impose alternative penalties at its discretion.

ix.10.6 Midget Age Players or Affiliates

1. HCR registered affiliates can be utilized as required
2. By November 15 of the current Hockey Season, teams with Minor aged Players or Minor Aged Affiliates, must have all registered Team Officials carry a current certificate of completion of the Respect in Sport “Leader/Coach Program”.

x.10.7 Overage Players

1. Except where expressly noted herein, all matters of player registration shall be governed by Hockey Canada regulations.
2. Teams will be able to card 4 over-age players. Girls that turn 22 years of age prior to December 31^st of the current hockey season will be allowed to play in the AJFHL.
3. Submitted team rosters must clearly identify overage players and they must be identified on any official score sheets with the acronym OA written clearly beside the players name. If the team fails to identify the over-age player on the game sheet, the league can fine the team a minimum of $50 each time player is used without the acronym ??.

11 TRYOUTS AND EXHIBITION GAMES

xi.11.1 Tryouts / Evaluation Camps

1. Tryouts or evaluation camps of a Team can may commence  31 days prior to the date of the first regular season game for the coming season.
2. Any new females must obtain proper paperwork to play in the AJFHL (exceptions for LMHA Graduating Midget Players)  per Hockey Alberta’s Section E – Junior Female Hockey Supplement, such as:
   1. Tryout Release, Team Release and/or LMHA Permission

xii.11.2 Exhibition Games

1. Use of “Hockey Alberta Portal Approval of Exhibition Games with Non-League Teams”.
2. At no time before, during or after the regular season may an exhibition game be played by a member team that interferes with the League schedule or playoffs 

12 POSTPONED GAME

1. The date of a scheduled game shall not be changed or postponed, other than by agreement of the participating teams and with the consent of the President and Vice President. Signed correspondence by both teams sent to the President and Vice President with the dates provided by both teams to make the games up. The President and Vice President will resolve any issues.
2. If a Member's team is late for a scheduled start time, by 1 hour or more, the Vice President has the discretion to postpone the game. If the game is postponed, restitution must be made to the home team for costs incurred due to the late arrival or postponed game.
3. All postponed games shall be played as soon as possible and in the event that the teams do not agree to a date to play the postponed game within seven (7) days of the postponement  the Vice President shall arbitrarily set the date. The cost of the ice rental and officials shall be the responsibility of the canceling team.

13 TAMPERING OR NEGOTIATION WITH PLAYERS OF OTHER TEAMS

1. To preserve discipline and competition, and to prevent the enticement of players, "Team Personnel", coaches, scouts, trainers and other representatives, a member team shall not, through any officer, employee, agent, scout or other representative, offer any proposal to, negotiate with, or discuss employment, either present or prospective, with a player whose name is on any player list which may, from time to time, be used by the league, or with any coach, scout, trainer or other representative connected with another member team, without the prior written consent of that member team. For contravention of this rule, the member team shall be liable to a minimum fine of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00), a maximum fine of seven hundred and fifty dollars ($750.00).
2. If a player wishes to play for another team for whatever reason, they must acquire a release from the Junior Team they played for from the previous year. This will allow the previous team to collect any outstanding debt or equipment that is owing to them.
3. If a player from another team contacts a coach or any “Team Personnel" from a different team enquiring about playing for that team; that coach or “Team Personnel“ will inform that player that they cannot speak to them. That coach or "Team Personnel shall immediately contact the President and/or Vice President and have them liaise with the original coach of the team that player is from.
4. A Member shall not, through any officer, employee, agent, scout or other representative interfere with or attempt to interfere with the movement of a player who is enroute to, has reported to, or is being granted a tryout with a Member at its training camp between Sept. 1 and the date of the first regular-season games. For contravention of this rule, the responsible member shall be liable to a minimum fine of $250 to a maximum fine of $500 and/or be penalized on its 25-player list.

b) For Your Information - DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

i.President

3. Preside over all league meetings, special meetings and the Annual General Meeting
4. Exercise the powers of the Board of Directors in an emergency.  This decision will be subject to ratification at the next league meeting of the Board of Directors.
5. Act as one of the signing members of the league for purposes of banking or legal matters.
6. Ensure the general operation of the hockey program of the AJFHL.
7. Act as liaison between the Board of Directors and each team.
8. Ensure that the playing rules of the AJFHL and those of its governing bodies are carried out in accordance with the Regulations

i.Vice President

1. In the absence of the President, carry out the duties of the President.
2. Act as one of three signing members of the league for purposes of banking or legal matters.
3. Chair the Appeal and Disciplinary Committees unless unable to as a result of conflict of interests in which case another member of the Board of Directors shall be appointed to that duty.
4. Record and enforce all Suspensions under the rules of the AJFHL.

ii.Treasurer

2. Keep accurate financial records of all AJFHL accounts in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices
3. Present detailed written reports at each meeting of the AJFHL Board of Directors.
4. Forward all documents and data at the end of each season for a notice to the reader by an external accounting firm as chosen by the President and approved by the Board of Directors or reviewed by two Board Members.
5. Authorized along with two others on the executive to sign cheques.

iii.Immediate Past President

1. Duties and assignments as prescribed by the President.

iv.Secretary

1. Maintain accurate minutes of all meetings and make these minutes available to the Board of Directors upon request
2. Notify members of all meetings.          
3. Assist with other Directors in Administration Assignments

v.Disciplinary Director                

1. Shall oversee any Suspensions handed out throughout the regular/playoff season.     
2. Receive all game reports to have on record in case of a dispute.

vi.Director at Large

3. Allocated roles as required by the President and/or Vice-President