Queer Hockey London Rules v1.2*

Safety, inclusion, fair play, and fun

Status: These local rules are designed for Queer Hockey London (QHL), an all-gender recreational league. They are adapted from the safety and fair-play approach used by the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) and Hockey Canada. Unless a QHL rule below says otherwise, the current Hockey Canada Playing Rules and applicable arena requirements apply. QHL policies govern where they provide a safer or more inclusive standard.

1. Purpose and Governing Principles

• Provide a welcoming hockey experience for people of all genders, gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientations, abilities, and skill levels.
• Prioritize participant safety over competitive advantage.
• Promote respect, fair play, balanced participation, learning, and enjoyment.
• Use gender-neutral terms such as “player,” “goaltender,” “official,” “team representative,” and “too many players.”
• Apply rules consistently, while allowing reasonable safety and accessibility accommodations approved by the QHL.

2. Participation, Eligibility, and Rosters

• QHL is an all-gender league. A person’s self-identified gender does not limit eligibility, team placement, position, or ice time.
• Participants must meet the QHL’s age, registration, waiver, conduct, and insurance requirements before playing.
• Each team must designate one captain and one co-captain. These players are authorized to speak on behalf of their team with referees, QHL officials, and QHL volunteers.
• No team may object to another participant’s eligibility based on appearance, name, pronouns, voice, legal documents, medical history, or assumptions about identity.
• Team representatives should distribute opportunities and ice time fairly, considering attendance, safety, ability, and the recreational nature of the QHL.
• A team may dress the maximum number of players permitted by the QHL or facility. When more players than permitted are on the ice, the infraction is called too many players.

3. Team Imbalance

• If a significant team imbalance becomes apparent despite the QHL’s efforts to create equitable teams, the QHL will offer all team representatives a vote on whether player trades are needed.
• Player trades will proceed only if the vote supports them.
• The QHL will coordinate any approved player movement, with fairness, safety, competitive balance, and the recreational experience of all participants as the primary considerations.

4. Substitute Players

• A team with five or more rostered players unavailable for a game may contact the QHL to request substitute players.
• Substitute players must be selected from the QHL’s approved substitute list.
• Only registered QHL players or players appearing on the approved substitute list are permitted to play in a QHL game. No exceptions will be made.
• The QHL must approve substitute-player use before the game. Team representatives are responsible for confirming eligibility.
• All substitute players must meet the same registration, waiver, equipment, safety, and conduct requirements as rostered players.

5. TeamLinkt App and Confidentiality

• No person may be added to a QHL team or group in the TeamLinkt app without prior permission from the QHL.
• Approved substitute players are already included in the app and must not be added separately by teams.
• QHL strives to protect participant confidentiality. Adding unapproved or unnecessary people to the app may disclose information, disrupt team communication, and undermine that confidentiality.
• Team captains, co-captains, and other users must not share app access, contact information, schedules, messages, or participant details outside the QHL without permission.

6. Required Equipment

• Mandatory neck and facial protection: Every skater must wear a CSA-approved hockey helmet with a securely fastened chin strap, a full-face cage, and a properly fitted neck guard at all times while participating in a game. A player who does not have both a full-face cage and neck guard on during the game will be removed from the game and may not return until both items are properly worn. Every skater must also wear hockey gloves, elbow pads, shoulder/chest protection, shin pads, hockey pants, skates, and an appropriate protective undergarment.
• Goaltenders must wear properly fitted goaltending equipment, including approved head and facial protection.
• All equipment must be in safe condition. Officials may require unsafe equipment to be repaired, replaced, or removed before participation continues.
• Medical-alert identification is encouraged. Religious, cultural, gender-affirming, disability-related, or other personal equipment accommodations may be approved if they do not create an unreasonable safety risk.
• Jewellery or accessories that create a hazard must be removed, secured, or covered to the official’s satisfaction.
• Non-required attachments: Players may not wear cameras or other items that are not required hockey equipment unless approved by the QHL before play. For example, a camera attached to a helmet may create an impact or snagging hazard, injure the wearer or another participant, or interfere with the helmet’s protective performance. Officials may require any unapproved or unsafe item to be removed before participation.

7. Game Format and Timing

• Games are played with five skaters and one goaltender per team unless the QHL announces another format.
• Each game consists of three 10-minute periods. The warm-up is a firm two minutes and begins immediately when the ice resurfacing machine exits the ice. Games must conclude 10 minutes before the hour; the timekeeper and officials may adjust running time or end play as necessary to meet this curfew.
• Pucks: Each team is responsible for providing its own warm-up pucks. The QHL will provide the game pucks.
• Jerseys: Only QHL jerseys may be worn during games. An exception permitting a non-QHL jersey may be made only when both the opposing team and the referees agree before the player participates. Without both approvals, the player may not participate in the non-QHL jersey.
• A team must have at least seven skaters and one goaltender ready to play by the scheduled grace-period deadline. A team that does not meet this minimum forfeits the game.
• Teams must change ends after every period.
• Games may end in a tie. No overtime or shootout is permitted.
• The timekeeper or official records goals and penalties. The referee’s decisions on facts of play are final for that game.
• Volunteer scorekeepers: QHL scorekeepers are volunteers. All participants and bench personnel must treat them with kindness, patience, and respect, and should offer reasonable assistance when needed. Questions or corrections must be raised calmly and without abuse.
• The Goal Differential on the scoreboard shall never surpass 4 goals. This is not the pros, pass the puck around, spread out the joy.

8. Standings and Championship Weekend

• Standings will be maintained throughout the season.
• A win is worth two points, a tie is worth one point, and a loss is worth zero points.
• Standings at the end of the regular season will determine the final-weekend matchups.
• The third-place team will play the fourth-place team at 7:00 p.m.
• The first-place team will play the second-place team for the QHL Championship at 8:00 p.m.

9. Safety-First Playing Rules

• No body checking: QHL is non-contact recreational hockey. Incidental contact may occur while players pursue the puck, but deliberate checking, bumping, shoving, pinning, or using the body to gain an advantage is prohibited.
• No contact to the head: There is no legal contact to an opponent’s head, face, or neck. Players must control their body and equipment and avoid vulnerable or blind-side contact.
• Slapshots: While slapshots are permitted, the wind up and follow through of the stick during a slapshot must not be higher than your knee. If a slapshot occurs outside of this parameter, the play will be stopped immediately. A player will be issued a warning. If this behaviour continues, the player will be removed from the game.
• Boarding and charging: Driving, throwing, or dangerously directing a player into the boards, or travelling an excessive distance to make contact, is prohibited.
• Stick safety: Slashing, spearing, butt-ending, cross-checking, high-sticking, and reckless stick use are prohibited. Players must keep control of their stick at all times.
• Tripping, hooking, holding, and interference: A player may not use a stick, body, hand, or free arm to impede an opponent who is not legally contesting the puck.
• Crease and goaltender safety: Avoidable contact with a goaltender is prohibited. Players must make a reasonable effort to avoid entering the crease or contacting a goaltender who is covering or attempting to play the puck.
• Fighting and retaliation: Fighting, attempted fighting, or retaliatory violence is prohibited and may result in removal from the game and further QHL discipline.
• Dangerous play: An official may stop play whenever a participant has lost protective equipment, is injured, is in a vulnerable position, or when continuing play would create an unreasonable risk.

10. Standard Play Administration

The following plain-language explanations are intended to help new and experienced players understand common game situations. Officials apply the current Hockey Canada Playing Rules unless QHL has adopted a specific local rule. When unsure, stop safely, listen for the whistle, and follow the official’s direction.

10.1 Offside

Offside occurs when an attacking player enters the attacking zone before the puck completely crosses the blue line. The determining position is normally the player’s skates at the blue line.

• Onside: The puck enters the attacking zone before all attacking players, or an attacking player keeps contact with the blue line while the puck crosses.
• Delayed offside: If attacking players are already in the zone when the puck enters, they must clear the zone by returning to the neutral zone before their team can legally attack again. They must not pressure the puck or gain an advantage while clearing.
• Result: When offside is called, play stops and a faceoff is held at the location prescribed by the applicable rule.
• Example: If a teammate skates over the blue line before the puck carrier brings the puck across, the play is offside unless the teammate clears the zone as required.

10.2 Icing

Icing generally occurs when a player sends the puck from their own side of the centre red line, untouched, completely across the opposing goal line without scoring.

• When icing is called, play stops and the faceoff returns to the offending team’s defending zone.
• Icing is not called if the puck enters the net, touches another player before crossing the goal line, or an opposing skater could reasonably play the puck but chooses not to.
• Icing is generally not called against a team that is shorthanded when the puck is released.
• Beginner tip: Gain the centre red line before shooting the puck deep into the attacking zone.

10.3 Faceoffs

A faceoff restarts play after a whistle. The official drops the puck between the two players taking the faceoff.

• Players must line up promptly and remain on their own side of the faceoff location until the puck is dropped.
• The two players taking the faceoff must place their sticks and skates as directed by the official.
• Entering early, failing to take a proper position, or making illegal contact before the drop may result in removal from that faceoff or another remedy permitted by the rules.
• Other players must remain outside the faceoff circle and behind the restraining marks until the puck is dropped.

10.4 Hand Passes

A player may stop or bat the puck with an open hand, but may not close their hand on the puck, carry it, or deliberately direct it to a teammate where the rules prohibit a hand pass.

• A hand pass between teammates is generally permitted within the team’s defending zone.
• If a teammate is the next player to possess a hand-passed puck outside the defending zone, play is stopped.
• A player may immediately play a puck they batted with their own hand using their stick.
• Example: Batting the puck to a teammate in the neutral or attacking zone normally causes a whistle.

10.5 High-Sticking the Puck

High-sticking the puck occurs when a player contacts the puck with their stick above the permitted height. This is different from a high-sticking penalty involving contact with another person.

• If the offending team next controls the puck, play is stopped and a faceoff is held at the prescribed location.
• If an opponent immediately gains possession, the official may allow play to continue.
• A goal cannot be scored by contacting the puck with a high stick above the allowed height.
• Any high stick that contacts another participant may be penalized under Section 9 and Section 11, whether or not the contact was intentional.

10.6 Puck Out of Play

Play stops when the puck leaves the playing surface, becomes lodged in the netting or equipment, or is otherwise unavailable for play.

• The faceoff is held at the location required by the rules, generally based on where the puck was last legally played and which team caused the stoppage.
• A puck that deflects out accidentally normally results in a stoppage without a penalty.
• Deliberately shooting, batting, or throwing the puck out of play to delay the game may result in a penalty.
• Players must not reach into spectator areas or climb over the boards to retrieve a puck.

10.7 Delayed Penalties

When the non-offending team has control of the puck after an infraction, the official may raise an arm and delay the whistle so that team can continue its possession.

• Play stops when the offending team gains control of the puck or another stoppage occurs.
• The non-offending team may replace its goaltender with an extra skater during the delay, but does so at its own risk.
• If the non-offending team scores before the whistle, the effect on the penalty is determined under the applicable Hockey Canada rule.
• A delayed penalty is not permission to retaliate or continue unsafe play.

10.8 Player Changes and Too Many Players

Players may change during play or at a stoppage when the change is made safely and does not create an unfair advantage.

• The player leaving the ice must be at the bench and out of the play before the replacement becomes involved.
• If too many eligible players from one team are on the ice and involved in play, the team may receive a bench minor penalty for too many players.
• Players must use the bench door or cross the boards safely, avoid obstructing play, and keep the bench-door area clear.

10.9 Bench Eligibility and Conduct

• At this time, the QHL is unable to accommodate additional coaches, bench personnel, or other bench or ice supporters beyond those permitted under its current insurance policy. Following consultation regarding current insurance coverage, the QHL must follow the policy requirements and cannot permit additional individuals on the bench or ice during QHL activities.
• The QHL recognizes that this may be disappointing, particularly for those who have expressed an interest in coaching or supporting players from the bench, and sincerely thanks all coaches, potential coaches, and bench supporters for their interest in contributing to the QHL.
• The QHL acknowledges that this limitation was not anticipated when the current insurance policy was arranged and apologizes for the oversight. The QHL will revisit this requirement when exploring appropriate insurance coverage for the 2027–2028 season, with the goal of determining whether additional coaching and bench-support opportunities can be safely and appropriately accommodated.

10.10 Puck Contact with an Official

A puck that strikes an official normally remains in play. The official may stop play if the rules require it or if the contact directly and materially creates an immediate scoring situation.

10.11 Prompt Resumption and Delay of Game

Teams must be ready to resume play when directed. Deliberately slowing a faceoff, refusing to take a legal position, repeatedly delaying a line change, intentionally dislodging equipment, or deliberately sending the puck out of play may result in a delay-of-game penalty.

11. Penalties and Game Management

• Minor, double-minor, major, misconduct, game misconduct, match, penalty-shot, and bench penalties are assessed under current Hockey Canada rules, subject to QHL additions.
• Officials should consider the degree of violence, avoidability, vulnerability of the affected player, injury or potential for injury, repetition, and whether conduct was retaliatory or discriminatory.
• A major penalty for dangerous physical conduct must include removal from the remainder of the game and referral for QHL review.
• A match penalty, fighting incident, deliberate attempt to injure, or serious discriminatory incident results in immediate removal and automatic suspension pending review.
• Three-penalty limit: A player assessed three penalties in one game will be removed from the remainder of the game by the officials. This limit is intended to deter rough or compromising play and to keep game conduct consistent with the QHL Code of Conduct.
• A penalized player must proceed directly to the penalty bench or dressing room as directed and must not delay, argue aggressively, or approach another participant.
• Officials may use preventive communication when appropriate, but safety infractions must still be penalized.

12. Respectful and Inclusive Conduct

• Participants must treat teammates, opponents, officials, volunteers, arena staff, and spectators with dignity.
• Harassment, bullying, threats, intimidation, stalking, hazing, unwanted outing, and discriminatory language or conduct are prohibited.
• Knowingly or repeatedly using an incorrect name or pronoun after being corrected may be treated as harassment. Good-faith mistakes should be corrected promptly and respectfully.
• Slurs, taunts, gestures, or comments targeting actual or perceived gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, disability, religion, age, body, skill level, or another protected or personal characteristic may result in immediate game removal and QHL discipline.
• Trash talk that becomes personal, degrading, sexual, threatening, or discriminatory is not part of recreational play and is prohibited.
• No participant may retaliate against a person who raises a safety concern, reports misconduct, requests an accommodation, or assists in a review.
• Team representatives are responsible for helping maintain respectful conduct on their bench and among their spectators.

13. Injuries, Emergencies, and Return to Play

• Play must stop promptly for a suspected serious injury or when a participant cannot safely leave the ice.
• Only qualified or designated responders should provide care. Other participants must give space and follow arena emergency procedures.
• A participant with signs or symptoms of concussion must be removed from play and may return only in accordance with applicable law, Hockey Canada guidance, and QHL policy.
• Blood must be cleaned from the ice and contaminated equipment or clothing addressed before play resumes.
• Serious injuries, major or match penalties, fighting, discriminatory incidents, and other reportable events must be documented promptly by the official or QHL designate.

14. Officials, Complaints, and Discipline

• On-ice officials have authority from the scheduled start until participants leave the playing area and may remove any person whose conduct threatens safety or orderly play.
• Only the team captain or co-captain may respectfully speak on behalf of the team to seek a brief rules clarification from a referee or raise a team matter with QHL officials or volunteers. Judgment calls are not debated during the game.
• Safety or conduct concerns should be reported through the QHL’s designated process as soon as reasonably possible. Reports should describe observed conduct rather than speculate about identity, motive, or medical condition.
• The QHL will review reports promptly, impartially, and as confidentially as reasonably possible. Measures may include education, warning, probation, suspension, removal, or conditions for return.
• Discipline should be proportionate and may consider severity, injury risk, repetition, accountability, prior incidents, retaliation, and steps taken to repair harm.
• A participant may appeal a QHL suspension or removal in writing within the deadline stated in the decision. A person not involved in the original decision should decide the appeal where practicable.

15. Fair Play Expectations

• Play the puck, not the person.
• Skate under control and adjust to the ability and position of nearby players.
• Avoid exploiting large differences in skill, speed, size, or experience in a way that creates danger or humiliation.
• Make room for newer players to participate meaningfully.
• Return safely to the bench, keep bench doors closed except during changes, and keep the ice-access area clear.
• Accept officials’ decisions without abuse and help de-escalate conflict.
• Winning never justifies unsafe, exclusionary, or disrespectful conduct.

16. Interpretation and Updates

Where a rule is unclear, it must be interpreted in the way that best protects safety, inclusion, fair participation, and the recreational character of QHL. The QHL may issue seasonal operating procedures for items such as game length, substitutions, standings, playoffs, mercy rules, and suspension minimums. If a law, insurer requirement, facility rule, or governing-body requirement conflicts with this document, the mandatory higher standard applies.

Reference framework: OWHA rules, policies, and safety resources, together with the current Hockey Canada Playing Rules.

*Summary of Changes Made

October 7, 2026 — Bench & Ice Support

Additional bench or ice support personnel are not permitted under the QHL’s current insurance policy. The QHL will review options for allowing additional support when arranging coverage for the 2027–2028 season.

October 7, 2026 — Three-Penalty Limit

Added a three-penalty limit per game; a player receiving a third penalty is removed to deter unsafe play and uphold the QHL Code of Conduct.

October 7, 2026 — Non-Required Equipment Attachments

Prohibited unapproved cameras and other non-required equipment attachments because they may create impact or snagging hazards or reduce protective performance.

October 7, 2026 — Game Period Length

Changed games from three 12-minute periods to three 10-minute periods.