league Rules​​​​​​​

Play4Fun Hockey is a safe, non-contact, co-ed, social hockey league for players looking to Play4Fun (see what we did there?) in a less-competitive atmosphere. We accept players that may be brand new to the game as well as players that have been playing a long time but want to play enjoy in a non-competitive, non-aggressive league.

Open to ages 19 and up, Play4Fun Hockey rules are designed to ensure the safety of our players and enjoyment of the game.​​​​​​​

Detailed rules and regulations are below:

GAME PLAY

  • Teams are responsible for getting their own dressing room key. (keys are available at the lower-level customer service desk)
  • Players must wait until, the Zamboni is off the ice and the zamboni door has completely closed. If a player goes onto the ice prior to the Zamboni door closing their team will be assessed a 2-minute minor penalty to start the game. 
  • There are 3-periods of play (15-15-15 running time) – The final minute of each game is stop-time (the only exception is if there is a 3-goal difference, in which case, the clock will remain on running time – See Time Clock Rules)
  • Prior to puck drop each team is allowed a 2-minute warm-up.
  • At end of 2-minute warm-up, the game will begin after 45 seconds (Please remove all pucks from the ice and have your starting line ready to play)
  • Penalty shots do not stop the clock – Please have your team move the process along as quickly as possible.
  • Overtime – If the game is tied after regulation time, a 5-minute overtime period immediately commences. Overtime is played 3-on-3 and concludes if a team scores. If there are no goals scored in overtime the game is considered a tie. If a penalty is called the team with the powerplay advantage will play with 4 players against 3 players
  • At the conclusion of each game, we encourage teams to line up at centre and shake their opponents’ hands.
  • As a courtesy to the other teams, please wait until both teams have completely left the ice before going on the ice yourselves.

GOALIES

  • If at the start of the game a team is without a goalie - The clock will run for 5-minutes, then play will start without a goalie. The shorthanded team will play with a sixth player that will act as a third defenseman. There will be no shots allowed from outside the blue line. Every effort will be made to get a goalie from the league – i.e. next available or if a no-show situation, the goalie from previous game etc.
  • Goalies can play the puck up to their own blue line if their actions are considered non-aggressive and safe. If the goaltender skates past the blue line it will result in a 2-minute minor penalty.
  • If a goaltender is injured and unable to finish the game the team can continue playing with 6 players.
  • If a goaltender is ejected from a game the team can continue playing with 6 players.

TIME CLOCK RULES

  • The Clock Will Not Stop for penalties - We ask that players move the process along as quickly as possible, getting ready for the next face-off. 
  • The Clock Will Stop if a Player is Injured – If a player is injured the clock will stop while the injured player is being tended to. If tending to the injured player takes longer than usual, time will be taken off the next period to make up time.
  • There are No Timeouts – If a team captain wishes to talk to an official, they may do so between periods.
  • Concerns with Time on the Clock – Any concerns regarding the time clock must be address to the officials only and not the Timekeeper.

TEAM ROSTERS

  • All players participating in game play must be a registered player in the league with no exceptions.
  • Players on teams must wear matching colour jerseys (supplied by league) except for goaltenders who may wear a different jersey if they choose to.
  • Substitutes (“pool players”) are allowed, including goalies, when organized through the Pool coordinator.
  • Having a player play that is NOT on the roster, part of the Pool, or currently active in the Play4Fun Hockey League will result in a forfeit of the game.
  • Players are not allowed to canvass for extra games at the rink.
  • Pool players are required to report to the Timekeeper prior to participating in game play. Team captains are responsible for ensuring that Pool players appear on the list. Failure to do so may result in a forfeit of the game.
  • The only exception to adding a player to a game without prior authorization is if your team has less than 10 skaters less than 5-minutes before the game is to begin. In that situation the team captain may then canvas players from the game prior. We ask, in the spirit of fair play, that players are chosen randomly and not chosen specifically for their level of skill.
  • Although we will make every effort possible to keep friends together on the same team, in our efforts to keep teams balanced, we cannot guarantee it. The League Convenor has the authority to ‘trade’ players and goalies, between teams at any time.

GAME NOTES

  • Offsides in effect.
  • Blue-line icing - Once a player gains the blue line, they can ice it.
  • Quick faceoffs (make sure your team switches their lines quickly between whistles), officials will drop the puck whether your player taking the faceoff is ready or not.
  • There are no timeouts permitted during game play.
  • Crease Rule. The referees will whistle the play dead if there is heavy traffic in front of the net – they will not wait to see the puck completely covered up.
  • Stoppage of Play will be called:
    • If the goalie is hit in the mask with either a puck or by player stick
    • If there is heavy traffic in front of the net 
    • Once the goalie has covered the puck 
    • Referee has lost sight of the puck
  • Maximum 2 goals per player per game. If a player scores a 3rd goal in a game, it will not be counted.
  • Minimum, 6 players + goalie (or 7 players without a goalie) are required for the game to count as an official game, of those 6/7 players, 5 must be roster players. A team short of players will forfeit their game 3-0

REFEREES

Two certified officials are assigned to each game. – if, in the event a referee is late or a “no show” we will operate the game with only 1 official.

Players, coaches and bystanders are not allowed to abuse our officials at any time.  Any abuse of our officials will result in an eviction or suspension at the discretion of the convenors.

MISCELLANEOUS RULES

These rules may be unique to Play4Fun Hockey, so please familiarize yourself with them.

5-GOAL LEAD

  • If, at any time during the game, one team is ahead by 5-goals we encourage the leading team to ease up on their play, giving the opposing team a chance to score. 
  • If the team with a 5-goal advantage scores a sixth goal it will not be counted.
  • No penalty will be applied to this rule unless the goal is deemed to have malicious intent.
  • A referee may, at their discretion, call an unsportsmanlike penalty.

CO-ED RULE

Since we're a Co-Ed recreational hockey league, we'll endeavor to have at least 1 female player on each team. If a female player cannot attend the game, we ask that they notify their team Captain who is then responsible to notify the league and coordinate a replacement from our female player pool. All teams must have a minimum of one female player on the team for each game otherwise the game is a forfeit. We will ask all female players who join our league if they would be willing to join our Women’s player pool.

EQUALIZATION RULE

To keep the league fair and continuously fun to play in, our League Convenor will constantly monitor teams and players and if there's an imbalance of note, deserves the right to move stronger players and/or teams.

COLLISION RULE

We ask that players do their best to avoid colliding with opposing players. We realize accidents can happen however if you accidently collide with another player which results in knocking them down, we encourage you to check on the fallen player to make sure they are “okay”. Failure to do so may result in an unsportsmanlike penalty, at the discretion of the referee.

As a league, we place a high priority on safety and fairness for all our players. The enforcement of our rules is for the benefit of our players.​​​​​​​

REGULAR SEASON FORMAT

8-TEAMS

  • 2-Divisions of 4-Teams (Novice and Recreational)
  • 10 Regular season games are played
  • Teams play the 3 teams in their division twice and the 4 teams in the other division once

6-TEAMS

  • 1-Division (Mixed skill)
  • 10 Regular season games are played
  • Teams play the 5 teams in their division twice

PLAYOFF FORMATS

*Playoff Formats are “Olympic” Style Rules (Gold, Silver & Bronze Medals)

Playoff Eligibility

Players
To be eligible for post-season play, a player must have played a minimum of 4 regular season games. A team may not use a substitute player in playoff games.

Goaltenders
If a teams’ regular goaltender is unable to play a substitute goaltender can play in their place providing they are registered with the league and play in the same division.

8-TEAMS

Both Divisions (Novice and Recreational)

  • Quarter-Finals
    1st Place vs 4th Place
    2nd Place vs 3rd Place
  • Medal Games
    Winning teams play for Gold, Silver
    Losing teams play for Bronze

6-TEAMS

  • Quarter-Finals
    1st Place vs 4th Place
    2nd Place vs 3rd Place
    ​​​​​​​5th Place vs 6th Place         (1-Game Consolation Final)
  • Medal Games
    Winning teams play for Gold, Silver
    Losing teams play for Bronze

MINOR PENALTIES

  • Tripping, hooking and slashing are considered 2-minute minor penalties
  • Verbal Abuse of an Official will not be tolerated. This includes abusive language and/or arguing with an official. Players who do so will automatically be assessed a 2-minute minor penalty and depending on the severity of the abuse may be ejected from the game and possibly assessed an additional suspension by the League Convenor.
  • Unsportsmanlike Conduct – A 2-minute minor penalty will be assessed to any player who verbally abuses the referees or league officials. This includes abusive language, slamming bench doors, banging your stick against boards, throwing of any objects and any “unsportsmanlike” conduct. A 2-minute minor penalty will be assessed and at the discretion of the official, the offending player may be asked to leave the game. Further suspensions may apply at the discretion of the League Convenor.  
  • Slap Shots are Not Permitted. If a player takes a slap shot, they will automatically be assessed as a 2-minute minor penalty. A fake slap shot can also be assessed as a 2-minute minor penalty.
  • Intentionally Screening a Goalie – A player who intentionally screens their opposing goalie will be assessed a 2-minute minor penalty for goalie interference.
  • Diving – Defined as deliberately leaving your feet during the play. When a player intentionally leaves their feet to block shots on defense or when they dive in order to try to stop a break-away, that player will be assessed a minor penalty.
  • Playing with a Broken Stick – If a player’s stick breaks, the player can continue playing providing they drop the broken stick. A player cannot continue playing with a broken stick. If they do so, they will be assessed a 2-minute minor penalty. A player who has lost or broken their stick may only receive a stick at the players’ bench or be handed one from a teammate on the ice. A player will be assessed a 2-minute minor penalty if they throw, toss, slide or shoot a stick to teammate on the ice.
  • Serving Time in Penalty Box
  • Players must always use the penalty box door to either enter or exit the penalty box. A 2-minute illegal substitution penalty will be assessed to any player who goes around the divider instead of using the door.
  • After a player serves their penalty and exits the penalty box, they must make sure they close the penalty box door completely otherwise a 2-minute delay of game penalty will be assessed.
  • A player who enters the ice before serving their full penaty time will be assessed a 2-minute delay of game penalty.
  • Accumulated Penalty Minutes (Single Game) - Once a player accumulates 6-Minutes in penalties in a single game they are automatically ejected from the game.
  • Accumulated Penalty Minutes (Season) – Any player who accumulates 15-minutes in penalties at any time during the season will receive an automatic 1-game suspension. Any player who accumulates 21-minutes in penalties during the season will receive an automatic 2-game suspension. Additional penalty minutes after that could result in ejection from the season or expulsion from the league.  

MAJOR INFRACTIONS

Any of the following actions may constitute a lifetime ban from the league (at the discretion of the League Convenor):

  1. Fighting is not permitted. A player assessed with a fighting major will automatically be ejected from the game and assessed an additional 5-game suspension.
  2. 2-major infractions in a single season
  3. Physical abuse or verbal threat of any of our officials both on and off the ice.
  4. Third man in or jumping off the bench during an altercation.
  5. Property damage to the rink facilities or other players’ belongings.
  6. Playing with a suspended player or player that is not on the team’s roster (without approval from the league)
  7. There is zero tolerance alcohol policy - Players cannot participate under the influence of alcohol. If a player abuses this policy, they will be immediately suspended from league play and from further participation.

Play safe and have fun!

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Play4Fun Hockey Management