🏒 World of Chel Hockey League (WOCHL) Official Rulebook

1. THE BASICS

Goal Definition

A goal counts when the puck fully crosses the goal line.
An official may disallow a goal if necessary.

2. GAMEPLAY FORMAT

• Games are played 3v3 (3 skaters + 1 goalie per team).
• AI skaters are allowed.
• AI goalies are NOT allowed — using one results in an automatic forfeit.
• Each game consists of three 20-minute periods (4:00 real-time per period).

Tied Games

If tied after regulation:

1. Play one overtime period (sudden death).
2. If still tied, exit the game, enter a new one, and conduct a 3-round shootout.
3. Every skater must shoot (including CPUs).
4. Communicate the shooting order with the opposing team before starting.
5. Goalies may shoot.
6. If still tied after 3 rounds, continue the sudden-death shootout using the same order.

3. MERCY RULE

• The game will automatically end immediately when a team leads by 10 or more goals at the 10:00 mark in the 2nd period or later.
• No agreement between teams is required.
• The score at the moment the mercy rule triggers is the official final score.
• If a player disconnects during a 5-goal or greater blowout in the 3rd period, the game automatically ends.

4. CONFUSING OR INTERRUPTED GAMES

Disconnect Procedures

5. GAME SETTINGS

Lobby Rules

• All games are played in private lobbies.
• Teams select home/away.
• Any server is allowed.
• Replay skipping is allowed unless the home team disables it.
• Period length: 4 minutes.

Home Team Responsibilities

• Declare if it is a grudge match.
• Set the game password.

Password Violations

6. REGULAR SEASON

• Each team plays 18 games.
• Top 4 teams qualify for playoffs.

7. PLAYOFF STRUCTURE

Format

Round 1 (Best of 5):

• 1v4 & 2v3
  
  

Championship (Best of 7):

• Round 1 Winners Face Off.

8. SCHEDULING RULES

• All games are scheduled by the league.
• Cancellations must be made at least 3 hours before game time.

9. STANDINGS & POINT SYSTEM

Tiebreakers (in order):

1. Win percentage
2. Head-to-head
3. Goal differential
4. Total wins

10. STATISTICS & REPORTING

• If no scorekeeper is present, a player must report stats to the commissioner.
• Failure to report may remove award eligibility.

11. DISCIPLINE & CONDUCT

General Conduct

Discipline may be issued for:

• Puck ragging
• Quitting mid-game
• Unsportsmanlike behavior

Repeat offenses double in suspension length.

Automatic Suspensions

Puck Ragging Policy

Definition: Deliberately holding the puck without intent to advance play.

Allowed:

• Regrouping under pressure
• Brief circling to find a lane
• Resetting after broken play

Not Allowed:

• Repeated laps behind net
• Holding puck in one zone without pressure
• Back-and-forth stalling passes
• Standing still or looping to burn time

Video evidence required for enforcement.

Off-Ice Discipline

No discrimination against players on social media. (Real life photos/videos of players)
First offense = 3–5 game suspension.
Team discrimination is allowed.

12. ROSTERS

• All players must be league-approved.
• Using unapproved players = forfeit + captain suspension.
• All rosters must fit under the newly incorporated salary cap.
  • Each player is assigned a number of stars out of 10.
  • Each team has a 38 star limit.
  • There is a maximum of one 10 star player per team.

13. DRAFT RULES

• 1 round only.
• Lottery determines order.

14. RE-SIGN PHASE

Occurs after the draft. Teams may re-sign players or cut them to free agency.

15. FREE AGENCY

• Players must re-sign at the end of the season or enter free agency.

16. LEAVE & TRADE REQUESTS

• Managers have 48 hours to act.
• If ignored, player becomes a free agent.
• Players may force one trade per season.

17. REBRANDING & DISBANDING

Rebranding

• Team names cannot change mid-season.
• Logos/colors may change.

Disbanding

• Team has 72 hours to reconsider.
• After that, team is removed permanently.