🏒 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

Situation

Action

Disconnect before halfway point

Resume play

Disconnect in 1st period

Restart game → use 1st period as reset → resume in 2nd

Disconnect under 10:00 into 2nd

Same as above

Losing team disconnects past halfway

Game ends — score stands

Winning team disconnects

Restart → reset score to 1st-period values → play remaining 2nd & 3rd

Failure to follow rules

Captain ejected + opposing team gets 2 penalty shots


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

Late Time

Penalty

10 minutes

Opponent gets penalty shot

15 minutes

Forfeit loss


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.

Violation

Penalty

10 minutes late

Opponent gets penalty shot

15 minutes late

Forfeit loss

Repeated lateness/abuse

Further sanctions


9. STANDINGS & POINT SYSTEM

Result

Points

Regulation win

3

Overtime win

2

Overtime loss

1

Regulation loss

0

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

Offense

Suspension

Leaving mid-play without warning

1 game

4 penalties in one game

Must leave — refusal = 3 games

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.