OFFICIAL BHL
RULEBOOK
2014-2015 SEASON
Remember, the number 1 rule in the BHL is: Don’t be a dick! This is pick-up
hockey. If you are out on the ice ruining everyone’s good time, or endangering
other players, you will be asked to leave the game and possibly the league. The
rules that are highlighted red inside this rulebook are what we term “dick
penalties”. Two of these in a game will see you ejected. New rules for this
season are highlighted in green. See you in the backyard!
OFFICIAL BHL RULEBOOK FOR THE 2014-2015 SEASON
All BHL games shall be played under the IIHF Official Rulebook released September 2014,
with the following amendments. Where the IIHF rulebook and these amendments are in
conflict, these amendments shall take precedence.
RULE 43 – HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED
i.
v.
A game consists of two periods of 15 minutes running time, and one period of 20
minutes of game action, stop time, plus overtime and a penalty shootout if required.
Bodychecking is not legal in this league. However, a player can use a shoulder, hip or
torso to bump or marginally impede an opponent when that opponent is in
possession of the puck. In order for this incidental contact to be legal, the player
must be making a play on the puck. Players must attempt to play hockey, and is not
attempt to ‘hit’ or completely ignore the puck at the expense of playing the body.
RULE 44 – LENGTH OF PLAY
i.
ii.
iv.
v.
Regulation time consists of two periods of 15 minutes running time, and one period
of 20 minutes of game action, stop time. The clock will stop for all penalty shots or
injury situations.
Periods are separated by 2 minute intermissions. Warm ups will be 4 minutes in
length.
The ice must be resurfaced prior to the start of each new game.
Overtime follows the third period when the score is tied after 50 minutes of
regulation time and will consist of a 5 minute period. The overtime period shall be
played 4-on-4. This period is played on a sudden death basis (next goal wins).
Overtime shall be running time, with stop time in the final minute. The penalty shot
shootout consists of three shots per team (if needed) followed by a sudden death
penalty shootout if the score in the shootout is tied after three shots.
RULE 58 – PROCEDURE FOR CONDUCTING FACEOFFS
Each game shall begin with a B-H-L start, in the tradition of the “Hockey One, Hockey Two,
Hockey Three” start to pick up games. This faceoff procedure shall apply only for the first
faceoff in each game. The procedure is as follows:
1) The referee shall place the puck on the dot at centre ice.
2) Each of the opposing players that are taking the faceoff shall line up and place their
sticks in the usual faceoff position.
3) The referee shall blow his whistle.
4) The players shall perform the B-H-L stick taps and then attempt to win the puck.
5) Game on!
RULE 63 – SHOOTOUT
ii.
iii.
x.
The ice will not be resurfaced between overtime and shootout.
The Home team shall have the choice to shoot first or second.
The sudden-death penalty shootout does not allow one player from each team to
take multiple or continuous shots. Each team must use their entire roster (including
goaltenders) before a players is allowed to take a secondary shot.
The losing team shall be awarded 1 point for a loss in overtime or shootout.
RULE 65 – ICING THE PUCK/HYBRID ICING
Please note that the Hybrid Icing rule as written in the official IIHF rulebook will apply.
Referees shall attempt to waive off as many icing calls as possible, in order to allow
encourage continuous action. The one situation where icing MUST be called is where a team
that is under pressure has cleared the puck in order to gain some relief. Attempted passes
that are near misses but travel the length of the ice should be waived off.
RULE 67 – PUCK OUT OF PLAY
i.
When the puck is shot or deflected outside the playing area (including the players’
bench), or strikes any obstacles other than the boards, protective glass or netting
above the ice surface, game action will be stopped and the ensuing faceoff will take
place at the nearest faceoff spot to where the puck was shot or deflected, ensuring
not to disadvantage the non-offending team.
NOTE: This rule means that the netting above the glass is ‘LIVE’. If the puck hits the netting
and returns to the playing surface, there will be no stoppage of play. Note that this does not
change the rules regarding puck contact with a high stick.
RULE 91 – PLAYER CHANGE DURING STOPPAGE
ii.
No team is entitled to “last change”. Both teams shall change promptly. If either
team does not make its changes promptly, the referee may not permit the change of
players.
RULE 93 – PLAYER CHANGE ON ICING CALLS
i.
A team that incurs an icing call IS ALLOWED to make player changes prior to the
ensuing faceoff.
RULE 104 – DURATION OF PENALTIES/MINOR – BENCH MINOR
i.
ii.
iii.
A single minor penalty assessed in the first or second period shall be assessed as a
penalty shot against the offending team. 2 PIM shall be assessed to the player that
was assessed the penalty. The penalty shot shall be taken by the player who was
fouled. In the third period and overtime a minor penalty constitutes 2 minutes of
playing time and must be served in full by the penalised skater. No substitution of
this player is allowed in on-ice man power. If the opposition scores during the
ensuing power play, the first minor penalty is over and the skater can leave the
penalty box provided they have no additional penalties to serve.
A double minor penalty assessed in the first or second period shall be assessed as a
penalty shot against the offending team, in addition to a 2 minute minor penalty.
This additional penalty must be served in full by the penalised skater. In the third
period and overtime a double minor penalty constitutes 4 minutes of playing time
and must be served in full by the penalised skater. No substitution of this player is
allowed in on-ice man power. If the opposition scores during the ensuing power
play, the one of the minor penalties is over and the skater can leave the penalty box
provided that both penalties have expired and the player has no additional penalties
to serve.
A player who receives four minor penalties during the course of one game shall be
assessed an additional game misconduct penalty. ‘Four minor penalties’ may be a
combination of minor penalties and double minor penalties. A double minor penalty
counts as two minor penalties. There is no automatic suspension for receiving a
game misconduct penalty under this rule.
RULE 109 – DURATION OF PENALTIES/GAME MISCONDUCT
ii.
iii.
A player who receives two game misconduct penalties during the course of the BHL
season is automatically suspended for two games, in addition to any supplemental
discipline that the BHL disciplinary panel may determine is necessary.
A player who has already been suspended under Rule 109(ii) that receives a further
game misconduct penalty shall be suspended for the remainder of the BHL season
and shall forfeit their playing fees. This rule does not prevent the BHL disciplinary
panel from imposing further penalties as necessary.
RULE 112 – COINCIDENT PENALTIES
i.
iii.
vi.
When an equal number of minor, major or match penalties of the same duration are
assessed to both teams at the same stoppage of play, the penalties are considered
co-incident penalties. Co-incident penalties shall be served by each player serving
time in the penalty box, regardless of the time of the game. Co-incident penalties do
not result in co-incident penalty shots.
If teams are playing 5-on-5 and only one minor or bench minor penalty is assessed to
each team, teams will play 4-on-4. The two players must go to the penalty box
without substitution, and they can return to the ice at the expiry of the penalties.
If teams are already playing 4-on-4 or 3-on-3, there is no further reduction of
manpower on the ice as a result of penalties of equal duration and number which
can cancel each other.
RULE 119 – BOARDING
i.
A boarding penalty is punishable by at least a double minor penalty.
RULE 122 – CHARGING
i.
A player who checks an opponent with unnecessary force or runs at or jumps into an
opponent shall be assessed at least a double minor penalty.
RULE 123 – CHECKING FROM BEHIND
i.
A player who hits an opponent from behind into the boards or the goal frame shall
be assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct penalty.
RULE 124 – CHECKING TO THE HEAD OR NECK
ii.
A player who directs a check to the head or neck of an opponent will be assessed
either a major penalty and game misconduct penalty or a match penalty.
RULE 127 – CROSS-CHECKING
i.
A player who cross-checks an opponent will be assessed at least a double minor
penalty.
RULE 135 – DELAY OF GAME/SHOOTING OR THROWING THE PUCK OUT OF PLAY
i.
A player who shoots, throws or bats the puck directly out of the playing area from
inside his defending zone anywhere in the rink during game action shall not be
assessed an automatic penalty. Instead, the offending team shall not be allowed to
make a line change. The faceoff shall take place inside the defending zone of the
offending team. Note that this rule does not prevent the referee from assessing a
delay of game penalty where the referee believes that the player has intentionally
shot the puck out of play.
RULE 139 – ELBOWING
i.
A player elbowing an opponent shall be assessed at least a double minor penalty.
RULE 143 – HIGH-STICKING
iii.
A player who intentionally strikes an opponent with a high stick shall be assessed a
match penalty for attempt to injure. There will be zero tolerance against players
using their stick as a weapon.
RULE 153 – KNEEING
i.
A skater who uses his knee to make contact with an opponent will be assessed at
least a double minor penalty.
RULE 155 – PLAYING WITHOUT A HELMET
i.
If any skater on the ice removes or loses their helmet during play, the referees shall
stop play. No penalty shall be assessed unless the player has intentionally removed
their helmet in order to stop play.
RULE 159 – SLASHING
ii.
A player who slashes an opponent will be assessed at least a minor penalty. A player
who slashes an opponent ‘with intent’ will be assessed a double minor penalty. A
slash ‘with intent’ is considered a hard chop that on the body or hands of an
opposing player, with no attempt to play the puck.
RULE 169 – BODY-CHECKING
i.
A player who body-checks an opponent shall be assessed at least a double minor
penalty.
RULE 178 – PENALTY SHOT PROCEDURE/SPECIFIC SITUATIONS
Please note that the “spin-o-rama” shootout move is no longer allowed in any league
governed by IIHF rules, including the BHL.
RULE 209 – BEYOND CENTRE RED LINE/GOALTENDER
DEFINITION: A goaltender is allowed to participate in game action across the centre red line
at any time. Note this rule will be superceded by rules for fighting if the goaltender skates
over the centre red line to engage in a confrontation. When the goaltender crosses the hash
marks, he becomes ‘live’, meaning the regular protections for a goaltender do not apply,
meaning they can be bumped or have their stick lifted. This does not mean that a
goaltender can be ‘checked’. The same protections that apply to players also apply to
goaltenders.
BHL DISCIPLINARY PANEL
The BHL Disciplinary Panel shall consist of the following members:
Cam Green; Paul Hyde; Ryan Langford; Steve Mason; Benji Potvin; Aaron Sommerville;
Brendon Waterhouse.
The Disciplinary Panel shall convene in all instances of a game misconduct or match penalty
being assessed in a BHL game. In any case of a game misconduct or match penalty, the game
referees shall submit a written report by email to the league commissioner within 72 hours
of the incident.
The panel shall have full powers to impose penalties that fit the offense, including
suspension, ban from attending BHL events or gatherings, and forfeiture of fees. The panel
may also meet to consider offenses that have occurred outside of games (i.e. at BHL events
or gatherings), or incidents that have occurred in game that did not result in a penalty being
assessed on the ice.
The panel shall make their decision in keeping with fairness and natural justice. Any player
who has a case appearing before the panel may submit a verbal or written statement in
their own defence before a decision is reached.
If one or more of the panel members was a player in the game in which the offense
occurred, that panel shall recuse themselves from the panel for that particular hearing. The
panel shall seek to remain as impartial as possible at all times, and give consideration to all
factors in making their decision.
Once a decision is made by the panel this decision is final.