Section 1: Game Play:

                1:1 Our league uses the USA hockey rulebook as a general guideline but may differ.

1:2 Game play: All I League games will consist of three fifteen-minute stop-clock periods.

1. Games will start on time, with a three-minute warm-up.

   1. Games could start no more than 5 minutes early.

2. Each team will have one time out to use if they choose.

3. There is no overtime period in weeks 1-8

   1. Nor in any consolation games. 

4. Minor penalties will be served for 2 Minutes.

   1. Any player who receives 4 penalties in one game will be ejected from the game following their 4th penalty.

   2. 4 penalties in one game will result in a one game suspension.

5. Major Penalties will be served for 5 or 10 minutes and an immediate ejection from the game will be given to the player at fault.

   1. If a player is ejected from the game, they must leave the playing surface and return to their locker room and stay there until the end of the game. They may also choose to leave the arena. Ejected players are not allowed to watch the remainder of the game.  

1:3 Check In: All players must check in with the scorekeeper prior to the opening faceoff

1. Rostered players wearing a different number jersey for the game need to check in with the scorekeeper to make note of jersey change.

1:4 Running Clock: The score clock will run in the event of a five-point score differential at any point starting in the third period.

1. The clock will stop running once the differential in the score is down to four goals or below.

1:5 Teams are NOT to touch the ice until the Zamboni doors are shut and the nets are out.

1. Entering the playing surface prior to the doors being shut may result in a 2-minute penalty to begin the game.

1:6 Major Penalties, Misconducts, and Suspensions are subject to a league investigation and possible additional discipline.

1. Game misconducts carry an automatic one game suspension.

2. Fighting majors result in an immediate departure from the league.

3. Players who receive (2) 10-minute misconduct penalties in a season will be suspended for one game following their second misconduct penalty.

   1. Another misconduct or major penalty following the suspension will disqualify the player for the rest of the season.

   2. Any subsequent misconduct or major penalty will eliminate a player from any further play in the league.

      1. Misconduct penalties will carry over throughout seasons.

      2. League holds the right to remove players entirely if deemed necessary. Without refund. Even if all prior criteria are not met.

1:8 The officials hold the right to end games early if it is in the best interest of player safety and the integrity of the league.

1. Abuse of officials will not be tolerated and are grounds for immediate ejection from the game and investigation by league officials.

2. Officials in reference are; on ice referees, scorekeeper, league officials, rink staff.

 

Section 2: Team Rules:

                2:1 Teams rosters will be set up and monitored by league officials

1. Team rosters will be constructed with fairness and even play in mind.

2. Teams may NOT bring in any other players for their game without permission from the league. I league players or otherwise.

   1. League officials hold the right to allow other I League players to Sub for a team.

   2. If they do so, a note will be added to the score sheet for that evening’s game.

3. Teams found to bring in illegal sub-players will forfeit all games played with said player(s).

   1. The player(s) found to be bringing the illegal player(s) will be suspended and can face departure from the league.

2:2 Final rosters will be sent out at Noon on the day of the first games.

1. League officials hold the right to change rosters and move players throughout the year.

2. Roster requests are all noted, but not an absolute.

3. Scorekeepers may not add players to the roster at the time of the game.

2:3 Teams in need of Sub players.

1. Teams who consistently are short players should contact league officials to request alternate players.

2. Any team who will have less than 9 rostered players may contact the league for subs.

   1. Teams may only bring in enough subs to bring them to the 10 player minimum mark.

      1. Teams are not allowed to bring in subs to fill out a full roster.

   2. Teams with 10 or more rostered players confirmed to attend may not bring in subs

   3. No players outside of approved subs can help a team out unless given direct permission from a league official.

3. League officials will investigate players who consistently do not show up to games, and those players may be replaced.

4. Teams who do not follow proper procedure for acquiring sub players may forfeit their playoff standing.

2:3 Teams who repetitively leave the locker rooms in disarray will be issued a warning.

1. If misuse of locker rooms continues teams will be held accountable by League Officials.

2. Tobacco spit, peanut shells, beer cans, hockey tape, etc. must be cleaned up after use.

Section 3: Jerseys:

3:1 Teams will be given their League Jersey at check-in.

1. Players returning to the same team from a previous season are welcome to continue wearing an existing jersey and number from before.

2. Each player is expected to wear their assigned jersey number.

 

Section 4: Advanced/ Ineligible Players

4:1 Advanced Players: Players who are seen by or reported to league officials controlling the flow of games both on the scoresheet and with play.

1. Players who are reported to be advanced will be monitored by league officials.

2. If Officials deem a player advanced they can be:

   1. Given a warning

   2. Moved to another team

   3. Dismissed from the League

      1. Criteria for Instructional League is spelled out during the registration process, refunds may not be guaranteed.

3. League officials hold the right to choose the most appropriate action from the previous list.

4:2 Ineligible Players: Players who are suspended, non-rostered, or were deemed too advanced for a specific division, or rostered on a Men’s League roster above C3

1. If an ineligible player is caught playing in an I league game he will be dismissed from any future League play, and the player who brought them in will also face discipline. See Section 2:1b

2. Exceptions to some qualifications may be made in emergency substation situations if league so deems.

   1. League approval is needed for exceptions.

4:7 Removal of an advanced player will be decided by League Officials at any point during the season.

 

 

Section 5: Challenging an advanced or ineligible player.

                5:1 Teams may challenge any player they feel to be too advanced or ineligible during a game.

1. Challenges must be made in an official manner to the referee and scorekeeper.

2. Challenges must be made prior to the completion of the game to affect the outcome of a game.

   1. If a player is challenged following a game and subsequently found to be ineligible the outcome of the game will still stand.

   2. If a player is challenged during the game and subsequently found to be ineligible during or following the game, the game will result in a forfeit for the team found to be using a ringer.

3. Any player brought to the attention of league officials will be subject to monitoring.

   1. The league will make a decision regarding the future of the player following a review.

5:2 League officials hold the right to challenge any player at any time of the season.         

 

Section 6: Protocol following challenge:

                6:1 Challenged players must produce identification to referee/ league official following the game.

1. If a player is found to not be on the roster and the team challenged during the game the game will result In a forfeit for that team (see 5:1)

2. Failure to product identification will also result in a forfeit.

6:2 Following an email to league officials; Officials will watch the challenged player and make an informed decision.

1. Decisions will not always be immediate. Officials need time to watch players and discuss.

 

 

Section 7: Standings / Schedule

7:1 Divisions

    1.Teams will be divided into 2 divisions of 5.

1. Each team will play four divisional games and four games with the other divisions.

2. Both divisions will have separate playoff brackets.

   1. Divisions will have mixed games as consolations to fill in the 10 game season. See playoff rules for more explanation.

7:2 Schedule

1. Each season will be 10 games.

   1. Regular season weeks 1-8

   2. Semifinals week 9

      1. 5th place game will be held week 9.

   3. Championship / Consolation week 10

2. Playoff seeding will be set after week 8

7:3 Score will be kept for each game.

1. Each team will receive points following the completion of each game

   1. 2 points for a victory

   2. 1 point for a tie

   3. 0 points for a loss

7:4 Tie Breakers

1. In the event two teams are tied in the standings the following tie-breakers will be applied

   1. Head to Head record. If the teams have already played, the team with the better head to head record will be the higher seed

   2. Divisional Record. If head to head to head does not break the tie, the team with the better Divisional record will be the higher seed.

   3. Goals Against. If Head to Head does not break the tie, the team with the lower Goals Against will be the higher seed.

   4. Goal Differential. If the first and second methods do not break the tie, the team with the better differential between Goals For and Goals Against will be the higher seed.

   5. In the event none of the previous tie-breakers end the tie, league officials will play Rock Paper Scissors to break the tie.

 

 

Section 8: Playoffs

                Beginning in the Summer ’21 season, the Oaks I League will conclude with Playoffs.

  8:1 Playoff Formatting

1. The top four teams in each division will move on to their playoff bracket starting in week 9.

2. Each division’s playoffs will be two rounds.

   1. A semi-final round where the highest seed in each division will play the lowest qualifying seed in their division. The second highest and second lowest will square off as well. (Week 9)

      1. Example: (1st v 4th   2nd v 3rd )

   2. The winners of the semi-final games will play the following week in the championship round. (Week 10)

      1. Example: (Semi 1 winner v Semi 2 winner)

3. All Playoff games in the semi-final round and the championship round will be eligible for overtime.

   1. Consolation games are not eligible for overtime.

4. Consolation Games

   1. The two team that finish 5th in their division will play Week 9 as a consolation game.

   2. Following the completion of Semi Final games the consolation schedule will be as follows: (Week 10)

      1. Division 1 Highest Eliminated seed v Division 2 Highest Eliminated seed.

      2. Division 1 5th Place v Division 2 Lowest Eliminated seed.

      3. Division 1 Lowest Eliminated seed v Division 2 5th place.

   3. See Mock Scenario 8:5 for greater detail.

8:2 Playoff Rosters

1. Only players on the roster may play for teams in playoffs.

   1. If a team is severely short, they may contact the league to get approved subs.

2. Any team who plays with an un-rostered player or an unapproved sub will forfeit their game.

8:3 Playoff Over Time

1. Over time will consist of a best of 5 shootout

2. The home team will decide who shoots first

3. Players may not repeat as a shooter

4. If there is no victor following the best of 5 the teams will go to ONE SHOT Sudden Death

8:4 Playoff Shootout ONE SHOT Sudden Death

1. The shootout will consist of one shot.

2. The team who finished the regular season with the higher seed will choose whether they want to shoot or they would like the other team to shoot.

3. Once it is decided who is shooting that team may choose anyone on the roster to take the shot.

   1. Substitute players are ineligible to take a shootout shot.

   2. Players who shot in the original best of 5 may take the shot.

4. Shootout is ONE SHOT and ONE SHOT ONLY

   1. If the shooter scores their team is declared the winner.

   2. If the Goalie makes the save or the shot is missed, the

 

1. Goalies' team is declared the winner.

 

8:5 Mock Scenario

 

Week 9: Semi Finals

Division 1:  1st v 4th  score: 3-2                                     2nd v 3rd score 1 -5

Division 2:  1st v 4th  score: 5-2                                     2nd v 3rd score 2 -0

D1  5th v D2  5th

 

Week 10: Finals / Consolation

Division 1:  Semi winner 1 ( 1st ) v Semi 2 winner ( 3rd )

Division 2:  Semi winner 1 ( 1st ) v Semi 2 winner ( 2nd  )

Consolation 1: D1 Highest Eliminated ( 2nd ) v D2 Highest Eliminated ( 3rd )

Consolation 2: D1 5th  v D2 Lowest Eliminated ( 4th )

Consolation 3: D1 Lowest Eliminated (4th ) v D2 5th