Constitution

5. CIHL JERSEYS:

   1. All sponsored team jerseys and socks are the property of the CIHL until the end of the season at which time players will be allowed to keep their own team jersey and socks.
   2. Players must return their jerseys and socks after each game is completed. Players are not permitted to take home their jersey or socks during the year.
   3. Players will not be allowed to play if they refuse to wear their team-sponsored jersey and socks.
   4. Fines (HK$800) will be imposed for lost and non-returned uniforms.

6. PLAYER DRESS CODE:

   1. All players must arrive and depart the rink in minimum smart casual attire.
   2. Dress pants (khaki pants), dress shoes and polo shirts are the minimum requirements for opening night and playoff games.
   3. During the regular season jeans, T-shirts (not with holes and tears) and running shoes are allowed.
   4. Shorts, sandals and flip-flops are not permitted at any time.

7. GAME FORMAT:

   1. 3 minute warm up followed by a ice clean
   2. 3 periods of 15 minutes (full stop time)
   3. Cleaning of the ice:
      1. After the 3 minute warm up of the 1st game
      2. After the 2nd period of the 1st game
      3. After the 3rd period of the 1st game
      4. After the 2nd period of the 2nd game
   4. One (30 seconds) timeout per game / per team
   5. If the game is tied after regulation, teams will play 3 on 3 for 3 minutes (stop time) of sudden death overtime. There are no shootouts during the regular season – games end in a tie.
   6. A tiebreaker in the standings will be based in the order of most points, wins, head-to-head, lowest goals against, goal difference, least penalty minutes and coin toss.
   7. PLAYOFFS: – If a game is tied after regulation, a 5-minute sudden death overtime period will be played 3 on 3. If still tied after 5-minutes, a 3-player shootout will take place (refer to #9 OVERTIME AND SHOOTOUTS). In the Championship Final, a second 5-minute sudden death overtime period will be played before proceeding to the shootout.
   8. Playing rules will be under the IIHF Rules. There will be slight modifications to the rules due to the size / nature of the ice rink.

8. START OF GAME:

   1. For all games – after the warm-up is completed and the ice has been cleaned, the referees shall blow his/her whistle to start the game. The starting line up is to go directly to center ice and get ready for the puck drop. The rest of the team is to go DIRECTLY to the bench, there is to be no team gathering on the ice... after the first initial warning, a delay of game penalty will be called. This will be strictly enforced.
   2. All teams must have the same team jerseys and matching socks. Team players without matching socks will not be allowed to play. Player call-ups must follow the same rule.... There are no exceptions to this rule.
   3. If one or both teams do not have either of their goalies ready by the start of the game, they can play with an extra attacker (the player will be treated as an extra attacker and not a goalie). There will be no waiting for goalies to start the game.

9. OVERTIME AND SHOOTOUTS:

   1. There will be a 3-minute sudden death overtime period played 3 on 3 – there are no shootouts during the regular season league games – games end in a tie.
   2. In the playoffs, a 5-minute sudden death overtime period will be played 3 on 3. If still tied after 5-minutes, a 3-player shootout will take place to determine the winner. In the Championship Final, a second 5-minute period will be played. A 3-player shootout will follow if still tied.
      1. The team that is the higher seed will have the choice of shooting first or second.
      2. The first three shooters of each team must be taken from a different player.
      3. Should the shootout remain a tie after the first three shooters, the teams will change the order. i.e. if Team A shoots first then on the forth shot, Team B would shoot first.
      4. Teams can re-use the same shooters as many times as they want after their third shot.
   3. If a player has remaining time on his/her penalty when overtime expires, he or she will NOT be allowed to take part in the shootout and must stay in the penalty box.

10. PLAYER ELIGIBIITY / TEAM ROSTERS:

    1. All players must register and sign the CIHL disclaimer form prior to their first game. Any player playing without a completed disclaimer form/contract is considered an ineligible player and may cause his/her team to forfeit game(s) played in. Also, any game the player has played in without the completed disclaimer form, will not count towards the League stats.
    2. Players need to play or be dressed for a minimum of 8 regular season games to be eligible for the playoffs.
       1. Exception – players can be placed on the Disable List (DL) with a Doctor’s note / examination. The amount of games missed will be considered the amount of games played.
       2. Players on the DL cannot play in other divisions or leagues otherwise the games will not be counted as games played. The team (GM) must declare the player to be off of the DL in order to participate in any games.
       3. The league will review all player eligibility prior to the start of the playoffs and may grant exceptions on a case-by-case situation.
    3. Drafted players cannot be ‘cut’ from the team.
    4. Any GM’s or other player(s) who threatens or asks any of their players not to show up or play, will be subject to a suspension.
    5. Players must be of 16 years of age to play in the CIHL however the league will grant exceptions on a case-by-case situation.
    6. Players U16 must be registered and playing in another league (i.e. HK Typhoons, HKL) to be eligible for consideration to play in the CIHL. The CIHL cannot be their only league of play.

11. PLAYER ELIGIBIITY / TEAM ROSTERS:

    1. All players must register and sign the CIHL disclaimer form prior to their first game. Any player playing without a completed disclaimer form/contract is considered an ineligible player and may cause his/her team to forfeit game(s) played in. Also, any game the player has played in without the completed disclaimer form, will not count towards the League stats.
    2. Drafted players cannot be ‘cut’ from the team.
    3. Any GM’s or other player(s) who threatens or asks any of their players noy to show up or play, will be subject to a suspension.
    4. Players must be of 16 years of age to play in the CIHL however the league will grant exceptions on a case-by-case situation.

12. TEAM CALL-UP RULE:

    1. Team GM’s are eligible to ask the league commissioner for a call-up player(s) once their team roster falls below 10 players (excluding goalies). If a team has 10 players or more they are not allowed to call-up a player regardless of who is missing. Teams are only allowed to call-up player(s) to reach 10 players (i.e. If a team has 9 players – they are allowed to call up one player, if the team has 8 players, they are allowed to call up two players). This applies to both regular season and playoff games.
    2. 9 players (excluding goalies) is the minimum requirement for a CIHL game. If a team has 8 players they must call up 1 to meet the 9 players but they do have the option of calling up 2 players for 10 (refer to point a).
    3. GM’s must have the call-up players approved by the Commissioner prior to the start of the game. The Assistant Commissioner can also approve last-minute player call-ups.
    4. Players (excluding goalies) are ranked in the CIHL (per team there are four 5’s, four 4’s and the balance are 3’s.
    5. Call-up players (not drafted in the CIHL) are also ranked by the league. No call-up player is allowed to play in the league if they have not been ranked.
    6. Call-up players can only replace a missing CIHL player who is equal or higher to their ranking (not lower). This means a call-up player who is ranked a ‘4’ can only replace a CIHL player who is ranked a 4 or 5 (not a 3).
    7. Call-up players must pay a game fee of $350 HKD per game.
    8. All call-ups must sign the CIHL disclaimer form and meet the CIHL equipment standard to be eligible to play.

13. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY - PLAYOFFS:

    1. Any drafted CIHL player is eligible for the playoffs regardless of the number of regular seasons he/she has played in.
    2. Call-up players are eligible for the playoffs; there is no preset requirement of regular season games played to be eligible for the playoffs.

14. PLAYERS:

    1. NO call up player(s) may enter a game once the puck has been dropped to start the third period.
    2. Drafted players are exempt from this rule and many enter the game at any time.
    3. Players can dress as a goalie and goalies can dress as a player.

14. ICING – HYBRID RULE:

    1. During a race for the puck, if the defending team will reach the puck first – ICING will be called.
    2. During a race for the puck, if the attacking team will reach the puck first – ICING is waved off.
    3. If the goaltender comes out of the crease or makes motion towards the puck – NO ICING will be called.
    4. If the puck makes contact with the goal frame and then crosses the icing line – NO ICING will be called.
    5. The ‘ATTAINABLE PASS’ rule no long applies which means if the offensive team does not touch the puck on the attacking half of the centerline, this is an ICING SITUATION.
    6. The offending team will not be allowed to make any line changes.
    7. Teams that have iced the puck and try to change will be given a warning by the referee – continued efforts to change will result in a delay of game penalty.

15. SLAP SHOTS:

    1. Full slap shots are allowed

16. BODY CHECKING:

    1. Full body contact is allowed however there will be STIFF penalties and suspensions for:
       1. Checking from behind
       2. Checking to the head (contact with the head)

17. GOAL WITH THE SKATE:

    1. No goal will be allowed if an attacking skater directs the puck into the goal net with his skate in any manner.

18. PENALTY SHOTS:

    1. The 'Spin-O-Rama' move will no longer be permitted either in Penalty Shot situations or in the Shootout.
    2. Any player is allowed to take a penalty shot for their team – regardless if the player is one the ice at the time of the penalty or on the bench.
       1. A player who is fouled and awarded a penalty does not have to take the penalty – any player on the team is allowed to take the shot for the team.

19. FACE-OFFS:

    1. To curb delay tactics on face-offs after icing infractions, in situations where the defending team is guilty of a face-off violation, following an icing, the defending player who is initially lined up for the face-off will be given a warning, but will be required to remain in the circle to take the face-off. A second face-off violation by the defending team in such situation will result in a two-minute minor bench penalty.

20. PUCK OUT OF BOUNDS:

    1. There have been further rule changes made relating to face-off location to avoid penalizing teams for plays intended to create bona fide scoring opportunities. Specifically, the following are "categories of plays" where face-offs will remain in the attacking zone despite the fact that the attacking team was technically responsible for the stoppage in play: Shots at the net by a player on the attacking team where: (i) the shot breaks the glass; (ii) the shot goes off the side of the net and deflects out of play; (iii) the shot goes off the dasher boards or glass and deflects out of play; (iv) the shot is tipped or deflected out of play by a teammate; and (v) the shot becomes wedged in or on the exterior of the goal net.

21. COINCIDENTAL PENALTIES:

    1. Teams play even strength (4 on 4) in the event of coincidental minor penalties if the numeric strength is 5 on 5 at the time of the penalties called.

22. PENALTIES:

    1. A team or a player may receive a penalty before and after the game. For example, a team may receive a bench minor for delay of game if they are not ready to start the game. A player may receive a game misconduct for making a travesty of the game or abuse of officials after the game. This also includes all coaches, GMs or any team officials.
    2. Players receiving a game ejection will be allowed to play in the next game unless an Abuse of Officials Misconduct, Major or Match penalty is committed in which the player can be suspended after a review.
    3. Players that have time remaining in their penalty must stay in the penalty box at the end of the period, OT, Shootouts & time-outs unless there is an ‘ice clean’ or the game has ‘ended’. Leaving the penalty box prior to the end of their penalty will be subject to a 2 min penalty and or 10 min misconduct (referee discretion).
    4. Penalties are 2 minutes for minors, 5 minutes for majors, 10 minutes for misconducts & game misconducts and a match penalty.

23. CHECKING FROM BEHIND:

    1. A player receiving a major penalty for checking from behind or a check to the head will result in an automatic 1 game suspension and will be reviewed by the Director of Officiating (DOO) and league Commissioner to determine suspension length.
    2. A player receiving a 2nd major penalty for checking from behind will be suspended indefinitely and will be under review by the DOO and league Commissioner to determine suspension length.

23. TRIPPING:

    1. The rule relating to "tripping" will be revised to specifically provide that a two-minute minor penalty will be assessed when a defending player "dives" and trips an attacking player with his body/arm/shoulder, regardless of whether the defending player is able to make initial contact with the puck.
    2. But, in situations where a penalty shot might otherwise be appropriate, if the defending player "dives" and touches the puck first (before the trip), no penalty shot will be awarded. (In such cases, the resulting penalty will be limited to a two-minute minor penalty for tripping.)

24. MAJOR PENALTIES:

    1. All Major penalties will receive an automatic Game misconduct penalty. The League will review all major penalties and will determine if further suspensions will be necessary.
    2. A player receiving his/her 2nd Major penalty will automatically be suspended 1 game. The player MAY receive additional suspension (league discretion) and will be under review by the DOO and league Commissioner to determine the exact suspension length.
    3. A third time will result in a suspension for the remainder of the year (including playoffs). Should the third Major occur in the player’s last game of the season, a 3-game suspension will carry over to the player’s following season.
    4. A high sticking penalty that draws blood accidentally will receive a double minor penalty.

25. FIGHTING PENALTY:

    1. Any player who fights will receive a fighting major and a game misconduct and be automatically suspended for a minimum of 5 GAMES pending the review from the DOO. A fighting major will be determined by the Referees depending on the severity of the altercation. (i.e. a punch to the head with or without gloves/blocker may be considered a fight, subject to referee discretion).
    2. Players who try to instigate a fight by throwing his/her gloves off will be assessed a 10-minute misconduct.
    3. A player involved in a 2nd fighting incident will be suspended for the remainder of the season and the DOO and Commissioner will assess further suspensions upon the review.

26. MISCONDUCTS:

    1. A player receiving a 10 Minute misconduct will serve the 10-minute penalty if time permits. A second 10 Minute misconduct in the game will result in a Game Misconduct.
    2. If a player receives a Misconduct penalty for Abuse of Officials in the last 5 minutes of the 3rd period or overtime or in the shootout, the player will receive an automatic one game suspension.
    3. If a player receives their second Misconduct penalty for Abuse of Officials of the season, the player will receive a two game suspension.
    4. A third Misconduct penalty for Abuse of Officials in the season will result in a 5 game suspension. The DOO and Commissioner may assess further suspensions upon the review.
    5. A fourth Misconduct penalty for Abuse of Officials will be a suspension for the remainder of the season.

27. MATCH PENALTIES:

    1. Any player or team official incurring a Match Penalty shall be ordered to the dressing room immediately for the balance of the game and will not be permitted to take part in any further games until his case has been dealt with by the DOO. Examples of a Match penalty are a deliberate attempt to injure another player or abuse of an official.

28. GAME MISCONDUCT:

    1. Game Misconduct penalties shall be assessed where a player conducts himself/herself in such a manner as to make a travesty of the game.
    2. Any player or team official assessed a Game Misconduct Penalty shall be ejected from the game.
    3. A total of ten minutes shall be charged in the records against a penalized player for a Game Misconduct penalty. The Referee shall report the offender and the full details surrounding the violation to the DOO who may assess further penalties.
    4. Any player or team official who is assessed a Game Misconduct penalty may receive further suspensions from the League.

29. ABUSE OF OFFICIALS AND OTHER MISCONDUCT:

    1. Team Officials shall be responsible for their conduct and that of their players at all times. They must endeavor to prevent disorderly conduct before, during, or after the game, on or off the ice and any place in the rink. The Referee may assess penalties to any of the above officials for failure to do so and shall report full details of the incident to the DOO.
    2. A Minor penalty shall be assessed to any player or team official who challenges or disputes the rulings of an official during the game or who displays unsportsmanlike conduct. If the person persists, he or she shall be assessed a Misconduct penalty for Abuse of Officials and any further disputes will result in a Game Misconduct penalty being assessed to the offending person.
    3. Referees are not required to assess a Minor penalty under this rule before assessing the Misconduct or Game Misconduct and may assess either of these penalties initially.
    4. Any player in an altercation with an official will be suspended indefinitely. The DOO and the league Commissioner to determine the exact suspension length will further review the case.

30. A MISCONDUCT PENALTY

    shall be assessed to any player or team official who:
    1. Uses obscene, profane or abusive language or gestures to any person.
    2. Persists in disputing or shows disrespect for the ruling of any official.
    3. A player who, after receiving a Misconduct penalty, persists in any of the actions of above shall be assessed a Game Misconduct penalty.
    4. Intentionally knocks or shoots the puck out of the reach of an official who is retrieving it.

31. GOALTENDERS:

    1. If a goalie is assessed a Major or Match penalty, he/she will be ejected from the game. If there is no back up goalie, the team is allowed 10 minutes to dress a player from their roster to replace him.
    2. If a goalie is hurt during the game and there is no back up, the team is allowed 10 minutes to dress a player from their roster to replace him.

32. SUSPENSIONS:

    1. The DOO and Commissioner will handle all suspensions. Referees will report the incident(s) to the DOO. The DOO may or may not need to hear from the players involved in the incident.
    2. It is the responsibility of the team managers to contact the league if clarification is required on the suspension.
    3. Suspensions will carry over to the next season or affiliate leagues or tournaments.

33. SUSPENDED PLAYERS:

    1. Suspended players are not allowed to play in the CIHL until their suspension is over.
    2. If a player is suspended and plays in additional leagues (i.e. NL - SCIHL), the player is not allowed to play with his CIHL team until the suspension from the first team is expired.  Games played by the second team do not count towards the suspension as games missed.
    3. The DOO and Commissioner will review any players which are suspended by any League(s) outside of the CIHL. The CIHL reserves the right to suspend that player until the entire suspension has been served from the other League(s).

34. GAME OFFICIALS

    have the right to eject anyone (players, coaches, spectators) out of the arena or surrounding areas of the rink.

35. APPEALS AND COMPLAINTS:

    All appeals and complaints must be submitted in writing, typed or e-mailed to the League Commissioner within 24 hours of notification of the ruling. Referee reports are kept confidential.

36. ALTERCATIONS OFF THE ICE:

    Any players taking part in an altercation off the ice such as dressing room area, concourse, food court or any area in the shopping mall, will be subject to an indefinite league suspension as well as suspension from the property owners and management.

37. PLAYERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES:

    1. Players are responsible for their own actions. If a player damages any property at the rink or anywhere in the shopping mall, he or she will be responsible in paying for the damages.
    2. Any player that causes bodily harm to another player, officials or staff in any manner will be reported to the Authorities.
    3. The league reserves the right to discipline players for inappropriate or disrespectful comments, interviews or behavior which is seen a damaging to the league, league operations, league rules, specific teams, players or the game of hockey in general. Disciplinary action can include suspension or removal from the league.

38. ALL TRADES

    must be approved by the League Commissioner:

39. TRADE DEADLINE:

    1. The deadline for player trades is March 1^st, 2019.

40. COMPLETION OF GAME:

    1. If a team decides not to complete the game for any reasons, the GM, Captain or team official will be suspended indefinitely.
    2. Any team (or player) who does not use their best efforts to win a game will be suspended indefinitely. The team or player may forfeit all or any remaining games including playoffs.

41. UPDATES AND CHANGES:

    1. The League reserves the right to update or change the constitution from time to time and will inform the players if there are changes.

42. INTERPRETATION:

    1. Should there be any discretion on misinterpretation of the rules; the League shall have the final decision.
    2. The League will revert to the IIHF Rulebook for all or any other rules not covered in this Constitution.

August 15^th, 2015