Constitution

The name of this league shall be the Ranchland Hockey League as herein and hereafter referred to as the Organization or League.

• The objectives of this League shall be:
• To promote and encourage an attractive caliber of Intermediate

Hockey in this section of Alberta by providing a strong governing body and organization which shall constantly endeavor to set and maintain a high standard of honor, integrity, and sportsmanship in the hockey played under this jurisdiction.

• To assist in every possible manner in the development of young                       

• To keep fast competitive hockey within the financial means of its

member clubs by doing all to prevent excessive importation of players, paying of excessive salaries that would tend to unbalance and disrupt the league and to prevent the tampering with signed players.

• To maintain harmonious relations with the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association, recognizing the need of the League executive.

• Application for the league entry by new clubs must be made at an annual meeting and be approved by the majority of the League executive. Teams will be given a 1 year probation period for final approval.

• Each team applying for league entry shall post a $500.00 bond at the annual meeting. It will be returned if entry to the league is denied.

• Each club accepted into the league membership shall abide and be governed by the League Constitution/Bylaws and their amendments.

• Teams must notify the League (in writing) of a leave of absence at or before the annual meeting.

• Voting privileges of teams with a leave of absence will be forfeited until the next annual meeting.

• Teams requesting a leave of absence or folding after the annual meeting shall forfeit all (100%) of their performance bond.

• League dues (and performance bond if applicable) as determined at each annual meeting shall be lodged with the Commissioner at the scheduling meeting.

• Any team who defaults after the first approved schedule game, that team will lose their bond and have to pay an additional $750.00 to rejoin league. If team defaults another scheduled game, the league will determine the outcome for that club.

• League Commissioner: Will be responsible for the proper supervision, administration, and jurisdiction of all League activities including schedule compilation, decision on cancelled or defaulted games, team protests or any other business as may be outlined in or arising from the covering Hockey Alberta/League By-laws of the organization.

•  League Vice-Commissioner: Will assist the commissioner with operations, handling suspensions and enforcing fines that are implemented. This position shall be held by the past Commissioner for a period of 1 year.

·         Elections shall take place at the annual meeting prior to the commencement of each season.

• Voting: Each appointed member of the Executive is entitled to one vote per team on any or all questions arising at the League meetings. The
• Commissioner (or Vice- Commissioner in his absence) is entitled

•  Executive Passes: Each team will receive five passes each year which will be good for RHL regular games and playoff games. Teams who are “on leave” will not receive any passes.

• The annual meeting shall be held no later than Aug 31st with notification in email, league website or by phone call of the exact place, date and time of such meeting to be directed by the Commissioner to the respective League Executive members at least seven days in advance of the date.

•  “Special” meetings of the Executive as may be so required in connection with arising League administration and/or activities may be cancelled by the President at his discretion provided due notification of the same, either verbally or in writing is conveyed to each and every executive member at least four hours in advance of such meeting.

•  All members from the RHL who miss a schedule meeting will be fined $100.00 payable before their next meeting

•  Any team that owes money to the RHL has to be in good standing with the league by the year-end meeting or will lose their bond. 

AMENDMENTS & ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION

• Amendments, alterations and/or deletions to the covering Constitution may be effected at any Executive meeting on a unanimous vote or by a Notice of Motion with seven days notice with a majority vote or at the annual meeting with a majority vote.

CANCELLED OR POSTPONED GAME

•  Team representatives who are individually or jointly compelled to cancel or postpone any League playoff game for legitimate reasons must notify either the league Commissioner or his representative of their intentions by telephone no later than 4:00 p.m. of the day previous to the game. Failure to do so will result in a $100.00 fine to the team responsible (team that cancels or postpones)

• The Commissioner or his representative upon such notification will, at his discretion render final decision on or before 5:30 p.m. of the same day with advice accordingly to each club representative as concerned. In the event of Acts of God, all games must be cancelled prior to 4:00 p.m. of the day of the game.

•  In the event of Acts of God that do not afford notification in accordance with the above requirements, the participating team representative will complete their own mutual arrangements for necessary replay of such a postponed or canceled game and BOTH notify the League Commissioner or his representative at the earliest possible hour of the appropriate cancellation and revised replaying date as agreed upon.

• The home team shall be responsible for notifying the on-ice officials and shall be responsible for notifying the officials of the replaying date of said game.

• Postponed games must be rescheduled within three weeks of when the scheduled game was canceled. The Commissioner may award points if games are not rescheduled during the three weeks time frame or set a date when the game shall be played.

• A game cancelled under controllable circumstances, the offending team shall be compensated for travel or ice cost min (3hr charge at the rinks rate) for that game. To be dealt with by the Commissioner or representative.

• DEFAULTED GAMES

•  Team Defaulting One Game: Forfeiture of annual membership fee (BOND) which will be paid in its entirety by the organization to the opposing club within thirty days of the current season’s final playoff game.

• Within 24 hours of participation by such defaulting team in their next schedule league or playoff game, the club involved must complete a payment to the Commissioner of the League an amount identical to the annual membership fee and fine. $1250 Dollars


• Team Defaulting Their Second Game: In the event of a similar second game default by the same club, such team involved will be automatically disqualified from further League participation and representation with the normal forfeiture and payment to the opposing club of the payment of their second membership fee in accordance with the Executive disposition as outlined under the first detail rule  of the CAHA covering automatic one year suspension to the manager, coach, or officials of such club responsible will apply in such an instance.

• PLAYING RULES

• All games under the jurisdiction of the Ranchland Hockey League shall be governed by, and be subject to the current playing rules and regulations of the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association and Hockey Canada.

• No games shall commence before 1:00 p.m. or after 9:00 p.m. (unless there is a mutual agreement between the affected teams with the League Commissioner approval.)

• Each evening scheduled league or playoff game shall commence at 8:30 p.m. And no earlier than 7pm unless otherwise agreed upon by clubs and approved by League Commissioner.

• Each afternoon scheduled league or playoff game shall commence at no earlier than 2:30 p.m.

• No player may join a game after the first period, it is the coaches responsibility to have the referee to bring score sheet over to the benches at the start of the second period to cross off any players that are on the score sheet that are not on the bench at start of second period

•  If a discussion is held in a referees room the head coach of each team are the only persons to be allowed in to over hear.

• All teams must have matching jerseys, color pants (shorts) and socks for every player dressed in game. A player(s) failing to comply will result in $50/player. Teams are to report any infractions and which players and to communicate with the coach of the offending team. Which will be noted on the online scoresheet.

• Any deliberate attack of the opposition’s equipment after the stoppage of play which is recognized by the official and written up on the score sheet will result in the offending team being liable for repairs or replacement of the damaged goods.

• Each home team must supply a min of 20 warm up pucks for visiting team.

LEAGUE PLAYOFF/REFEREES/GAME REPORTS

•  Referees
  • Referees to be approved by the League executive. The president and assignors will designate the officials for all League games. NEUTRAL on-ice officials must be used in playoffs.

•  Game Reports
  • The League shall supply each club with game sheets, which must be completed in detail for each game by an official scorer as appointed by the home team. Reports should be inputted online with 24hrs following each game. All game reports must be signed and name printed by the respective referees involved prior to dispatch, The CAHA rule regarding starting lineups is to be deleted in the RHL. Game reports will be reviewed online, in case of referee write-ups, the game sheets and write ups will be faxed to Commissioner within 24hrs. PLEASE MAKE SURE SCORE SHEET IS READABLE.

PLAYERS CONTRACTS AND ELIGIBILTIY

• Each club must enter the roster online to Hockey Alberta (HCR) and RHL stat page before the start of the first regular season game.

• After December 15^th players may not play without the League Commissioner permission and must be registered on HCR.

•  All players listed on the playing game sheet shall have been registered on the HCR before playing. Any team listing a player who has not signed a card shall forfeit ALL GAMES that said player was listed when not in possession of such a card. And be subject an indefinite suspension by the President of Hockey Alberta as per By Laws.

•  As per RHL rules, each team may have a maximum of 25 carded players EXCLUDING affiliated players, eligible for play at a single time. Each team is limited to 19 affiliated players, which must all be from Jr.A or lower teams.

•  Players cannot be paid; failure to comply will result in a two-year suspension of player, team, and officials involved. Performance bond will be immediately forfeited, and must be re-paid before playing next schedule game.

• Any player of the Ranchland Hockey League, as a supplement to prevailing AAHA regulations, must play (6) games to be eligible to play in the playoffs. If injured before sixth game, a doctor’s note must be forwarded to league Commissioner. Players can be signed in accordance to Hockey Alberta rules.

•  Any injured goaltender in accordance with AAHA rules may be replaced with a goaltender from any team in the RHL that is out of playoff action. A team cannot bring a goaltender from the same round of playoff format.

• Any team who has signed one goaltender as of February 10^th can only carry one goaltender.

• In the event of an arising player eligibility dispute, the current rules of the AAHA will be applicable and so enforced within the exception of the goal tender rules above rules.

•  Affiliated players do not have to play a minimum amount of games to be eligible for playoffs. A maximum of 3 affiliates per game allowed in the playoffs.

LEAGUE STANDINGS

• The winning team in each completed league game will be credited two Points in the official League standings.
• In the event of a tie game each participating team will be credited with one point in the official League standings. The two teams will then play five (5) minutes of four on four play. During the 4 on 4 play in OT, if one team wins during this five minutes of play, they will be awarded one (1) extra point. If teams are still tied, there will be a shootout, 5 shooters from each side.
• The home team decides who shoots first. If still tied after 5 shooters, it will continue in sudden death form with each team having the same number of chances. A team will not be able to send a repeat shooter until the teams with the shortest game roster have all shot. If you are in the penalty box at the end of OT you are NOT allowed to shoot in the shootout.

• In the event of a tie in the official League standings at the expiration of the annual league schedule, the respective rulings will be followed:

• Between Two Teams
  • Total league wins
  • Points gained against each other
  • Goals for, against, each other
  • Goals against each other
  • Total goals for
  • Total goals against
• More Than Two Teams Tied
  • Total league wins
  • Total points earned against each other (if two still tied refer to (A) above.)
  • Total points for, against each other
  • Total goals against each other
  • Playoff game at neutral arena

• PROTESTS

• All arising game protests must be withheld pending each match’s completion, with submission of such protests to be undertaken and filed in the following manner.

•  Protesting Team:

After the manager or coach of such team has verbally notified his counterpart of the other team, will within 72 hours of the advertised time of the match so protested, phone or write the Commissioner or his representative advising of full particulars of the evidence as involved.

Such verbal evidence as originally conveyed shall IMMEDIATELY be followed by submission to the League Commissioner and to each Executive Member of the League, copies of written evidence in supports of and accompanied by a protest fee of $100.00.

•  Protested Team:

After being verbally notified by the protesting team as above, will within 24 hours of such notification, undertake submission to the League Commissioner or his representative, copies of written evidence of defense. The League Commissioner, following receipt of supporting enclosures as above, shall render a decision on such submission. If the protest is ALLOWED, the protesting fee of $100.00, less executive expenses as incurred in consideration of said protest, will not be refunded to the protesting team.

•  Appeals of The Commissioner’s Decision:

If the decision of the Commissioner is appealed, one member from each team will vote to decide whether to overturn the decision. This decision will be final and binding. In the event of a tie, the President’s decision will stand.

• Current rules of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association will be applied and govern the League accordingly as arising ruling on player’s suspensions.

• Players shall have the opportunity to come before the League Commissioner and appeal for a lesser suspension. The appeal must be filed in writing with the Commissioner not more than 24 hours after the automatic suspension is laid down.

•  Teams appealing a player suspension shall post an non-refundable appeal fee of $100.00/player with the League and notify the Commissioner or his representative that an appeal is being launched. Within 72 hours of notifications the League Commissioner shall investigate with the help of Assistant Commissioner on the ruling. The player or players involved with said appeal shall be under suspension until such meeting is convened. All rulings after appeal will be final if any changes commence.

• Any player, goalie or management using racial remarks will be given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and written up by officials. This will not be taken lightly and appeals will not be granted!!

Checking to the head Penalties will be ruled against as follows

• DELIBERATE ATTEMPT TO INJURE

1^st offense 5 games and league review

2^nd offense 7 games and league review

3^rd offense league suspension and hearing at AGM

• MATCH PENALTIES:
•  1^st match penalty                                      5 games
• 2^nd match penalty                                      7 games                
•  3^rd match penalty                                     league suspension

• BENCH CLEARING INCIDENTS;

•  The first team off the bench in bench clearing incidents will be fined ONE THOUSAND Dollars ($1000.00) and if Officials can identify first player off the bench they also receive a three (3) game suspension and a review by the Commissioner and the use of Hockey Canada Bylaws.

•  Any fighting outside the actual playing surface will result in all participants being assessed a seven (7) game suspension and a league review. Teams involved will also be issued a ONE THOUSAND $1000 fine

•  The team emerging as winner of the final playoff series will be officially declared League Champions, until commencement of the following season’s activities, at which time said trophy will be surrendered to the League Executive at the scheduling meeting.

• If the trophies are damage the offending team will be billed for new trophies and must be paid by the next scheduled meeting.

•  The League will purchase a banner for the League Champions each season.

•  New uniforms which may be purchased by any club in the League must be dully approved by the Executive prior to utilization.

•  Each team in the League shall have two sets of contrasting sweaters, the lighter color for home and the darker color to be used for away games.

•  The Ranchland Hockey League suggest teams purchase insurance through Hockey Alberta, this may help get players for fear of loss or injury.

• All insurance claims are to be paid out in accordance with the Hockey Alberta insurance policy.

• $50/player Uniform guidelines
• $50 Score sheets not submitted online within 24hrs
• $100  Missing any schedule meeting
• $750  Defaulting a scheduled game plus loss of league bond $500
• $1000 Fighting outside playing surface
• $1000 Bench Brawl (first team identified)