Airdrie Recreational Hockey League (ARHL)

Rules and Regulations

1. Governing Rules

1.1 The Airdrie Recreational Hockey League (ARHL) is governed by the Hockey Canada Rulebook, except where modified or supplemented by these ARHL Rules and Regulations.

1.2 These rules represent the minimum playing and conduct standards established by the ARHL.

1.3 The ARHL Executive reserves the right to impose additional disciplinary action and/or suspensions where the conduct of a player or team is determined to have a detrimental effect on the safety, integrity, or reputation of the league.

2. Player Eligibility and Team Rosters

2.1 Definition of a Player

For the purposes of these rules, a player is any skater or goaltender, whether full-time, part-time, or a spare, who:

• is registered on an ARHL team roster; and

• has completed the required ARHL player waiver and liability documentation.

2.2 Minimum Age

All players must be 18 years of age or older.

2.3 Player Waivers

A player may not participate in an ARHL game unless the required player waiver and liability documentation has been completed.

If a team allows an ineligible player who has not completed the required documentation to participate in a game, the team will automatically forfeit the game and the result will be recorded as a 1–0 loss.

2.4 Registration Approval

The ARHL reserves the right to refuse the registration of any player into the league.

2.5 Maximum Team Roster

Each team may register a maximum of:

• 22 skaters; and

• 3 goaltenders.

2.6 Spare Players

Spare players must be identified as spares on the team's roster.

A spare player may participate provided the player is properly registered and has completed the required ARHL liability waiver.

2.7 Minimum Players to Start a Game

Teams must have a minimum of:

• 5 skaters; and

• 1 goaltender

on the ice and ready to play at the scheduled game time.

2.8 Roster Submission

Team rosters must be completed and submitted to the ARHL by September 15 of the applicable season.

3. Regular-Season Standings and Statistics

3.1 League Statistics

The ARHL will track league statistics including:

• wins;

• losses;

• ties;

• goals;

• assists; and

• penalty minutes.

If there is a discrepancy between the online statistics and the official game record, the team representative must contact the ARHL Executive to request a correction.

3.2 Standings Points

Teams will receive:

• 2 points for a win;

• 1 point for a tie; and

• 0 points for a loss.

3.3 Regular-Season Shootout

If a regular-season game remains tied at the end of regulation and sufficient time remains in the scheduled ice time, a three-player shootout will be conducted.

Each team will select three shooters, for a maximum of six initial shootout attempts.

If the game remains tied following the three shooters from each team, the game will be recorded as a tie.

The shootout will only be conducted when sufficient time remains in the ice permit.

3.4 Two-Team Standings Tiebreaker

If two teams are tied in the standings at the conclusion of the regular season, playoff seeding will be determined in the following order:

1. Head-to-head record;

2. Goal differential;

3. Fewest penalty minutes; and

4. Coin toss.

3.5 Three-or-More-Team Standings Tiebreaker

If three or more teams are tied in the standings at the conclusion of the regular season, playoff seeding will be determined in the following order:

1. Goal differential;

2. Fewest penalty minutes; and

3. Random draw.

4. Scheduling and Forfeits

4.1 League Schedule

All ARHL games will be scheduled and organized through www.arhlhockey.com.

4.2 Team Responsibility

Team representatives are responsible for ensuring that their team is available and prepared to participate in all scheduled:

• regular-season games;

• playoff games; and

• tournament games, where applicable.

4.3 Forfeits

All forfeited games will be recorded as a 1–0 victory for the opposing team.

4.4 Expulsion From the League

Any team or player expelled from the ARHL will receive no refund of any regular-season or playoff fees.

5. Game Format

5.1 Game Time

All ARHL games will be scheduled within a 1.25-hour (75-minute) ice time.

5.2 Warm-Up

Teams will receive a 5-minute warm-up, beginning at the start of the scheduled permit time.

5.3 Period Length

Games will consist of three 14-minute stop-time periods.

5.4 Intermissions

There will be a 1-minute intermission between periods.

5.5 Timeouts

Each team is permitted one 60-second timeout per game.

5.6 Goaltender Mask or Helmet – Stoppage of Play

NEW FOR 2026/27

Play will be stopped immediately whenever a shot strikes the goaltender's mask or helmet, regardless of whether the mask or helmet is displaced or damaged.

5.7 Game Officials and Timekeepers

Officials and timekeepers are expected to be ready 5 minutes prior to the scheduled game time, with the game sheet prepared for the start of the game.

6. Equipment

6.1 Team Jerseys

Each team must have at least one set of matching jerseys with clearly distinguishable numbers for all players, including spare players.

Exceptions may be permitted where jersey colours are sufficiently similar and the player's number is clearly visible.

If both teams are wearing similar-coloured jerseys, the visiting team is responsible for changing jerseys.

6.2 Captains and Alternate Captains

Each team must designate:

• 1 Captain; and

• 2 Alternate Captains.

These designations must be permanently identified on the front of the appropriate players' jerseys.

6.3 Goaltender Jerseys

A goaltender may wear a jersey that is a different colour from the rest of the team, provided it is not the same colour as the opposing team's jerseys.

A goaltender may not be designated as a Captain or Alternate Captain.

6.4 Helmets and Facial Protection

All players must wear a CSA-approved helmet with a properly fitted chin strap.

All players must also wear a CSA-approved facial protector, visor, or cage. There are no exceptions to this requirement.

6.5 Warm-Up Helmet Requirement

Any player participating in warm-up without a helmet will:

• be assessed a minor penalty for illegal equipment, to be served at the beginning of the game; and

• not be permitted to participate until a helmet is properly worn.

6.6 Goaltender Head Protection

Goaltenders must wear a CSA-approved helmet with a securely attached CSA-approved cage.

6.7 Other Protective Equipment

The ARHL recommends that all players wear shoulder pads but does not require them.

All other required hockey equipment is mandatory.

7. Penalties and Player Conduct

7.1 Non-Contact League

The ARHL is a NON-CONTACT hockey league.

Body contact may be assessed a penalty at the discretion of the on-ice officials.

7.2 Abuse of Officials, Staff, and League Members

The ARHL has zero tolerance for verbal or physical abuse directed toward:

• on-ice officials;

• off-ice officials;

• arena or facility staff; or

• ARHL members.

Any player who threatens the safety or well-being of an on-ice or off-ice official will be subject to review by the ARHL Executive and may receive discipline up to and including a lifetime ban from the ARHL.

7.3 Three-Penalty Rule

Any player assessed three penalties in one game will be ejected for the remainder of the game.

A substitute player must immediately serve any required penalty time associated with the third penalty.

Any combination of:

• minor penalties;

• bench minor penalties; or

• major penalties

may count toward an individual's three-penalty total.

A double minor counts as two infractions toward the three-penalty maximum.

Any player ejected from an ARHL game may also receive an additional suspension at the discretion of the ARHL Executive.

7.4 High-Sticking the Puck

High-sticking the puck will result in an immediate whistle and stoppage of play.

7.5 High-Sticking an Opponent

A high-stick that causes an opponent to bleed may be assessed as a double minor, at the discretion of the on-ice officials.

A double minor will count as two infractions toward the player's three-penalty limit.

The incident may also result in an ejection and/or additional review by the ARHL Executive.

7.6 Spare Player Misconduct

A spare player who receives a 5-minute major penalty and/or a 10-minute misconduct may be banned from participating for the remainder of the season.

8. Penalty Standards

The following ARHL penalty and minimum disciplinary standards apply:

The ARHL Executive may impose additional discipline where warranted.

8.1 Gross Misconduct

All gross misconduct penalties will result in an automatic suspension and may be appealed to the ARHL Executive.

8.2 Match Penalties

All match penalties will be reviewed by the ARHL Executive.

Following its review, the ARHL may impose additional suspensions, disciplinary action, and/or removal of the player from the league.

9. Fighting

9.1 First Fighting Major

Any player assessed a 5-minute major penalty for fighting will receive a minimum 4-game suspension, subject to the referee's assessment and ARHL disciplinary review.

9.2 Second Fighting Major

A player assessed a second 5-minute major penalty for fighting will receive a suspension of at least:

• 8 games; or

• the remainder of the ARHL season.

The player must also undergo an ARHL committee review before being permitted to return the following season.

10. Suspensions and Discipline

10.1 Conduct Subject to Discipline

Players who:

• engage in injurious actions toward other players;

• engage in injurious or threatening actions toward league officials or facility staff; or

• demonstrate conduct that reflects poorly on the ARHL

will be subject to discipline as determined by the ARHL Executive.

10.2 Disciplinary Decisions

Disciplinary consequences will be determined without prejudice and in a timely manner.

10.3 Ejections and Misconducts

Players ejected from a game or assessed a misconduct penalty may receive additional suspension at the discretion of the ARHL Executive.

10.4 Publication of Suspensions

ARHL suspensions will be posted on the public portion of the ARHL website and removed at the end of the applicable season.

10.5 Playing While Suspended

A player serving an ARHL suspension is not permitted to participate in any ARHL game in any division.

A suspended player is also prohibited from being:

• on the team bench; or

• in the dressing room

during an ARHL game for the duration of the suspension.

Any player who participates in an ARHL game while under suspension will be banned from the ARHL indefinitely.

10.6 Team Management Responsibility

A team General Manager may receive similar disciplinary action if the ARHL determines that the General Manager knowingly allowed a suspended player to participate.

10.7 Expulsion

Any team or player expelled from the ARHL will receive no refund of regular-season or playoff fees.

11. Penalty-Minute Suspension Thresholds

Individual regular-season penalty-minute totals will result in the following suspensions:

12. Appeals

12.1 On-Ice Penalty Decisions

The ARHL Executive will not hear appeals of penalties assessed by referees during a game.

12.2 Disciplinary Appeals

Players may appeal disciplinary action imposed by the ARHL.

An appeal must:

1. be submitted in writing by email; and

2. be submitted within 24 hours of the disciplinary decision being communicated to the team's General Manager.

12.3 Appeal Review

The ARHL Executive will administer the appeal process and may consider information from:

• game officials;

• opposing teams;

• team captains; and

• other relevant parties.

Once an appeal has been heard and a decision issued, the decision will be final.

13. ARHL Playoffs

13.1 Playoff Format

ARHL playoffs will use a single-game elimination format.

Unless specifically modified by the playoff rules below, regular-season ARHL playing rules will apply during the playoffs.

13.2 Playoff Player Eligibility

13.2.1 Skater Eligibility

UPDATED FOR 2026/27

To participate in the playoffs, a skater must:

• be properly registered on the team's roster; and

• have played a minimum of 12 regular-season games with that team.

13.2.2 Goaltender Eligibility

To participate in the playoffs, a goaltender must:

• be properly registered on the team's roster; and

• have played a minimum of 5 regular-season games with that team.

13.2.3 One-Division Playoff Eligibility

NEW FOR 2026/27

A player may participate in the playoffs in only one ARHL division.

Where a player participates in more than one division during the regular season, the player's playoff division will be determined by the division in which the player played the greatest number of regular-season ARHL games.

If a player has played an equal number of regular-season games in two or more divisions, the player will be eligible to participate in the playoffs only in the highest division in which the player participated during the regular season.

Once a player's playoff division has been established, the player is not eligible to participate in playoff games in any other ARHL division.

13.2.4 Emergency / Backup Playoff Goaltender

If a team's eligible goaltender is unable to attend a playoff game due to injury or absence, the team must submit a request to the ARHL for approval of a backup playoff goaltender.

The backup goaltender may not participate unless approved by the ARHL.

13.2.5 Eligibility Confirmation

Following each team's final regular-season game, the ARHL will provide the team General Manager with a list of eligible playoff players.

13.2.6 Player Identification

Players may be required to present identification to the timekeeper before a playoff game so that playoff eligibility can be verified.

14. Playoff Suspensions and Discipline

14.1 Regular-Season Suspensions

Any suspension remaining at the end of the regular season will carry forward into the playoffs.

14.2 Playoff Suspensions

Suspensions assessed during the playoffs must be served during the playoffs.

If the full suspension cannot be served before the team's playoff participation ends, the remaining suspension will carry forward into the following ARHL season.

14.3 Playoff Discipline

Regular-season playing and disciplinary rules will be used as the baseline for playoff discipline.

Because of the significance of playoff games, the ARHL Board retains discretion to determine the appropriate suspension or disciplinary action for incidents occurring during the playoffs.

14.4 Penalty Caps

Team and individual regular-season penalty caps apply only during the regular season and do not carry over into the playoffs.

15. Playoff Game Format

15.1 Regulation Play

Playoff games will use the same game format as regular-season games unless otherwise stated below.

15.2 Tied Playoff Games

If a playoff game is tied at the end of regulation:

• there will be no overtime period; and

• the game will proceed directly to a shootout.

15.3 Initial Shootout

The home team will choose whether to shoot first or last.

Each team will select three players.

The teams will alternate shots until all six initial shooters have taken their attempts.

15.4 Continuing Shootout

If the game remains tied following the initial three-player shootout, each team will select one additional player who has not previously participated in the shootout.

The teams will continue alternating eligible shooters until a winner is determined.

16. Changes to ARHL Rules

The ARHL reserves the right to change or modify these Rules and Regulations.

All registered teams will receive written notification before any rule change takes effect.