The Ancaster Men's Hockey League is for players who want to play clean, competitive hockey with other guys who also have to go to work the next day.

The 12 team league has two divisions, a Junior League with 6 teams and a Senior League with 6 teams. The Senior league is open to players who are 40 years of age or older. While there is no age restriction for the "Junior" league, most of the players are close to 40 or older.

Each team has 10 players who are rated from 1 to 10 by skill. That means lots of ice-time for everyone and league parity since all teams have equally rated players. If a player can't make a game, the team rep calls a player with an equivalent rating from the Spare List to replace him. Usually the best way to get into the league is to get on the Spare List first for a year or two.

Games are played Friday and Saturday nights at Morgan Firestone and Spring Valley arenas. Teams play a 26 game season including playoffs. The cost to play in the league is $350.

1. The Draft

1) Player Ratings
All players in the league will be rated by the executive and placed in one of ten groups of 6 players or the one group of goaltenders (for both Junior and Senior divisions).

2) Draft Format
The draft will be held using the following format:
a) Twelve team reps. To be picked from the league.
b) Each team rep to draft his own team.
c) Draft order to be determined by team, one player is to be picked from each group of six players in a random order.
d) Draft order as follows:

Team #1: 1 - 6 - 3 - 4 - 2 - 5 - 1 - 6 - 3 - 4 - 2
Team #2: 2 - 5 - 1 - 6 - 3 - 4 - 2 - 5 - 1 - 6 - 3
Team #3: 3 - 4 - 2 - 5 - 1 - 6 - 3 - 4 - 2 - 5 - 1
Team #4: 4 - 3 - 6 - 1 - 5 - 2 - 4 - 3 - 6 - 1 - 5
Team #5: 5 - 2 - 4 - 3 - 6 - 1 - 5 - 2 - 4 - 3 - 6
Team #6: 6 - 1 - 5 - 2 - 4 - 3 - 6 - 1 - 5 - 2 - 4


2. The Game

1) AMHL is governed by CAHA rules.

2) Previous to each game the teams will be given a two-minute warm up from the time the tractor leaves the ice surface. No extension is to be given. The clock shall start immediately after the warm up period.

3) All games consist of 2 periods, 20 and 25 minute periods. The last minute of the second period is to be stop time provided the score differential is not greater than two goals. The clock will continue to run if the difference in the score is three or more goals.

4) Once the game has started the on ice officials have absolute control of the game and the clock. The clock can only be stopped or adjusted by the referee. Any decision made by the referees regarding the clock will be final.

5) Lost time due to a late start, clock stoppage or injury may result in the second period of the game being reduced in time.

Note: Arena staff may curfew games at five minutes to the hour. At this point the game is final.

Special Icing Rules

1) A player standing with both skates back of the defending blue line and the puck on his stick over the defending blue line, shoots the puck down over the goal line will not be called for icing.

2) A player standing with one skate on the defending blue line and one skate over or back of the defending blue line and the puck on his stick over the blue line, shoots the puck down over the goal line will not be called for icing.


3. Penalties

1) AMHL is governed by CAHA rules.

2) Additional league penalties. No slap shots (senior league only) - no penalty, but play whistled to stop - puck goes to a face-off in shooter's team defensive end.

3) All penalties shall be two minutes in length from drop of puck.

4) Any player receiving three minor penalties in one game shall be suspended for the remainder of that game.

5) Accumulation of twenty (20) minutes of penalties will result in a two game suspension. The player's penalty minute total shall be reduced by twenty minutes upon his return.

6) Bench minor penalties do not add to the penalty minute total of the player who is serving the penalty.

7) Team playing shorthanded must change on the fly and not during a face-off to prevent unnecessary delay of the game.

8) Fighting majors will carry a game misconduct as well as the player's suspension from the league for the remainer of the season. The possibility of the player returning for the next season will be reviewed by the executive.

9) There will be no stick or equipment measurements allowed.

10) Ten minute misconducts as well as game and gross misconducts will add two minutes to the player's penalty total (suspension from game for three minor penalties not included).

11) Any player receiving a gross misconduct must have the incident reviewed by the executive to see if any further suspension is warranted.


4. Sparing for Absent Players

1) It is the responsibility of each player to notify his team rep if he is going to miss a game. Failure to notify the team rep could result in: a) a warning from the team rep, b) a warning from the league (written notice), c) possible expulsion from the league if the problem continues

2) Team reps must spare for all absent players. If a player fails to show up or cancels on short notice, a spare or full-time player of equal or lower rating may be used from another game provided the team rep from the opposing team has been notified and has given his approval. Team reps should agree that the player provided rating is legitimate.Every effort must be made to find a spare and if a replacement cannot be found, the team may play shorthanded. (Timekeeper needs to be notified by team reps and situation reviewed by the executive. If this occures on more than one occasion, team points can be deducted from the shorthanded team).

3) Spares are to be chosen from the spare list provided by the league with rated players. Players not on the spare list cannot be used. New players must be rated and added to the spare list of each team rep before they can play their first game. Some players have a specific rating for only 1 rating and are to be used accordingly.

4. Team reps should not use the same spare two weeks in a row without approval of the executive. This rule musst be followed with no exceptions during all playoff games.

6. Over-sparing is not permitted. Teams must choose a spare of equal or lower rating.

7. A full-time spare will be assigned to a team if the full-time player is going to be away for an extended period of time. Full-time spares will only be granted during the first weeks of the season. After that time, the team will have replace the absent player with a spare each week.

8. Teams breaking any rules regarding spares will be warned for the first offence. Any further infractions will result in the loss of points (if any games are won) for that game.

5. Other Rules

1) Any protest or appeal of suspensions must be made in writing and given to the president. The executive will discuss the protest or appeal and make a final decision. Protest or appeal must be made within 24 hours.

2) The league reserves the right to expel any member whose conduct on or off the ice is deemed detrimental to the league.

3) Refund Policy: All or a portion of the fees paid to the league will be refunded depending on the number of games played. Players receiving a refund will be placed on the spare list for the balance of the season and will be able to return to the league at the first available opening.

4) A one year leave of absence will be granted to any player requesting a leave. The player will be replaced by a full-time spare for the season. If the player does not return to the league next season, his spot in the leave will be filled and he will be placed on the spare list.

5) A player who is absent for an extended period of time due to an injury will be given the first opportunity to re-enter the league.

6. Playoffs

1) Playoff format is to be decided by the executive.

2) All rules from the regular season remain the same except for the following:

a) Championship games will consist of three, fifteen minute periods. The third period will be stop time. There will be a flood between the second and third periods.

b) Overtime in the championship games will be sudden death.

c) Any ties at the end of the round robin will be broken using the following format:
i) Team vs team in that round
ii) Team with most winds in that round
iii) Team with fewest losses in that round
iv) Team with most goals in that round
v) Team with fewest goals in that round
vi) Team vs team in regular season
vii) Coin flip

3) Playoff Penalties

a) All players penalty minute total will return to zero at the start of the playoffs.

b) Any player who accumulates fourteen minutes in penalties will serve a one game suspension. Total will then be reduced by fourteen minutes.

c) Misconduct penalties in the playoffs count as five minutes to the player's penalty total.

d) Fighting and gross misconducts wil be handled the same as the regular season.

4) Playoff Sparing

a) The spare list will be revised by the executive and team reps prior to the playoffs.

b) Spares must be from the same rating group or lower.

c) Spares for the championship games will be selected from the teams not participating on championship day. Spares must be from the same rating group. No approval is needed but the executive should be notified.

d) Violation of any of the spare rules for the playoffs will result in a 1-0 loss of that game if the opposition or any other team that feels they may be affected by the outcome of the game protests the games.