EAST-WEST SUBURBAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
CONSTITUTION 2009-2010
Article # 1
A) This organization shall be called the East-West Suburban Hockey League. Rules, bylaws, and regulations
as lay down by the Hockey Canada or Hockey N.B., as well as any additional rules and regulations imposed by the League itself
shall govern the League.
B) The President and League executive shall be the governing body of the League in accordance with
the rules, bylaws and regulations of this constitution.
C) A member shall be any player, coach, assistant coach, manager, trainer or stick boy registered
with the League, or any person appointed or elected by the League.
D) The executives of this League are: the President, Vice-President and Treasurer. The League executive
and two (2) representatives from each team (having one vote per team only) will act as Board of Directors for the League.
Article # 2 (Board of Directors)
A) The Board of Directors shall rule on all suspensions, match penalties and appeals. The Board may
ask the League Executive to rule on suspensions and/or fines to individual players in the League.
B) The League may ask the Board of Directors to handle or assist on any League matters.
C) Teams involved in any disputes will not be permitted to vote on any matters concerning their respective
teams.
Article # 3 (Bench Strength)
A) Each team may have a maximum of twenty (20) skaters and two (2) goaltenders on the bench during
the playing of a League game.
B) Teams must have at least six (6) players dressed and ready to play by actual start of game to be
eligible to count points.
C) Any team defaulting a game due to a lack of players will be assessed a fine of two hundred dollars
($200) for the first offence. If a second game is defaulted during the season by that same team, the Board of Directors will
deal with the matter.
D) In the case of severe weather conditions, the Executive shall make the decision as to whether the
games shall be played, and if it is played, whether Article 3.B will be waived. A decision to cancel games will be made four
(4) hours prior to game time. Cancelled games will be made up at the end of the regular season schedule.
E) Any team, if missing a goaltender for a legitimate reason, may borrow a goaltender from an opposing
team, or from any other registered league of equal or lesser calibre if cleared by League executive. A goaltender from within
the League does not require authorization to play for another team as an emergency substitute.
Article # 4 (Registration)
A) All players must be registered with the League to be eligible for League play.
B) Each coach, assistant coach, manager, trainer, or stick boy must be registered with the League.
C) Only registered members of a team are permitted to be on the bench during League play.
D) Teams may carry a roster up to a maximum of twenty-two (22) players. All teams are required to
sign two (2) goaltenders to their roster, as a minimum.
E) New players must be eighteen (18) years of age by December 31st of current playing year, or have
graduated from high school, with the exception of goaltenders. The League President must be shown proof of age upon request.
Goaltenders, if under the age of eighteen (18), must have written parental consent in order to be permitted to play in the
League. Proof of age, parental consent and/or proof of graduation must be presented upon request by the League executive.
F) The League President and/or Treasurer shall be in charge of all player registration and signing
of new players.
G) Each player will register with the League. Players will present a sum of two hundred dollars ($200)
during the first week of regular season play, and a second payment of one hundred dollars ($100) during the first week of
December. The League on a season-by-season basis will determine the amounts for the checks. Goaltenders will be required to
pay sixty percent (60%) of the current League assessment. Any player delinquent in payment will be suspended until such payments
are made. Any player who presents a check that is not honored by their banking institution will be suspended until payment
is made. This new payment will include a twenty-five dollar ($25) fine imposed by the League.
H) All new players will enter the League via the draft (see article # 5) and are subject to the same
registration terms as returning players.
I) Rosters will be submitted to the League Prior to start of season and will be closed until the mid
season draft (see article # 5).
J) Any player in the EWSHL may play in more than one hockey league during the current season, provided
it is not the Lancaster Centennial Hockey League, Senior Hockey or Junior Hockey. All EWSHL players wishing to play in more
than one league must notify the league executive of their intentions and pay their EWSHL registration in full prior to their
first game of the season. Any player failing to do so will be subject to suspension for the remainder of the current season
K) Teams are permitted to make player trades within the League up to Jan 15th, but are subject to
League approval.
L) This League shall honor any and all suspensions by any registered league. All players will be subject
to approval prior to play within the League. Any player coming into the League that may have had discipline problems in the
past, may be required to post a performance bond with the League before they are permitted to play. This will be a decision
of the Board of Directors.
M) If a team from the previous season folds prior to the start of the current season, then all players,
if they wish to play in the EWSHL, must do so via the draft.
N) Each team will be permitted to start each season with a minimum of ten (10) skaters and one (1)
goaltender prior to fall draft. Should circumstances require a team to "top up" prior to the draft, then those players added
cannot have been on an EWSHL team roster the previous season. As well, players desiring to return to their team will not be
cut from that team’s roster in order to make room for "topping up". Teams requiring players prior to draft will notify
the League Executive of their intentions.
O) Teams requiring the use of the "topping up" rule can carry additional players on their roster in
order to protect the rights to these players. Any player so carried will be identified on the team roster as non-active and
will not be permitted to play during the current season. Should a team request a non-active player to be reinstated, it shall
only be done at the Christmas draft and that team will forfeit its first round pick in the Christmas draft.
P) Any team shall be permitted to add to their respective team’s management ( i.e. coaches,
assistant coaches, trainer, stick boy and any other non playing position) at any time during the regular season subject to
approval from the League executive.
Article # 5 (Draft)
A) The Draft will be held one week (if possible) prior to regular season start.
B) All teams, if they so desire, may protect their entire roster from the previous season.
C) All new players entering the League will do so via the Draft.
D) Teams reserve the right to trade draft picks.
E) Draft selection will be based on previous season final regular season standings. Ex.- last place
team has first selection and so on.
F) Protected list of players will be turned into the League president two (2) weeks prior to start
of season. Once submitted, no changes will be made to the protected list. That team’s representative will notify any
player not protected by their respective team and these players have the option of entering the draft.
G) Any new team entering the League may be permitted to submit a protected roster of ten (10) players
plus one (1) goaltender with the remainder being added through the draft system. Any player on the new team’s roster
must not have played for or been part of a roster of any team in the EWSHL during the previous season.
H) New teams will take the last place in the selection for draft picks. In the event of more than
one new team, a draw will be held on draft night to determine selection order.
I) A mid-season draft will be held to replace players that have left the League or have been injured
and are not able to resume play. Draft order will be based on League standings as of December 25th of the current season,
based on equal amount of games played.
J) All players reserve the right not to be included in the protected rosters of their respective teams
of the previous season, but may reenter the League via the draft. No player shall be permitted to quit a team to enter the
mid season draft.
K) If a team loses a player due to injury, or a player leaves a team, then that team shall be permitted
to select a player from the current draft list to ‘top up’ their roster to a minimum of sixteen (16) players.
L) All players shall register by their given or common name.
M) All players shall be registered for the draft and must appear in at least one draft ice time for
a minimum of 30 minutes to be eligible for the draft, unless a legitimate reason for absence is given. If a player cannot
make the draft session then a dossier for the player must be made available to the League.
N) Fall Draft- Entry for new players will be $190 (cash or certified cheque). If selected, that player’s
money shall be forwarded to the selecting team. If the player refuses to report to the team that drafted him, his entry fee
will be forfeited to the League and the team may select a player from the remaining players on the draft list.
Christmas Draft- Entry fee will be $135.00. The above stated conditions shall apply.
O) Each team may be permitted to pick up one player prior to the fall draft to add to their roster.
All other players will be selected through the draft. Players on an EWSHL roster the previous season may not be selected as
this one player. This selection may not be used as part of a trade deal prior to Draft.
P) Due to the lack of goaltender ice time during the draft ice times, any goaltender that was acquired
in the draft that does not meet current league standards may be released and replaced by another goaltender from the fall
draft list. A goaltender cannot be replaced if they have played more than three (3) games.
Q) Any EWSHL player may play up to five games with the SNBSHL. These five games may be played at anytime
during the EWSHL and SNBSHL. Any player doing so will notify the League of his intention. If a player exceeds the five games
or does not notify the league, the player may be suspended from League play
Article # 6 (Rules and Bylaws)
A) Fines/Suspensions:
1. All player fines must be paid to the League before the player is eligible to resume play
2. All team fines must be paid within two (2) weeks of assessment of the fine.
3. A ten dollar ($10) fine may be assessed to any team member who incurs a game misconduct (ex.- mouthing
off to officials or League representatives). A fine will not be assessed if a player receives an automatic game misconduct
for an accidental penalty. Only the referee shall determine if the incident was an accident.
4. If a player is assessed a five minute major penalty, fighting and match penalties not withstanding,
player shall be assessed a game suspension. Repeat offenders will be addressed on an individual basis. (This was implemented
as a result of a meeting on Dec 09/07)
5. The League executive shall make the initial ruling on all suspensions and/or fines. Any member
of the Board of Directors may ask for a meeting to review any suspension/fine. Decisions, when rendered by the Board of Directors,
can only be challenged with the appeal process as outlined in Article Six, section F.
B) Complaints Concerning Referees
1. There will be no verbal complaints to the League concerning referees. Any complaints must be made
in writing, with two copies sent to the League executive and after review by the League a copy may be forwarded to the N.B.O.H.A.
area representative. A report will be given to the executive as to the outcome of the complaints.
2. Any player or team official may be subject to fine and/or suspension for using abusive language
towards any game officials.
C) Bench Clearing
1. In the event of a bench clearing, the first man over the boards from either team, as determined
by the referees, shall be assessed a twenty five ($25.00) dollar fine and a three (3) game suspension. The team shall be assessed
a fifty dollar ($50.00) fine if any additional players leave the bench. The executive may increase fines and suspensions if
it is deemed necessary.
D) Fighting
1. Any player receiving a fighting major shall be ejected from the game at once.
2. Fines shall be assessed in the following manner:
1st fight - $10.00 fine, no suspension
2nd fight - $20.00 fine, no suspension
3rd fight - $40.00 fine, no suspension
4th fight - $60.00 fine, one game suspension
5th fight - $80.00 fine, one game suspension
6th fight - fine and suspension to be determined by League
3. If a fight occurs in the final game of regular season then only the fine will apply.
4. Instigator or aggressor rules of the Hockey N.B. apply. If the referees assess an instigator penalty,
then the League shall not penalize the defending player.
5. All fighting fines and suspensions will start at the ten-dollar ($10) minimum after the Christmas
draft.
E) Protests
The procedure for the filing & handling of protests is as follows:
1. The protesting team must notify the referee and timekeeper of intention to protest.
2. The League President or Vice President must be notified within twenty-four (24) hours of the completion
of the game under protest.
3. The protesting team shall forward a copy of the protest to the President, Vice President and the
opposing team’s coach/representative within five (5) days of completion of game.
4. The sum of twenty dollars ($20) shall be forwarded with the President’s copy of the protest.
5. If the protest is ruled in favor of the protesting team then the twenty dollars ($20) will be returned.
6. The League Executive & Board of Directors shall rule over and decide on any and all protests.
7. Referee decisions are final and cannot be protested. You cannot protest a judgment decision.
F) Appeals
1. The Board of Directors shall handle all appeals.
2. All appeals are to be forwarded in writing, along with a ten-dollar ($10) non-refundable fee, to
the League President. The President, upon receiving a written appeal with the fee, shall notify the Board of Directors.
3. Fines and/or suspensions shall stand until the Board of Directors meet and rule on any appeal.
G) Miscellaneous Fines and Suspensions
1. Any match penalty carries a minimum automatic three (3) game suspension, and may include fines
and additional suspension if deemed necessary by the League.
2. Alcoholic beverage rule. A team fine of twenty dollars ($20) shall be assessed for any player or
team official found in possession of alcoholic beverages in the public areas of the arena. A repeat offender will be assessed
a one (1) game suspension. As of the start of the 2001/2002 seasons, all civic arenas have a no alcohol rule, violation of
which could jeopardize the League’s ice time. The League will not be held responsible for any player violating this
rule.
3. Any team not represented at any mandatory (to be determined by the League President) League meeting
shall be fined a minimum of twenty-five dollars ($25). The Board of Directors shall deal with a second occurrence.
4. The EWSHL, its Executive and its Board of Directors, shall not be held responsible or liable for
any injuries, physical or mental, incurred by any player, coach, assistant coach, manager, stick boy, timekeeper, or executive
member while performing League assigned duties or playing in any League sanctioned game. This extends to All-Star games, tournaments
or exhibition games played throughout the current hockey season.
5. If a player is ejected from the game and is involved in any other altercation off the ice, there
will be an automatic ten (10) game suspension assessed to the player or players involved. If a player wishes to leave the
team dressing room and view the remainder of their team’s game, he must be changed from hockey gear to his "street attire".
Any player leaving the dressing room after ejection from a game while still in hockey gear will be assessed a three (3) game
suspension.
Article # 7 (Game Format)
A) Games will be played in three (3) periods of twelve (12) minutes stopped time. Time clock will
start five (5) minutes after the ice machine leaves the ice.
Article # 8 (Playoffs)
A) All players must play in at least five (5) games to be eligible for playoffs. If a player incurs
an injury during League play and is unable to play in the minimum number of games, then his eligibility is not in jeopardy
so long as his injury is immediately reported to the League.
B) The Board of Directors will decide the playoff format prior to the Christmas draft. The format
so adopted shall be attached to and form a part of the constitution.
C) Playoff General Regulations
1. All games shall be played with the same times as the regular season.
2. In the event of a tie after regulation, then a five-minute ‘sudden death’ overtime
will be played. If there is no winner after the overtime, then a five-man shootout will take place. The five players will
be identified to the timekeeper prior to the start of the game, along with two alternate names in the event of injuries or
game ejections. If still tied after five shooters, then a sudden death shootout will take place. Shootout order to be maintained
in the event the shootout goes beyond the initial five shooters. Note: The shootout format will only be used if it is not
the deciding game in a series. All series deciding games will be settled using the overtime format.
3. Finals will utilize 15 minute stop time periods. All games will be decided by sudden death overtime
if tied after regulation.
Article # 9
A) Only team representatives shall make any complaints to the League Executive.
B) Any player ‘bad mouthing’ or complaining about the League shall be subject to fines,
suspensions or both, depending on circumstances. This will be strictly enforced.
C) The Executive and Board of Directors of the League are volunteer positions. Anyone who complains
about the operation of the League should be prepared to take the place of the existing Executive.
Appendix # 1. The Board of Governors has adopted a resolution to establish an independent discipline
committee. If undertaken, this committee will become part of the executive of the League and will assist, when requested,
the Board of Directors on any discipline problems and provide recommendations on suspensions and/or fines.
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2009/2010 Season-League Executives
President – Gerry Snodgrass 849-0213(h) 333-0998(c)693-1928(w)
_______________________________________
Vice President – Steve Lowery- 849-8875
______________________________________
Treasurer – Ernie Campbell – 721-9714
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Stats/Timekeeper—Steve Lowery- 849-8875
Board of Directors
East Coast – Len Drew sr. 633-5602/647-0599 /Len Drew jr. 645-7575-______________________________________
Mooseheads – Matt Daley 847-2546/653-1832/ Darren Langille 650-1206
______________________________________________
Vito’s – Craig MacKenzie 651-2864
___________________________________________
Wheelers - Larry Damon 696-1200, 651-3532
____________________________________
Kacey’s – Bill McNeil 633-1447
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67’S- Joe Savoie – 849-0711, 647-7769/ Shane Bizeau- 848-1989
_____________________________________________________
Pirates-Aaron Craig-654-3132
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