SECTION VII - LEAGUE RULES

RULE 702 - PLAYOFF RULES

    702 (a)    All teams will make the playoffs and depending on the number of teams in a division, will play following one of these structures

                6 Teams

                    Quarterfinals:  One game elimination with the third place team facing the sixth place team and the fourth place team facing the fifth place team.  The first place and second place teams will get a bye.

                    Semifinals:  Best two-out-of-three with the first place team facing the winner from the Quarterfinals with the worst record during Regular Season and the second place team facing the winner from the Quarterfinals with the best record.

                    Finals:  Best two-out-of-three between the winners of the Semifinal Round.

                5 Teams

                    Quarterfinals:  One game elimination with the fifth place team facing the fourth place team.  The first place, second place and third place will get a bye.

                    Semifinals:  Best two-out-of-three with the first place team facing the winner from the Quarterfinals and the second place team facing the third place team.

                    Finals:  Best two-out-of-three between the winners of the Semifinal Round.

                4 Teams

                    Semifinals:  Best two-out-of-three with the first place team facing the fourth place team and the second place team facing the third place team. 

                    Finals:  Best two-out-of-three between the winners of the Semifinal Round.

                3 Teams

                    Semifinals:  Best two-out-of-three with the second place team facing the third place team.  The first place team will get a bye.

                    Finals:  Best two-out-of-three between the winner of the Semifinal Round and the first place team.

    702 (b)    The team with the better record during the regular season will always be the Home team on the odd games (i.e. Games 1 and 3)

    702 (c)    At the end of regulation time, if the score is tied, a five minute overtime period will be played.  Rule 703 will address the rules for the overtime period.

                In the event that the overtime ends in a tie, a Shoot-Out will occur to determine the winner.  Rule 704 will address the rules for a Shoot-Out.

RULE 703 - OVERTIME PERIOD

    703 (a)    The overtime will be sudden death format, meaning the first team to score a goal will win the contest.

    703 (b)    The overtime shall consist of a five minute period with stop time, meaning the clock will stop on every stoppage of play.  Icing will remain in effect during overtime.

    703 (c)    The period shall be divided into two shifts of 2 minutes and 30 seconds each.  At the end of the first 2:30, the time keeper will blow the whistle to produce a shift change. 

                Each shift shall consist of two groups of five different players playing on the rink surface, given that the team has enough players on their respective benches.

                Violation will result in a bench minor penalty.  It is the responsibility of the Leagues Executives in charge of the game to identify this infraction.

    703 (c.1)    Rule 703 (c) does not apply in the Junior Division and Bantam Division if during the regular season line changes did not apply.

    703 (c.2)    However in the Bantam and Junior Divisions, each bench should make every effort that all players see the ice in the 5 minute overtime.

    703 (d)    There will be No time outs during the overtime period.

    703 (e)    Each team will defend the same goal which they defended in the third period of the game.

    703 (f)    All penalties incurred during regulation time will be completed during the overtime period.

RULE 704 - SHOOT-OUT

    704 (a)    Each coach shall identify five different players that will participate in the Shoot-Out and determine the order they will participate.

                The order, name and number of the players must be presented to the League Executives in charge prior to the Shoot-Out commencing. 

    704 (b)    Each team shall defend the goal which it defended in regulation time unless it's determined by the League Executives or referees that external (e.g. sun, dampness, etc.) would cause an unfair advantage for one of the teams.  In this event, both goalkeepers would defend the same net.

    704 (c)    A coin toss will determine which team shoots first.  The home team will call the flip.  The winner of the flip will have the choice of shooting first or last.

    704 (d)    Each team shall alternate shooters.  Each goal scored counts as one point.

                Only the player designated as the goalkeeper may defend against the shooter in the Shoot-Out.

    704 (e)    The referee shall place the puck at the center ice face off dot.  Upon the referee blowing the whistle, the attacking player shall attempt to score on the goalkeeper.

                Once a player touches the puck, it must be kept in motion towards the opponents goal line.  Once the puck is shot the play shall be considered complete.

    704 (f)    The goalkeeper must remain in the goal crease until the referee blows the whistle to start the play. 

                In the event of a violation of this rule or any foul committed by the goalkeeper, the referee shall allow the shot to be taken and if the shot fails, the referee shall permit the shot to be taken again.

                The goalkeeper may attempt to stop the shot in any manner except by throwing the stick or any other object, in which case the goal shall be awarded.

    704 (g)    Players on both teams not involved in the shot shall go to their respective benches during the play. 

                If while the shot is being taken any player on the opposing team shall interfere or distract the player taking the shot a goal shall be awarded.

    704 (h)    A winner is determined by a positive differential in goals scored after all five players from each team attempts the Shoot-Out.

    704 (i)    If at the conclusion of the Shoot-Out the goals are tied the Shoot-Out will continue one round at a time.

               Each coach will select a player who has not yet participated in the Shoot-Out.  Once either of the teams exhausts their bench, both teams may revert back to a player from the original five selected.  This extended Shoot-Out will continue until one player scores and the other does not.  The team of the player that scores will be declared the winning team.

SECTION II - THE TEAMS

RULE 206 - INJURED PLAYERS

    206 (g)    Any player who replaces and injured player with less than 90 seconds remaining in the shift, shall be permitted to skate on his/her regular line even if it is the next line shift.

                Any injured player, who leaves the playing surface with less than 2 minutes remaining in their shift, may not be used on the subsequent line shift unless there are not enough players to man that shift.

                Rule 206 (g) does not carry over from one period to the next.