To Download a copy of the Constitution and Rules click here
Winkler Recreational Hockey League Constitution
That where the provisions of this Constitution, By-Laws, or Regulations are unclear, or flawed as it pertains to any situations that may occur, rulings for immediate resolution by the appointed executive shall prevail. Such occurrences shall than be addressed further at the next scheduled league meeting.
1. Name:
The name of this hockey league is and shall continue to be the Winkler Recreational Hockey League. (WRHL)
2. Membership:
The members of this hockey league are, and shall be, anyone registered with an active team of the WRHL or appointed executive members
3. Organization:
The members of this hockey league are, and shall be, organized into teams or governing body. Each team may be represented by one player at all general or special meetings. Where a team has an executive member, they shall supply an alternate member to represent their team.
4. Meetings:
An annual general meeting of the WRHL shall be held in September every year.
a) A spring meeting is recommended shortly after the end of the hockey season.
b) At every annual meeting a full statement of the affairs of the WRHL shall be presented by the executive board.
c) A special meeting of the WRHL may be called by the president at any time by giving no less than two weeks notice to team representatives.
d) Attendance at the annual general meeting or special meetings of the WRHL shall be limited to one representative of each team. (Excluding executive members)
e) Local rules and constitution changes can be changed and voted upon at the annual fall meeting. A two thirds vote is needed to pass any changes.
5. Quorum:
Eight members entitled to vote shall form a quorum at the annual or special meetings held by the WRHL.
6. Executive and Support Staff:
The executive shall be as follows:
-President (1st Disciplinary appeals member)
-Vice President (2nd Disciplinary appeals member)
-Secretary/Treasurer (3rd Disciplinary appeals member)
-Two Members at Large
All positions are one year terms (from fall meeting to fall meeting) and may be amended or revised by two thirds of eligible voters attending the fall meeting.
7. Voting:
a) All teams are allowed one vote (regardless of executive status) subject to being present at the meeting. No proxy.
b) Executive members not representing a team are entitled to one vote.
c) In the event of a tie the president will be awarded one vote as long as their team is being represented by another team member.
d) All voting is done by show of hands unless a ballot is requested.
e) To carry a vote there must be two thirds majority to pass
8. League Guidelines:
a) Effective in the
b) New teams must be accepted by the members present at the fall meeting and must pay a $500.00 bond. After the first season, without any incident (As per definition) $200 will be refunded with $300 remaining as the teams disciplinary bond.
c) Teams that were in the WRHL the previous season, and are not on probation shall be automatically accepted back into the league the following season.
d) Each team shall pay a $300.00 disciplinary bond. The Executive reserves the right to fine the team and withdraw monies from the bond in the event disciplinary action is required. The amounts are to be decided and voted on by executive.
e) Should a team be fined, and monies withdrawn from the team bond, that team shall be required to repay the balance of the bond up to $300 prior to being allowed to participate in the following season
f) Should a team retire from the league in good standing, they shall be refunded the $300 bond.
9. League Fees:
a) There will be an annual fee assessed to each team payable to the WRHL, submitted to the treasurer or the president.
b) Full amount of the league fee must be received on the first business day on or after October 15th .
c) Late payment will be accepted up to five days after the due date subject to $100.00 per day late fee. No exceptions. NSF cheques will be considered non payment and teams will be ineligible. Should the offending team wish to rejoin the league the following season a fine of $250.00 will be paid with their league fee.
d) Payment of the league fee is recognition of acceptance of the complete constitution.
10. Protests and Appeals:
a) All protests and appeals must be accompanied by a $200.00 fee. If protest/appeal is overturned half the fee will be returned to the team.
b) All protests and appeals must be submitted in writing to the president or vice-president within 48 hours of occurrence by either the captain or assistant captain of the team.
c) The executive will deal with appeals/protests no later than 7 days from submission.
d) Members of the executive may not deal with appeals/protests where their team was involved and the 3rd and 4th disciplinary appeals members will be called upon.
10. Official Rules and Regulations:
WRHL will be governed strictly by the Official Case/Rule Book of Hockey Canada with the exception of the league specific WRHL Rules. The WRHL rules may be reviewed and/or changed and voted on, on an annual basis.
WRHL Game Rules:
A) Game Timing and format.
I. Games will be 45 minutes long and consist of three, 15 min stop time periods.
II. A 7 goal mercy rule applies after the 2nd period where by the clock will run straight time unless the goal differential reduces to less than 7 goals.
III. Penalty times remain as per Hockey Canada Rules, regardless of time format
B) Every regular season game will be worth 3 Points and will be awarded as follows:
Regulation Win - 3 points
Overtime/Shoot-out Win - 2 Points
Overtime/Shoot-out Loss - 1 Point
Regulation Loss - 0 Points
C) Game Tie Breakers
I. In the event of a tie in a regular season game, the winner will be decided by a 3 on 3, 6 minute run time overtime period. If no winner is dertermined, the match would be subsequent to a shoot-out. Each team will pick 3 players. If after 3 shooters, no winner has been determined, there will be a sudden victory shoot-out. The remaining players must shoot, until all players have shot. During sudden victory remaining players may shoot in any order until the tie is broken. The winning team will be awarded 2 points while the losing team is awarded 1 point. The home team has the option of shooting first or not.
II. In the event of a tie in a playoff game, overtime format will be played continuous 4 on 4, sudden victory. A two minute break will be granted after regulation time, followed by the first 15 minute period. Teams will not change ends. If the game is still tied after 15 minutes of OT play, the ice will be flooded and another 15 minute period will commence. Teams will change ends.
D) Time and Score Keeping
I. The home team is responsible to arrange a time keeper for regular season games.
II. The home team is responsible to make sure a game sheet is supplied and used properly for regular season games.
III. Game sheets are available on the website home page.
IV. Completed game sheets are to be left in the referee room.
V. The winning team is responsible to email the game results to league statistician within 48 hours or they will not get credit for the win.
VI. The away team is responsible to arrange a time keeper for playoff games.
VII. The away team is responsible to make sure a game sheet is supplied and used properly for playoff games.
E) In the event of inclement weather, the League will be responsible for cancellation and rescheduling of games and will contact all parties involved.
F) Game cancellations will not be permitted. If a team is unable to play on a scheduled night, they will be permitted to exchange a night with another team. If this cannot be done, and the team chooses to cancel on their scheduled night, the game will be recorded as a 7-0 forfeit by the cancelling team. If notice is not given atleast 24 hours prior, the forfeiting team will be fined $100.00 to be withdrawn from the bond.
G) Team Jerseys
I. All teams must have 2 sets of jerseys, home and away. The jerseys must be contrasting in colour. i.e. Light and Dark
II. The home jersey will be white or lighter in colour, while the away will be black or darker in colour.
III. Leniency will be given to colours of goaltenders jerseys
IV. All numbers must be properly screened, pressed or embroidered. No taped numbers.
V. The referee has the right to forfeit the game if the offending team refuses to change jerseys.
H) Players and Teams
I. A player must play a minimum of 5 regular season games for his team to be eligible to play in playoffs, with the exception of goaltenders.
II. All players must play for one team only for the duration of that hockey season.
III. If a team is short on players (9 or less) they may call the opposing team for permission to allow other eligible league players. If the opposing team refuses to grant permission, and the player plays anyway he will be considered ineligible.
IV. Any team that is found to be using ineligible players will forfeit any and all games where those players were used. The executive has the right to impose further action against the offending player and/or team.
V. All players must be 16 years of age or older.
VI. All players ages 16 and 17 must submit a written consent from their parent's along with I.D. to the executive before playing.
VII. Carded/Registered players are ineligible to play in this league. (See definition)
VIII. All teams are allowed to have 2 players on their roster that have been carded/registered, in any one season spanning back the previous three. The Executive has the ability to exempt players in a case by case basis. Exempted from this rule are former high school and minor hockey players, who are eligible in any season that they do not become carded/registered. (As per definition)
IX. Goaltenders may play for a maximum of two different teams.
I) A game ejection shall be given to any player that incurs a total of 3 or more penalties during the same game.
J) Upon the calling of a penalty, the position of the face off will be in the defending zone of the penalized team. If both teams incur a penalty at the same time, the face off will be according to Hockey Canada Rules.
K) High stick infractions are to be strictly enforced. The enforcement of this rule is to keep sticks below the waist and avoid injury. In addition to the game ejection penalty, players that incur 3 or more stick infractions during the same game, the player will be suspended for the next game.
L) Any player who incurs a match penalty will automatically receive a minimum of a 3 game suspension.
M) In addition to the existing double minor penalties, the referee now has the option of calling a double minor penalty for body checking and/or slashing.
N) Any player who is assessed a fighting penalty will be suspended for one game. A player with a second fighting penalty will be suspended for 5 games, and a third fighting penalty within the same season will be suspended for the balance of the season.
O) Body checking
I. Body Checking is strictly prohibited. While body contact cannot be totally eliminated, it should be limited to passive contact only.
II. At the discretion of the referee, players who engage in body contact may be assessed a penalty.
III. A player who is assessed a deliberate body checking penalty (at the discretion of the referee) will automatically incur a 4 minute double-minor and a 10 minute misconduct. The referee will report this incident to the executive. The intent of this rule is not to impose misconducts for incidental or accidental body contact (I.e. rubbing out) but to punish those players who disregard the spirit of a non-contact league.
P) Regular Season Standings Tiebreakers
1. Games Played (Season in progress)
2. Total number of wins excluding shootout.
3. Head to Head (Season Series)
4. Goal Differential: = (GF-GA)/ GF
Q) During the course of the season, the executive has the right to deal with situations not dealt with by the official case/rule book of Hockey Canada or the local rules.
R) Ref rates are to be determined and updated by the executive.
Definitions/Clarifications:
Carded/Registered Players - A carded/registered player is classified as any player who is currently registered with a Pro League, Semi-Pro League, Hockey Canada affiliated League (CHL, Jr A, Major Junior etc.), College League (CIS, NCAA), Manitoba or other High School League and Manitoba or other Minor Hockey Association. A team that plays a carded player will forfeit the points for that game and be fined $100.00 to be withdrawn from the bond.
Eligible carded/registered players are classified as a player who is not carded/registered prior to, nor becomes carded/registered in the current season.
Probation - A player or team may be put on probation. Probation will last a minimum of 365 days to the end of the season. The Executive will review each situation at the end of the probation period. Any breach of probation will be dealt with by the executive.
New Teams - An existing team will be considered a new team if they change their name.
Incidents - Disrespect of arena property or second strike of suspension by a single player. (To be reviewed by the disciplinary appeals members)
