This organization shall be known as the Winnipeg High School Hockey League (W.H.S.H.L.). It is sanctioned by the M.H.S.A.A.
The W.H.S.H.L. shall be open to membership from any high school in Winnipeg and the surrounding area, provided its entrance is sanctioned by its school board. Membership may be acquired by written application to the Executive prior to the Annual General Meeting and by means of ratification of 2/3 of the membership.
The objectives of the W.H.S.H.L. are as follows:
To promote the aspect that the athletic arena is a classroom with moral and educational obligations at all times by both coaches and players. To promote high standards of courtesy, respect, fair play, and sportsmanship between players, coaches, and referees.
The Executive members of the organization shall consist of:
The Officers shall be elected annually at the W.H.S.H.L. Annual General Meeting.The Director of Officials and the Statistician will be appointed by the elected members of the Executive as non-voting Officers of the League and will report directly to the Vice-President. Each appointee will receive an honorarium from the League.
Annual General Meeting: The Annual General Meeting of the W.H.S.H.L. will be held in May at a location, date, and time to be decided upon by the Executive. Amendments to the constitution can only be made at the Annual Meeting or any special meeting of the organization, provided that ten (10) days of notice of the special amendment has been given to the President and members of the organization.
Regular Meetings: Meetings to conduct League business will be held regularly from September to February. Teams are expected to have a school representative at all League meetings. A school may only be absent if permission is granted by the League President due to exceptional circumstances. Failure to attend will mean that a fine of $50.00 will be levied and subtracted from the school’s performance bond.
Special Meetings: At the request of three (3) Executive members or six (6) League members, the President shall call a Special Meeting. This meeting must be held within 14 days of the request. Only the subject specified in the request may be discussed at the meeting.
Each member school of the W.H.S.H.L. shall be allowed one (1) vote. The member voting must be a teacher or a school-appointed member. A school-appointed member must submit a letter of recognition from their school’s administration. All Executive members, except for appointed positions (namely, the Director of Officials and Statistician) and the Past-President, will be allowed voting privileges. No one person can have two votes. (i.e. Coach/manager representing his school and also an Executive position). The voting majority shall be a simple majority of the votes cast at the meeting.
Quorums:
The W.H.S.H.L., being compatible with the aims of M.H.S.A.A., will follow the eligibility rules of the Association. Players must be under nineteen (19) years of age as of midnight on August 31 of the current school year. Players must be a registered student of their High School. In semestered schools, a player will only be eligible to play in the semesters during which he is a registered student. Players under suspension from W.M.H.A. or any other registered hockey organization will not be allowed to play until that suspension has been fully served or overturned. Players will not be allowed to register or play for another hockey team during the same season unless a proper release is acquired by the W.H.S.H.L. Players who have graduated will not be eligible for further play in W.H.S.H.L. Once a student enrolls in high school, he will be allowed four (4) consecutive years of high school hockey. One of his four (4) years must be his Senior 1 (grade 9) year. Refer to Letter of Agreement with MHSAA. All eligibility appeals must be made through M.H.S.A.A. The League follows the Manitoba High School Athletic Association guidelines with respect to the eligibility of players not registered within a particular school. Only those players deemed to be eligible by the Manitoba High School Athletic Association will be allowed to play within the W.H.S.H.L.
All teams will submit an official team roster of no more than twenty (20) players to the League Statistician and the League Vice President prior to their first regular season game. Failure to comply will result in a $200 fine and forfeiture of any games deemed ineligible by the League. On the date established in the M.H.S.A.A. guidelines, rosters will be finalized, and only in extreme circumstances will the WHSHL’s Appeals Committee, in conjunction with the M.H.S.A.A permit additions. All teams must have a minimum number of fourteen (14) players registered on the roster. There must be a minimum of 13 skaters and 1 goaltender on the roster. Teams may dress 20 players (18 skaters and 2 goalies). High schools in the WHSHL may have two teams entered in league play. Any high school with two teams must have a dispersal draft/selection process to make two teams of equivalent caliber and playing ability, and they would then play in the same division, whether that be A, B, or C.
The season will begin with three divisions, A, B, and C, with each team declaring their division preference at or before the September General Meeting. Based on the Competition Committee’s formula and recommendation, teams will be placed in one of the three divisions for the entire 24-game regular season. Placements in divisions may be appealed to the league Competition Committee prior to the season’s beginning. Whenever possible, all scheduled League games are to be played to their fully scheduled time, a two (2) hour block of ice time shall be made available. Whenever possible, the start time will be no sooner than 4:30 p.m.
A minimum time frame of 48 hours is required for the cancellation or change of all League games. All game cancellations or changes shall be made through the League Conveners, Director of Officials, and Statistician to ensure that all persons concerned in handling the game are notified that a game has to be postponed due to weather conditions or other special cases. Any team canceling a game within 48 hours is responsible for the ice fees and game officials’ fees for that game and/or the rescheduled game. If the team is not willing to endure all costs, then it must forfeit the game to the non-offending team. If the game is canceled without proper notice to cancel officials, the team canceling the game will be held liable for officials costs. N.B.: This rule would not apply for games canceled due to unforeseen weather conditions or other special cases authorized by the League.
Members are insured through Hockey Manitoba/Hockey Canada. Members shall be responsible for ensuring that their players have adequate insurance (e.g., Blue Cross, Reliable Life, etc.) when playing non-sanctioned teams.
Exhibition games between W.H.S.H.L. teams may be played at the discretion of the teams concerned. However:On-ice officials must be assigned through the Director of Officials. The official game sheet must be sent into the Convenor within 24 hours by the Home Team. Suspendable infractions must be reported to the Convenors within 24 hours. A copy of the game sheet shall accompany each infraction. This applies to league and tournament games. Any team playing a game outside of the W.H.S.H.L. jurisdiction must obtain sanction from the League.
Game sheets of all games (League, playoff, tournament, or exhibition) must be scanned, emailed, or sent by text to the League Statistician AND to their Divisional Convenor by the home team by the end of the next school day. Teams that are at a tournament or exhibition game(s) out of the W.H.S.H.L. must also submit the game sheets of all the games they played to the League Statistician by the end of the next school day. Failure to do so may result in a fine of $100.00 being levied and subtracted from their performance bond. The home team for each League and playoff game is required to phone, text, or email the results to the secretary and statistician immediately after the game or before 9:00 p.m. the same night. Failure to do so may mean that a fine of $50.00 will be levied and subtracted from their performance bond. A team official must contact the Convenor before the close of the next school day if the team’s last game sheet contained a suspendable offense. Teams in violation of Article 13.3 may be fined $50.00 or will have $50.00 subtracted from their performance bond.
Any school that does not have an on-staff teacher-coach is required to have a supervising teacher present in the arena. All coaches and managers on the bench must have a minimum of a Level 1 and/or a Coach Level or National Coaches Certification Program Certificate. All non-teachers must be cleared by the Child Abuse Register. Schools are responsible for any cost and for ensuring that this occurs. All team staff (Coaches, Managers, Safety Person) must have Respect in Sport Certification.
The Executive shall set a registration fee each year at the Annual General Meeting. Each team will present, on or before the Annual General Meeting date of the past year, a cheque of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) as a performance bond. Any team folding operations after the schedule has been made or in violation of the W.H.S.H.L. constitution bylaws will forfeit its performance bond—in its entirety—to the League. Any member school in good standing will have the performance bond carried over for the next year’s operation. Teams wishing to retain their memberships with the Winnipeg High School Hockey League must make a payment of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) not later than the first September meeting of the current year. The League must receive full payment of the outstanding balance by October 15 of the current year. Teams failing to meet that deadline will lose their membership in the W.H.S.H.L. and forfeit their performance bonds. Teams withdrawing from the League, ceasing operations or are suspended from the League after November 1, will forfeit their full registration fees.
The W.H.S.H.L. is affiliated with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (M.J.H.L.), the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League (M.M.J.H.L.) and the Keystone Junior Hockey League (K.J.H.L.). Players on W.H.S.H.L. rosters may play a maximum of ten (10) games with an above named team. If the combined total of games played with an above named team exceeds the above mentioned ten games, the player involved will lose his W.H.S.H.L. eligibility. (ie. A player who has played two (2) games in the M.J.H.L. has only three (3) games left to play in either of the other named Leagues.)
Advertising is to be placed at the very bottom part of a player’s jersey (i.e. one (1) centimeter from the bottom of the jersey, and the name of one sponsor is not to exceed 10 centimetres in height and not more than 51 centimetres in length). In addition, the placement of the top sponsor bar is not to exceed a distance of 13 centimetres from the bottom of the jersey.
The playoff dates and format for the following season will be set at the Annual General Meeting. The League playoffs will be organized by groups of teams as determined each year by the final games of the A, B, and C division. At the end of each playoff round, teams will be re-seeded based on regular season standings. For ALL rounds of the WHSHL playoffs, overtime will consist of a 3 on 3 10-minute stop-time overtime period should the game finish in a tie after three periods. At the end of the overtime period a five-round shootout will determine the winner of the game. If tied at the end of the five rounds, the shootout will become sudden death. Teams will switch ends before the start of overtime. Each team must go through their entire roster before allowing original shooters to shoot again. EX. If one team has only 15 players then the opposing team will only use 15 players before same shooter can be used again. The shootout will end in the first round that one team scores and the other team does not score.
At the end of regular season games which end in a tie, a 3-on-3, 5-minute stop-time overtime period will be implemented. If one team receives a penalty, they will keep 3 players on the ice, with the non-penalized team allowed to play with 4. At the end of the penalty, the player receiving the penalty shall be allowed to return to the ice creating a 4-on-4 situation until the next stoppage in play, at which point 3-on-3 play will resume. If the game remains tied following this overtime period, there will be a three-round shootout. The home team will decide whether it wishes to shoot first or last. If tied at the end of the three rounds, the shootout will become sudden death. The entire roster will be used at this point. EX. If one team has 15 players then the opposing team will only use 15 players before same shooter can be used again. NB. In addition, if a team is two players short at the end of regulation time, a five on three will take place in overtime following the rule of the 4-on-4 situation.
The tie-breaking criteria for League standings are as follows:
Where two teams have the same number of points at the end of the season the following tie breaking criteria will be used:
Unbalanced Schedule (where every team does not play every other team twice)
Balanced Schedule (where every team does play every other team twice).
Where three or more teams have the same amount of points at the end of the regular season the following tie breaking criteria will be used:
N.B. After one criteria, teams that are still tied move onto the next criteria. The team not still tied will be placed accordingly.
Unbalanced Schedule (where every team does not play every other team twice)
Balanced Schedule (where every team does play every other team twice).
A violent act related to W.H.S.H.L. play is subject to both a hockey suspension and a school suspension. School administrators will be asked to administer the school suspension in accordance with the school’s guidelines.
FIGHTING
FIGHTING SANCTION Any player who engages in his/her 1st fight of the season 3 games (4 games if the fight occurs in the last 10 minutes of regulation time)Any player who engages in his/her 2nd fight of the season Indefinite suspension until the WHSHL renders a decision. Any player who engages in his/her 3rd fight of the season Season and indefinite suspension until the WHSHL renders a decision. The suspension could carry over into future season(s)
INSTIGATION or AGGRESSOR 2 games N.B. After each offense an incident report must be issued by the team and sent to the Divisional Convenor and a game report shall be filed by the referee.
MATCH AND MAJOR PENALTIES
MATCH PENALTIES INFRACTION MINIMUM SANCTION
Deliberate injury Indefinite Suspension. Kicking 3 games. Deliberate Attempt to Injure 2 games. Spearing (where a match penalty is assessed) 2 games. Butt Ending (where a Match penalty is assessed) 2 games. Spitting 2 games. Head Butting 2 games. Hair Pulling 2 games. Pulling/Grabbing Face Mask (where a Match penalty is assessed) 2 games. Physical Abuse of Official Indefinite Suspension. Checking from Behind (Match) 2 games. Checking to the Head (Match) 2 games Slew Footing 2 games.
MAJOR PENALTIES MINIMUM SUSPENSION. Boarding 1 game. Charging 1 game. Checking from Behind 2 games. Head Contact 2 games. Elbowing 1 game. Kneeing 1 game. Tripping 1 game. Cross- Checking 1 game. Slashing 1 game Roughing 1 game
ACCUMULATION OF MAJOR/MATCH PENALTIES SANCTION
2 major/match penalties in a season for any of the above infractions 2 additional games3 major/match penalties in a season for any of the above infractions Indefinite suspension pending a hearing
OVERMINOR PENALTIES INFRACTION - Checking from Behind (2min and a GM)
1st & 2nd Offences- player is removed from the remainder of the game. If the penalty occurs in the last ten (10) minutes of regulation time or any time in overtime, the player is suspended for one (1) game.
3rd Offence- two (2) game suspension; three (3) if penalty occurs in last ten (10) minutes of regulation time or any time in overtime
4th Offence - indefinite suspension until the League renders a decision.
OTHER 10 Minute Misconducts
If 10-minute misconduct occurs during the last 10 minutes of regulation, player is removed from the game. No subsequent suspension. Player will receive 1 game suspension for the accumulation of 3 - 10 minute misconducts throughout the regular season. Each succeeding 10 minute misconduct will consist of a 1 game suspension
N.B.: After each offense an incident report must be issued by the team and sent to the Divisional Convenor and a game report shall be filed by the referee. Gross Misconduct Any player who is given a Gross Misconduct for travesty of the game and/or complete disrespect for the officials will be immediately removed from the remainder of the game.
Racial/Ethnic/Homophobic Slurs and Derogatory Comments Any player who is given a Gross Misconduct for making any of the above types of inappropriate comments towards any person during a game will be indefinitely suspended until the W.H.S.H.L. renders a decision regarding the length of suspension.
N.B.: After each offense an incident report must be issued by the team and sent to the convenor
Unsportsmanlike Conduct or Harassment/Abuse of Officials by a Team Official
Where a Game Misconduct has been assessed to a team official for Unsportsmanlike Conduct or Harassment/Abuse of Officials:
Where a Gross Misconduct has been assessed to a team official:
Season-Ending Infractions:
Any player assessed a penalty for a suspendable offence in his team’s final W.H.S.H.L. sanctioned game of the season shall receive a suspension of up to 10 games—which will carry over to the following season of play in the event that the player returns to the W.H.S.H.L.—if the on-ice and League officials determine that the player displayed a complete disregard for the safety of opposing players and the integrity of the game. The purpose of this special playing rule is to deter blatantly dangerous play at the end of a team’s season. N.B.: After each offense an incident report must be issued by the team and sent to the convenor and a game report shall be filed by the referee.
Removal of Players from a Game:
Any player ejected from the game must be released to a team official who will escort the player to the dressing room. Once a player is removed from a game he shall not return to the proximity of the ice surface and shall not have contact with any member of the opposing team for the remainder the game.
Appeal / Suspension Committee
The Appeal / Suspension Committee shall consist of: The Vice President, Convenors, Director of Officials, Two other available Executive members, League President - if a conflict of interest arises.
Appeals
Suspensions
Game suspensions can be served:
N.B.: All teams are responsible to ensure that all suspension offenses are recorded and reported to the Convener of their League before the close of the next school day (Article 13.3)
Consequences for Violations of item 4:
Indefinite Suspension: In any indefinite suspension the league will render a decision on a case by case basis. The League may rule on a season-ending suspension; conversely, circumstances may warrant a suspension of a lesser nature.
Faceoffs
After Icings and Penalties; Following an icing or a penalty, the attacking team may choose which of the two faceoff circles they would like the ensuing faceoff to take place.
Number of Games: The hockey team will play no more than a total of forty-two (42) games beginning with League play and excluding playoffs.
Any member involved in a pre, or post-game off-ice altercation, including damage to arena property or incidents involving opposing team members, team supporters, or officials, and including threats and taunts via text message, social networking sites, or any other method of contact, shall be indefinitely suspended until the W.H.S.H.L. renders a decision.
Any member who is involved in making any of the above types of inappropriate comments towards any opposing team members, team supporters, or officials after a game either in person or via social media, will be indefinitely suspended until the W.H.S.H.L. renders a decision regarding the length of suspension. League officials will be considered as off-ice officials for the purpose of reporting infractions.
All teams MUST submit team photos (individual and headshots) to the League Statistician on or before the date determined at the September General Meeting. All teams MUST submit nominations for WHSHL Awards by the established deadline. All teams MUST have players in attendance at the All Star Luncheon AND at the WHSHL Awards banquet. Failure to comply with any of the above will result in having $100 removed from their team’s performance bond.