The conduct of players and coaches is to be beyond reproach both on and off the ice.
- Any misconduct will result in immediate and prompt disqualification from the league.
- Coaches/chaperones are responsible for the conduct of players and any damages that occur at venues/tournament facilities.
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A zero tolerance policy regarding abusive language and unsportsmanlike behavior toward opposing team
Players / coaches / fans, as well as referees / volunteers / league officials, is strictly enforced. Anyone in violation of this policy will be immediately escorted from the venue.
League Roster
- Players are not permitted to roster on more than one team.
- Players must meet league age eligibility requirements; the head coach must provide a copy of each player's official birth certificate "immediately" upon request of the registrar.
- Players in violation will be deemed ineligible and disqualified for the remainder of the leagues current calendar year.
- All goals of an ineligible player will be subtracted from the teams' record in all games which the ineligible player was part of a scoring play (goal or assist). League point standings will be recalculated based on the new scoring totals for all games in which the ineligible player participated.
- Final team roster of not more than 23 players (20 players and 3 goaltenders) must be declared with the TNFHL registrar by the required deadline.
- Each team must declare both their "Home and Visitor" jersey color/s on their official roster.
Game Schedules
- All teams must be prepared to play 15 minutes prior to game time.
- Scheduling requests must be provided in writing.
- Teams are assigned to play based on the following criteria:
- Teams will not be scheduled to compete in more than two games per day (Except where necessary).
- Every effort is made to ensure a minimum of two - four hours between games on the same day. Any modifications to game schedules must be agreed on by the head coach of each team or deemed "necessary" and approved by league officials.
Game Procedures
- All periods will be 20-minute stop time (Gold Division will follow their agreed upon period length). Ice will be resurfaced after every two periods (when possible) per the daily schedule. Some games will begin on "old" ice. We will employ a 15-15-20 minute system where indicated.
- The TNFHL Scheduling Committee will list the name of the Home Team on each schedule. The Home Team must have an alternate-colored jersey available and be prepared to change, if, in the opinion of the game officials, there is a color conflict.
- The Home Country/Team will ensure that games run on time, provide score sheets and attempt to resolve jersey conflicts.
- All teams must arrive at the game/tournament venue at least 45 minutes prior to their scheduled start time; teams must be prepared to take the ice 15 minutes prior to scheduled game time
- Every effort will be made to provide teams with a 5 minute warm-up period; however, teams must be ready to take the ice as soon as the preceding game and/or ice resurfacing is finished.
- The Home Team provides all game pucks; teams must provide their own pucks for practices and pre-game warm-ups.
- The Home Team must send the completed score sheet with head coach/referee signatures to the league registrar by the league established timelines.
- Each team must provide 2 volunteers per game to run the clock, scorebook and penalty boxes.
Protests
- All protests must be made to the TNFHL designated officials by the Head Coach only to be valid. The Head Coach must bring their concerns to the League Officials within 3 days of the game in question. The Advisory Committee’s decision is final on all arbitrated game decisions.
- No protests will be permitted regarding rules interpretations or judgment calls made by referees. Only protests related to game rules that can be addressed in the USA Hockey/Hockey Canada Rule Book and/or regarding player eligibility will be heard by league officials.
- If it is determined that a player has violated an eligibility rule (whether double rostered or age ineligible), the player is disqualified from the remainder of the leagues current calendar year.
Competition Format
- Inter-Divisional and Intra-Divisional league play competition is conducted with all teams seeded into a league finals based on league play point standings. In the Platinum Division there will be a Number 1 seed from each country. The other seeds for the playoff will be determined by a “seeding format” similar to that used in the MN High Section seeding process.
- Standings are determined on the basis of two points for all wins; in the event of a tie, one point is awarded to each team.
- If two teams have an equal number of points, standings are determined by 1). head-to-head result; 2). most wins; 3). fewest goals allowed; 4). most goals scored; 5). coin toss.
- If a tie in the standings occurs with three teams, and the tie-breaking procedure eliminates one of the teams and two teams still remain tied, the eliminated team is removed and the procedure is re-employed with the remaining two teams. If the two teams remain tied following this process, a coin toss is used to determine advancement and seeding into the finals.
- No overtime period will be played in preliminary, league play at any level.
- In the event of a tie after regulation play in finals, a five-minute (four on four) stop time sudden death overtime period is played following a two-minute rest period. If no score in overtime, then a 3-player shoot-out follows; visiting team shoots first.
- One minute for coaches to choose three players.
- Teams alternate players shooting until three players have had one shot and an advantage is held.
- If score remains tied, one additional player shoots until a winner is decided.
- No player may shoot twice until every eligible player has shot.
- There will be no ice resurfacing between the end of regulation play and any overtime period.
Rule Modifications
The TNFHL League is played under current USA Hockey/Hockey Canada rules as modified by league organizers. USA Hockey guidelines for equipment are enforced for all teams from the United States. Hockey Canada guidelines for equipment are enforced for all teams from Canada. International teams will abide by their country's equipment guidelines. Significant modifications used during league play include:
- The red line is used for icing only. No touch icing.
- The tag-up rule for offside is used.
- Slap shots are permitted.
- Checking is not permitted.
- Ejection and game misconduct will occur after five penalties per player in one game.
- The Head Coach will be ejected from any one game in which his/her team has 15 penalties. The Coach will be asked to leave the bench when the 15th penalty has been called. The coach will be eligible to play the next scheduled game.
- All players, including alternate goaltenders, in the player's box area are required to wear helmets.
- Mouth guards are required for all players at all times. A warning will be given by the referees and then penalties will be assessed. Canadian players will follow Canadian rules for mouth guards and neck guards. The Referees are to warn both benches and coaches during warm up and before the puck is dropped that mouth guards will be required throughout the game. Once the game starts any player including the goaltender without a mouth guard in their mouth can be assessed a 2 minute penalty in the case of a goaltender another player can serve the minor penalty.
- Each team is allow one-1 minute timeout per game
Penalties
All decisions made by the officials are final. Questions regarding rules interpretations should be directed to the TNFHL Designated Officials.
- USA Hockey rules governing player/coach/team penalties is enforced. In the event of coincidental penalties, neither team will skate shorthanded.
- Referees have the discretion of assessing a game disqualification penalty to players and/or coaches for the remainder of any game. Players and/or coaches receiving a game disqualification penalty will be eligible to play/coach at the next scheduled game. (Disqualifications are governed by USA Hockey and Hockey Canada Official Rules; I.e. fighting, major penalty, intent to injure another player, etc.)
- Checking-from-behind penalties will carry a two-minute minor penalty, plus a ten-minute misconduct, to be served consecutively unless the opponent is checked head-first into the boards, which carries a mandatory five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct.
- Any player and/or coach using remarks that are considered a racial slur in nature heard by a game official will automatically receive a game misconduct. The TNFHL advisory committee reserves the right to review any racially motivated incident for further disciplinary action, including disqualification from the league.
THFHL 2009 Player Eligibility — College Players
The TNFHL is a developmental league designed to prepare and showcase girls to be able to play hockey at the next level. The league encourages teams to fully roster 22 skaters and 3 goalies who have been born in 1990 or later. We strive to provide the best competitive environment for girls hockey, our focus is to develop players to the highest level we can within our mission. To this regard, college or post high school players that are in or have been in D1 or D3 programs are not eligible to participate in the League unless they played in the TNFHL in 2008 in at least 4 league games and play at least 4 league games prior to the League Championship weekend in 2009.
Comment: We want to avoid the “loading” of rosters for the championship weekend.
THFHL 2009 Minimum Number of Rostered Players
A team must start a game with a least 10 rostered players. Emergency additions may be allowed for games but unless the minimum number of players from the approved roster season roster is met, the game will be played but go down as a forfeit. Emergency additions must be approved by the League.
