HOLIDAY/LEISURE ADULT LEAGUE RULES (updated May 2025)

The Labatt Adult League (herein after referred to as HLAHL) operates under the rules and governance of USA Hockey and NYS Hockey. The league also operates within the policy guidelines and rules established by Holiday Twin Rinks and Leisure Rinks. Games are officiated by the independent WNY Hockey Officials Association under the certification from USA Hockey. Only certified USA Hockey Officials are used to officiate in our league.  With this being an adult recreational league for all participants to enjoy, we want you to be safe, have fun, be respectful and PLAY HOCKEY!

REGISTRATION:
All players participating in the league must be at least 18 years of age. USA Hockey does not permit a minor- aged player (under 18) to be registered on a USA Hockey Adult Roster. The registration system will automatically block a minor-aged player from appearing on an Adult Roster. Players are required to become a member of USA Hockey and will first need to register with USA Hockey. This is the link to register with USA Hockey: https://membership.usahockey.com/

Once a player registers with USA Hockey, the player will be required to register for the HLAHL on Sports Engine. The player’s USA Hockey number will be required in order to complete the registration with our league.

Individual applicants seeking to join their team will be assigned to those team rosters by staff after they complete online registration. Players must be registered, and roster assigned by HOL/LEI staff to be eligible.

Player rosters may be supplemented by players from our Sub Pool or Goalie Pool. Team captains will turn to this pool to round out their rosters as needed. Sub Pool players may register with HLAHL for a $25 fee for skaters and NO FEE for goaltenders. The player must also first obtain a USA Hockey Registration. However, a player in the Sub Pool will not be guaranteed to play on a team.  Captains will only draw from this pool as needed.

Team rosters can be modified for additions until rosters freeze on a date to be determined. Each roster is allowed a maximum of 30 players (including goaltenders) but only 18 skaters and 2 goaltenders may dress for a game.

JERSEYS:
All players MUST be in a matching team jersey which includes a team logo and a number.

PLAYER ID's (Voted on by Captains 5/5/25)
When a team brings in a sub or a player with a jersey that is not a regular team jersey, the player MUST show his ID to both the Scorekeeper AND the opposing Team Captain.

Teams should purchase a couple of inexpensive practice jerseys that the Captain will have on hand in case a player forgets his jersey at home. These jerseys should be the same color as your team jersey and have a number that is different from any other jersey number on your team.

Any player without a number on his jersey IS NOT ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GAME.

In all cases where there is any deviation of a player having a jersey that is different from the team jersey, the ID will be presented to the Scorekeeper and the opposing Team Captain.

SUBSTITUTE PLAYERS:
There will be an official sub-list on the Holiday/Leisure website. Teams may use a sub at any time that their roster may be depleted. However, that player MUST be registered with USA Hockey and be on our sub list.  If you have players that would like to be a sub they can register online!  Subs who register will then be available for teams to claim for a game. Subs can register at a cost of $25 and must provide a USA Hockey registration number.  Goalie subs can register at no charge.  Under no circumstance can a player be on your roster for a game who is not USA Hockey Registered.  Any violations of this rule will be severely dealt with and will result in forfeiture of the game and suspensions.  Please do not take a chance and try to skirt the rule.  In an extreme emergency, a team may use a goalie that is not from the goalie pool. However, that player must present proof of USA membership and ID to the scorekeeper. Of course, the jersey rule will apply to subs as well. 

The use of any non-registered or illegal player will result in the forfeiture of the game by the offending team and a hearing for the team captain which could result in suspension from USA Hockey.

PERIODS:
Playing time is as follows: Periods 1 and 2: 12 minute stop time; Period 3: 18 minute running -time. However, if at the 5-minute mark a game is within 3 goals, the game will revert to stop time.  If the team in the lead then takes a 4-goal lead, the score will revert to running time for the balance of the game.  Please note that within a running time, the minor penalties are 3 minutes and not 2. 

OVERTIME (Voted on by Captains 5/5/25)
Regular season overtime will now be 4 on 4. It will be a 5-minute stop-time period. If the game is tied after OT, the game remains a tie. For the playoffs, the OT will be 10 minutes stop-time. OT will be played until a winner is determined.    A win in regulation will result in the winning team being awarded 3 points. If the game goes into overtime, the winning team will receive 2 points and the losing team 1 point.  If an overtime game ends in a tie, each team will receive 1 point.

GAME CHANGES:
If for some reason a team needs to postpone a game, the burden of the change will be on the requesting team. I already sent a list of captains to all teams yesterday. You now have the contact information for all teams. If you need to request a postponement of a game, you will need to contact your opponent and they would need to agree to the change. I would then need to receive an email confirmation from BOTH Captains that the change was agreed to. It will then be up to the two teams to work out a rescheduled date with me. Again, you will first contact your opponent and he must agree to the change.  If this change occurs at the last minute and we are unable to contact the referee or scorekeeper advising them of the change, the team that requested the change will be obligated to pay the cost of the refs and scorekeeper.  Changes will only be approved for legitimate reasons. Any team that fails to arrive for their scheduled game will be assessed a $250 forfeit fee as well as forfeiture of the game.

PLAYOFF ELIGIBILITY:
To achieve playoff eligibility players must participate in & be listed in the league record as having played in, a minimum of (6) regular season games in the Fall/Winter season and (4) games in the Spring/Summer season. Players who do not meet this criterion will not appear on GAMESHEET playoff rosters. This benchmark of eligibility is the sole responsibility of players & team captains. It is the player’s/captain’s responsibility to monitor player playoff eligibility. GAMESHEET season stats/attendance is the official league record. The number of players on your bench must match the number of players listed on the game roster. The Refs/Scorekeepers will verify that the number of dressed players matches the number of players on the game roster.

PENALTIES:
Any player receiving (4) penalties in a game will be removed from the game with no further suspension. Players assessed a game misconduct will be removed from that game, and the next scheduled game. Teams found having played a suspended player will forfeit said game and be subject to HLAHL and/or USA Hockey supplemental discipline. Any player who is assessed a major for fighting will incur a (3) game suspension. A player assessed a second major for fighting in the same season will incur a (6) game suspension. 3rd fight ends season for offending player. Suspensions will be served with the team that the player received it with, regardless of how many teams they play on.  If a player receives a Match Penalty, the player is suspended by USA Hockey from ALL participation until a hearing is held. This includes playing with other teams, coaching youth hockey,   managing a team, etc. A Match Penalty is serious and the issuance of one to a player involves the loss of participating in ANY USA Hockey activity.  The player receiving the penalty has the right to a hearing within 30 days. A hearing committee of at least 3 people will be established. The player receiving the penalty could also be subject to further suspension from the NYSAHA. Once a hearing is held and a suspension is given, the player does have a right to appeal to the NYSAHA West Section and after that to the NYSAHA.

TIE-BREAKERS:
The tie-breaker used to establish playoff positional games for all LAHL teams shall be in order: POINTS, WINS, HEAD-TO-HEAD, LOWEST TEAM PIM, GOAL DIFFERENTIAL.     PLAYOFF FORMAT Playoff Rules and Formats will be decided on by the Captain’s Council. More info coming soon! The league commissioners have the sole authority to resolve all disputes and to interpret all rules. The commissioner’s interpretation of these rules is to be deemed final regardless of written rules, when it is determined a rule is being unfairly applied.

PENALTIES OF 3 OR MORE GAMES (Voted on by Captains)
When a player receives a penalty of 3 or more games (such as a fight), the player will be suspended for a period of time and not just serve the penalty for his team only.  For example: A player received a fighting penalty which is a 3-game suspension. That player will be suspended for the next 3 games of his team AND that suspension will include being suspended from any other team in the Labatt Adult League that he plays for during that time duration. Thus, if a player receives that penalty with Team A on May 12th and his next 3 games are May 20, May 27 and June 3rd, this player will be suspended for ALL teams he plays on through June 3rd. A Captain will have the ability to appeal this suspension, only as it applies to other teams, by contacting the Deputy Commissioner within 24 hours of the penalty. Should the appeal be granted this will only lift the suspension as it applies to other teams. The player will still serve the full suspension with his team.

CAPTAIN PREGAME/POSTGAME DUTY (Voted on by Captains)
During the warm-up period, the Captain will go to the scorekeeper and let the scorekeeper know EXACTLY who is playing in that game. This way there will never be a discrepancy between the number of players on the ice and the number of players on the official game sheet.  At the end of a game *BEFORE THE SCOREKEEPER CLOSES THE TABLET* the Captain should quickly review what is on the game sheet to make sure that you are aware of any major or game penalties that are issued.

Pete Preteroti, HLAHL Commissioner
Pete@holidayrinks.com

Ron Nowakowski, HLAHL Deputy Commissioner
Ron@holidayrinks.com