2025/26 Season Rules

& Regulations

(Updated Aug 2025)

The Valley Premier Hockey League will follow all current Hockey Canada rules. In addition to Hockey Canada rules, the following rules will be followed. 

**If a rule in the Hockey Canada Rulebook contradicts one of the rules listed below – the rules below will be the rule enforced. **

Section 1 – Team Registration

1. Teams will need to register prior to the registration deadline to be eligible for that upcoming season.
2. Team registration is not complete until the 1^st payment is made. Payment details will be provided when registration opens.
3. If a team makes only a partial payment and the registration deadline passes, their partial payment could be refunded, and the team will NOT be eligible for that season.
4. If there are teams on a waiting list, those teams will get the first option on replacing any teams that fail to meet the listed registration terms above.
5. On their registration, teams will indicate which division they would like to play in.
6. If a team is deemed too good for their division, the league convenor reserves the right to move the team where he feels is best.
7. During registration teams will be given options for days that they CANNNOT play on. (This is geared towards people who work as first responders and those with religious beliefs that prohibit them from participating on certain days)
8. Unless requested otherwise at time of registration, or a team is eligible for incentive programs - teams should expect to play any day of the week.
9. Teams will be required to submit a roster of up to 17 skaters, including goalie(s) prior to the start of the season.

Section 2 – Scheduling

1. Scheduling requests during the season are permitted. IE: Switching a game due to a wedding, stag, funeral etc.
2. Scheduling requests must be submitted in writing by the team representative to the League Convener
3. While we allow requests, the league convenor does not guarantee the request can be met.
4. Scheduling requests can be made PRIOR to playoffs starting.
5. Scheduling requests DURING the playoffs will not be considered. Plan ahead!

Section 3 – Game Format

1. Warm up will be 3 minutes running time
2. Every game will consist of 3 – 15 minute stop time periods
3. IF tied after regulation, a 5 minute, running time 3on3 overtime period will be played.
4. IF tied after overtime, there will be a 3 man shootout or until a winner is determined.

 Section 4 – Player Eligibility (Season)

1. Players must be 19 years of age unless an exemption has been granted by league convener.
2. Players may spare for teams in any division higher and a maximum of 2 divisions lower than their full-time team. If a player has multiple full-time teams, this rule will be applied based on the highest division he plays in full time.
3. A player will be considered full time once he has played the minimum number of games needed for playoffs. Example: If a player is registered in F for winter league, but spares up in B for 8 games, he is no longer eligible for F Div that season or playoffs. Regardless of whether he is full time and has paid his dues on that team.

4. It is a team reps’ responsibility to ensure their spares are noted correctly online each game they play.
5. If a spare is NOT correctly listed on a game sheet, the team rep will have up to 48 hours to file a complaint with the league convenor.
6. Random ID Checks – The league reserves the right to do random ID checks before or after a game. If a player listed on the game sheet doesn’t match a player’s ID, the team will forfeit that game.
7. During playoffs, players will be required to show ID when signing in before the game. This is to prevent players signing in as someone else.
8. Players who currently or have in the past 5 years, played pro, semi pro (WHL, OHL, BCHL etc) CANNOT play in a division lower than B Div.
9. Teams can challenge a player’s eligibility, if they have proof the player meets criteria for rule 8. If the player is deemed ineligible - all games played by that player will be forfeited.
10.  Players who are capable of playing higher caliber hockey are highly encouraged to play at their level.

Section 4B – Player Eligibility (Playoffs)

1. For Winter Season players must play a minimum of 8 games to be eligible for playoffs. Spring Season players must play 3 games to be eligible to play.
2. Players can only play for ONE team in a division.
3. Players can qualify for playoffs for multiple teams in different divisions. The qualifying player must be in compliance with Section 4, rules 2 and 3.
4. Goalies can play for multiple teams, but are encouraged to stick with on team per division. However, we understand it isn’t always possible.
5. Goalies need to play a minimum of 3 games in Winter to be eligible for playoffs. A minimum of 1 game for spring.
6. In the event a team doesn’t have an eligible spare goalie, they may call another goalie in the same division who is eligible under games played rule.
7. If all the eligible goalies are unable to play, the league convenor will find them a goalie who meets games played in another division.

Section 5 – Penalty Minutes

1. Penalty Minutes will be monitored through the season. The following chart explains how PIMS can affect your eligibility.
    

2. The thresholds listed above are based on a player playing for ONE team.
3. A players PIM totals are not combinable if he plays for multiple teams. PIMS do NOT transfer to the playoffs, but PIM related suspensions do.
   Example 1: Player X has 44PIMs during the season. If he gets 2 minutes in game 1 of the playoffs, he is NOT suspended.
   Example 2: Player X hits 45 PIMs DURING the last game of the season. He IS suspended for the first 2 games of the playoffs.

Example 3: If player X has 20 PIMS playing for Team Yellow and 25PIMs playing for Team Red – he is not suspended. PIM violations are based on totals with ONE team.

Section 6 – Suspensions

1. All suspensions handed down will be relayed via e-mail to the team rep of the offending player prior to their team’s next game.
2. A player suspended CANNOT play for ANY OTHER TEAM until his suspension has been served.
3. The number of games served are based on the team the player was playing for at time of infraction.

Example: Player X was suspended 2 games while playing for Team Yellow. Player X CANNOT play for ANY OTHER team, until Team Yellow has played those 2 games.

4. If a player is suspended for the rest of the season and playoffs while playing for one team, he is NOT eligible to play for anyone else, regardless of his status as a spare or a full-time player. No refunds will be given.
5. Any player who plays while suspended will have his suspension doubled and the team he is playing for will forfeit that game.

Section 7 – Majors, Game Misconducts and Match Penalties

1. All non-fighting majors will result in a 2-game suspension minimum and subject to league convener review.
2. If a player receives a 5 minute major for high sticking that draws blood, the referee will notify the league convenor if it was accidental or not.
3. Accidental high sticks that draw blood will NOT result in a suspension.
4. A Match penalty will result in an automatic indefinite suspension and subject to league convener review.
5. A game misconduct BEFORE the last 10 minutes of a game will be reviewed by the league convener. Supplementary discipline will be at the convenor’s discretion.
6. A game misconduct DURING the last 10 minutes of a game will be an automatic 1 game suspension and subject to league convener review.

Section 8 – Fighting

1. Fighting will NOT be tolerated. A fighting major will result in an automatic suspension for the remainder of the season and playoffs.
2. If a player(s) receives a fighting major in spring league or the last 5 games of the winter season or in the playoffs – the league convenor reserves the right to suspend the player(s) for one full calendar year or longer.

Section 9 – Abuse of Game Officials

1. Any physical abuse of an on ice or off ice official will result in automatic expulsion from the league. No refund will be given to the player(s) expelled.
2. Any player found to be verbally assaulting a referee will be subject to review by the league convenor.
3. Players who are found to be problematic for on and off ice officials, will be monitored and removed from the league by the league convenor if necessary.
4. Referees are NOT responsible for suspensions. The referees make the call on the ice, as they see it. The League convener is in charge of suspensions.  DO NOT ask an on ice official if you are suspended.

Section 10 – Game Ejection

1. Game Ejection – Referees may use this call to help diffuse a situation. If a player or multiple players are the cause of the issues, the referee may give them each a “Game Ejection”
2. Game Ejections do not come with any penalty minutes attached. It simply removes the player(s) from that game.
3. A player who received multiple game ejections over the course of a season, will be warned and if necessary suspended a game.

Section 11 - Player Safety and Accountability

1. The Valley Premier Hockey League reserves the right to expel, remove, deny entry, or suspend any player who is deemed to be a detriment to other players safety.
2. The Valley Premier Hockey League reserves the right to deny a team registration if they continually act unbecoming of the Valley Premier Hockey League. This includes excessive penalty minutes, endangering other players safety, harassing officials, arena staff and/or fans.

Section 12 – Refunds

1. The Valley Premier Hockey League is NOT responsible for refunding players who miss games for any reason.
2. The Valley Premier Hockey League WILL NOT reimburse teams whose game(s) is forfeited due to another team.

Section 13 – Miscellaneous

1. When a puck hits the goalie in the mask, the play will be blown down.
2. However, if a shot goes off the goalies head and directly into the net, it is a GOOD goal.
3. If a player high sticks the puck – Play will blown down IF the players team is first to touch the puck. OR the play will continue if an opposing player is first to touch the puck.
4. High Sticking penalties are an automatic 4 minute penalty.
5. If a high stick draws blood, it will be an automatic 5 minute major and the player will be ejected from the game. (See Section 7, rule 4)
6. If a player receives 3 penalties, they will be ejected from the game.
7. The league convenor has access to LiveBarn and reserves the right to review any incident by video, with or without the on ice officials and issue a penalty or suspension if deemed necessary.

Section 15: Alcohol, Lock out and No Show

1. The Valley Premier Hockey League has a ZERO tolerance policy on Alcohol consumption in unlicensed areas of the Rinks at Summit Centre. This includes lobbies, arena playing surfaces, benches, stands, and any area other than the dressing room. Any player/team found consuming alcoholic beverages in non-designated areas will result in a $500 refundable bond that will have to be paid BEFORE their next game. The $500 bond will be returned in full at the conclusion of the season if no further incidents arise. If a 2^nd offence occurs, the $500 bond will not be returned, and the team/player will be suspended indefinitely from VPHL participation and must apply for reinstatement at a later date. No refunds will be issued for league fees under any circumstances.
2. The Rinks at Summit Centre has a strict no smoking policy in place. This must be adhered to by all Valley Premier Hockey Players. 
3. If a team is caught smoking in the dressing room, they will be fined $150.         
4. Any Valley Premier Hockey player found to be playing under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be given a game ejection. Multiple offences could result in further action from the league convenor.
   
   

Lock Out Policy

1. The Valley Premier Hockey League has a no pay, no play policy in place. Teams must be paid up on or before the payment deadline, as set out at the start of the season.
2. If a team has not paid their dues on time, they will have until 24 hours prior to their next game to pay.
3. In the interest of the opposing team – should the team not make the 24 hour deadline, the league convenor will look to find a replacement team for the game. The team locked out will NOT get the game back and it will be a forfeit.
4. Teams who can’t play due to payment lock out, may be fined $250 (reimbursed to the opposing team) if a game is cancelled or forfeited because of it.
5. The Valley Premier Hockey League reserves the right to disqualify any team, for the remainder of the season, that is continually delinquent on payments.

No Show  Policy

1. Teams that no show to a game and give the league convener no warning will be fined the amount of $250, payable to the league, which will be refunded to the opposing team for a game lost.
2. The fine is due prior to the following game.
3. Referees and timekeepers will be paid by the league in full for no show games.
4. No show games will NOT be rescheduled.

Forfeit Policy

1. If a team is unable to sport a line up, they are encouraged to call the League Convenor ASAP and he can either help facilitate more players to come out or can try to find a replacement team.
2. If the league convenor is NOT able to find a replacement team or spares, the forfeiting team will pay a fine of $250, payable to the league, which will be refunded to the opposing team for a game lost.
3. The fine is due prior to the following game.
4. Referees and timekeepers will be paid by the league in full for forfeit games.
5. Forfeit games will NOT be rescheduled.

If you have any questions regarding the rules listed in this booklet, please contact the league convenor at – admin@premierhockey.ca​​​​​​​