Last Amendment – Jan 01, 2025
2025 – BULLDOG HOCKEY DEVELOPMENT –
ADULT HOCKEY RULES AND MINIMUM SUSPENSION LIST
Bulldog Hockey Development’s top priority is offering a fun, welcoming, and safe environment with a positive atmosphere for all participants, staff, and spectators. Below are our rules, minimum suspension list policy and special amendments to ensure that this priority is being upheld with the utmost integrity of the league.
GAME RULES AND AMMENDMENTS:
HOCKEY RULES – HOCKEY CANADA RULES APPLY
Bulldog Hockey Amendments/Common Adult Rules Below:
Common Rules:
- Typical Offsides
- Icing
- Once a puck passes the goal line it is blown dead, not hybrid icing (Regular Redline Rules, Blueline not in effect)
- Any minor penalty “drawing blood” the offending player will be given a double minor penalty
- Players given two 10-min game misconduct penalties will be removed from the game
MAJOR AND MINOR PENALTIES
- All Minor penalties will be 3 MIN run time
*stop time rule applies in last minute of period where applicable - All Major penalties will be 5 MIN run time
*stop time rule applies in last minute of period where applicable - Any players given a major penalty will be removed from the game.
- If a player acts with intent to intimidate or injure another player and the referee does not see or call a penalty. Bulldog staff can and will intervene and the offending player will be ejected from the game. No penalty will be given during the game, but a suspension will be applied. This applies to conduct on and off the ice.
LENGTH OF GAMES
All games will be 3x run periods with the last minute of each period stop time. (15-15-15). Warmup (2min). However, in the third period if the score is 3 or more goal difference the clock will continue to run.
DEFAULTED GAMES
Any team that defaults a game, for any reason, will record a 3-0. If both teams default a game, a 0-0 tie will be recorded, but NO POINTS will be given.
TIME-OUTS
Regular season timeouts will not be permitted. In an elimination or championship playoff game Each team will be permitted one 30 second time-out per game. Both teams cannot use their time-out during the same stoppage in play.
TIES IN STANDINGS - In the event of a tie in the standings, the results will be decided by:
1. Head-To-Head – Total Points Earned
2. Least goals against in regular season
3. Least amount of Penalty Minutes
4. Coin Flip
COED HOCKEY RULE AMMENDMENTS
1) There must always be a minimum of 2 women on the ice (not including a female Goalie). This includes if a team has a 5v3 Powerplay.
2) Men are only allowed 1 goal per period each. Women are allowed unlimited scoring.
3) There will be zero tolerance for unsportsmanlike conduct. Any players engaging in insulting or intimidating behaviour will be ejected, this extends to behaviour towards other players, on ice officials, and Bulldog Staff.
4) NO SLAP SHOTS OR FAKE SLAP SHOTS (EVEN TO CLEAR THE PUCK OUT OF YOUR ZONE). A 3-minute minor penalty will be given if a player’s shot backswing exceeds their knee level.
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MINIMUM SUSPENSION LIST:
Bulldog Hockey Development has adopted the OMHA rules and regulations minimum suspension policy. All suspension types are listed on this link, the game officials will have undisputed final say in the minimum length of each suspension. The convenor may add games but never take away games given by the officials. Each suspension will adhere to the minimum suspension list below unless deemed otherwise by the officials or staff.
BULLDOG HOCKEY MINIMUM SUSPENSION AMENDMENTS:
FIGHTING – Any altercation that is deemed a fight is a minimum one season or remainder of season suspension for all players involved. The participant that “starts” the altercation for any reason will be given a minimum one-year suspension.
DISCRIMINATION – Any player who discriminates for any reason protected under the Human Rights Code will be removed permanently from any future Bulldog Hockey Development programs.
Any player who is suspended for the season may not continue in other leagues within Bulldog Hockey. Any other suspensions will be applied to the player’s current season. If there are multiple infractions within a game or consistently against the same team, the league will decide whether to immediately to apply the suspension OR to apply it to the subsequent games the offending teams have against each other.
APPEAL PROCESS
If a team feels that they would like to appeal for any reason, they may, for a $200 fee. The fee will be paid prior to the appeal. Management will then arrange a hearing with the team representative, a neutral party, and a game official. Attendance by the opposing team representative is optional. If the ruling is reversed, the $200 fee will be refunded. If the ruling is upheld, the $200 fee will be donated to the charity on behalf of the team contesting.
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ROSTER APPROVAL/ROSTER RULES – ATTENDANCE RESPONSES
START OF SEASON LINEUPS
Each Team may have a 15 player + 1 goalie approved roster. At the start of the season all teams that enter Bulldog Hockey must submit their roster to be “approved”. If certain players or the team is unfit for the registered division, the team will not be approved. It will be up to the team to adjust and resubmit. For any new teams or players to Bulldog Hockey this may take a few weeks to iron out to ensure parity and fun for all divisions. Please do not bring a “ringer” to the division unless it’s competitive. Any player not deemed as a “fit” for the division will be removed. Some players may play down a division if they choose to “fit in”. Those who don’t or wont will not be eligible. Example: A competitive player playing rec division, if you chose to play this division you must give players time and space and include your teammates above and beyond. A competitive player who continues to score multiple points per game or fails to give opponents a fair opportunity will be asked to move divisions.
MID-SEASON ADJUSTMENTS
Teams may make mid-season adjustments; each roster adjustment cannot make a team stronger unless agreed upon by the league manager. Teams will not be able to exceed their 15-player roster and must give 48 hours of notice, this notice much be given Monday – Friday. This is so new players can get insured or they will not be eligible to play. Every change or addition in mid-season must be approved by the league.
LAST MINUTE “SUBS”
Teams are not eligible to invite players as last-minute subs, the league will help teams fill the vacant spots to ensure equal game by game parity. Last minute players that will be added by the league will come from an approved sub list. All these players have been approved and covered by insurance to be added in that given night of league play. This goes for team entry and individual teams.
ATTENDANCE CONFIRMATION RESPONSIBILITIES
Each player on the team will be sent a weekly email with the game schedule for their league night. If you participate in multiple leagues, multiple emails will be sent. It is the players responsibility to respond to these emails each week to ensure accurate attendance is possible. A player must give a response within 24 hours of the game. Players that do not give a response will be marked absent, if a team has less then 10 skaters (team entry or individual entry) they will be given a “sub player”.
Why - We do this to ensure parity and fair play. We have all seen the teams that skate with 9 skaters and just put their best three players on defense. This makes a boring game for the opponent. We want to ensure every game is competitive for all players involved.
THREE STRIKE RULE (!)
Here are ways to get a strike, three strikes and your out!
The below rules are exclusive to Bulldog Hockey Development, we believe these are rules that separate us from other hockey leagues. These are important to us and our values for the league, and we take a lot of pride in them. A lot of hard work goes into enforcing these rules and knowing each player inside and out in the league. This is what helps us ensure safety and fun for everyone. It also helps us remove problematic teams and players each season to ensure we continue to grow our brand image as a FUN first hockey league at all levels of play.
BULLDOG STRIKE RULES
1. Any player that acts in an aggressive manor, tries to intimidate or be vulgar towards staff, officials, opponents or even teammates will be given a minimum of one (!) strike for each instance. Even though your behaviour may not result in a penalty it will not be tolerated.
Why - We are a network of people that want to have fun, if you don’t have sportsmanship to amalgamate to that we will remove you from the league. If you are an individual registration, we will refund you the remaining games left. If you are part of a team entry, we will offer a player to replace you and if accepted by your team rep we will refund you.
2. Players that do not update on attendance and don’t show up when marked as attending will be given one (!) strike.
Why – Your team and the other team suffers because you don’t show up, subs could have been arranged if something comes up last minute.
3. Teams – If your team has multiple people with (!) strikes or a game gets out of hand with multiple players involved not only will everyone involved get a (!) strike, but the team will also get a (!) strike.
Why – We are creating a culture of having friendly competition, we have removed teams and will continue to do so giving them refunds for the remaining balance of games. Those on the team who are not involved will be given an opportunity to participate as individuals. We won’t have one team jeopardize the culture for all the other teams or players.
Regular Season and Player Roster Rules:
A team shall not start a game with less then 10 skaters + one goalie Without notifying the league they are short players. Subs will be provided by the league if a team has last minute adjustment the manager will do everything in their power to add subs last minute to ensure each team has 10 skaters. A teams attendance will be taken the day prior to ensure they plan to play with ten skaters. If not a league will arrange a sub for that game. Any players who haven’t responded to attendance will be marked absent for that game.
Playoffs – A team may not skate with less then 8 skaters, same as above will apply
FORFEITS – A team entry that shows up with less then 8 skaters and a goalie will forfeit the game and be charged a $400 forfeit fine. The game will play as scheduled with whatever subs can be arranged last minute. The $400 fine will be used to create an exhibition game for the opposing team. The forfeiting team will not be involved in the future game AND will be removed from the schedule until the forfeit has been paid.
Why – for all the roster rules listed above, we all take valuable time and spend money to attend our game each week. To have that taken away from us is annoying and expensive. Those responsible will be held accountable, and we as a league will ensure everyone gets the best value possible each week. We have never had a forfeit game in 11 years of operation.
