BOHC Player Guide & Rule Book (v-09/24)

Welcome to The BOHC!

The Burlington Oldtimers Hockey Club (BOHC) is a volunteer-run, non-profit community hockey club.  Founded in 1975, we are one of Canada’s largest and longest-running men’s recreational hockey leagues.

Our motto is Balance, Fair Play, and Community.  While playing hockey and having fun is our number one reason for being, we are also committed to making a positive and lasting contribution to the Burlington community. Since our inception, the players and volunteers of the BOHC have raised and distributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to local organizations such as the

Burlington Food Bank, the Carpenter Hospice, and others.

To ensure you have a fun and safe experience playing BOHC hockey, this guide provides important information on  how our league is set up, the rules that we follow, and the sportsmanship and positive spirit that we advocate.  Please review and refer to it to ensure you get the most enjoyment possible from our league.

Rules & Regulations Table of Contents

Section One: New Member Game Play Information

A Quick Summary of Important League Rules To Know Before You Play!

See Section 9 for a complete listing of League rules.

Section Two: Club Eligibility

Section Three: League, Division, and Team Compositions

Section Four: Player Participation & Conduct

Section Five: Equipment

Section Six: Game Play

In both scenario i. and ii. above, both Captains should mutually decide if the game will still be considered a “regulation” game, or if it should be considered a 1-0 forfeit for purposes of league standings (but still played for fun). The League encourages Captains to remember that we play for fun, and not to win. Forfeits are discouraged whenever possible. However, if a team is chronically short-staffed during a season, it is to be expected that they will be required to forfeit their games. Note: if a player is injured and has to leave the game, which results in less than 8 players on his team, the game will continue to be played, and it will not change the “status” of the game from a regulation game to a forfeit.

Section Seven: Determining Regular Season Division Champions

At the end of the regular season, the team with the greatest number of points is declared the Division Champion. If two teams are tied in total points:

Section Eight: Round-Robin Playoff Format and Rules

  1. Most wins in the regular season
  2. Fewest total penalty minutes in the regular season

 

Section Nine: Penalties

 

Note: In situations where a specific issue is not covered by the BOHC Rule Book, the League will refer to the CARHA Rule Book.  The CARHA Rule Book can be found at www.carhahockey.ca.  The League reserves the right to modify CARHA rules as it deems appropriate.

Penalties can be assessed at any time before, during or after a game, regardless of whether play is in progress.  When coincidental Minor or Major penalties are called at the same time, teams will play at full-strength for the duration of the penalties.

  1. At the discretion of the referee, either a Minor or a Major Penalty will be assessed.
  2. Where, in the opinion of the referee, accidental contact has taken place, no penalty will be assessed.
  1. Any player who is identified by the referee as the instigator or the aggressor in a fight will be subject to additional penalties.
  2. After being assessed Minor penalties for roughing, a fighting penalty will be assessed if participants continue to carry on the roughing incident.
  3. Game Misconduct penalties will be assessed to a third man entering an altercation (roughing or fighting) plus any other penalties he might incur under the rules.
  1. If a third or subsequent Game Misconduct Penalty is assessed for any player, coach or manager, no further league or round robin play or team participation for that person may take place until after a discipline hearing has been held to discuss the situation.
  2. The Referee will write-up the Game Ejection/Game Misconduct Penalty on the game sheet, followed up by an email account of the incident and send to the Referee-in-Chief within 24 hours of the conclusion of the game.
  3. A referee is not required to assess a Minor Penalty before assessing any game Misconduct.
  1. Any player or team official who is assessed a Gross Misconduct penalty will be ordered to the dressing room immediately for the balance of the game.
  2. The player is automatically suspended for the next 2 games, and in addition to this, is not allowed to play until a Disciplinary Committee meeting is held to review the incident.
  3. The Referee will write-up the Gross Misconduct penalty on the game sheet, followed up by an email account of the incident and send to the Referee-in-Chief within 24 hours of the conclusion of the game.
  1. A Match Penalty will be assessed to any player who deliberately attempts to injure an opponent with a high stick.
  1. If a goalie is assessed a Major Penalty, he will be allowed to finish the game, but will not be permitted to play his next scheduled game. The only exception to this is if the goalie is penalized for fighting, in which case he is immediately ejected from the game.
  1. The Referee will write up the Match Penalty on the game sheet, followed up by an email account of the incident and send it to the Referee-in-Chief within 24 hours of the conclusion of the game.
  1. When a player is assessed both a Minor Penalty and a Major Penalty at the same time, the Major Penalty will be served first. The same principle will apply when a player is assessed a Minor Penalty and a Match Penalty at the same time. The 5-minute time penalty which accompanies the Match Penalty is to be served first.
  2. If a goal is scored against a team that is short-handed because of one or more Minor penalties, the player serving the first Minor Penalty will return to the ice. In the case of a player who has received a Double Minor Penalty, the first Minor Penalty will terminate.
  3. When coincident Minor or coincident Minors of equal duration are imposed against players on each team during the same stoppage of play, immediate substitution will be made for those penalties, and such penalties will not be considered for the purpose of a delayed penalty. Any differences in time or total penalty time will be served by one or more players on the ice at the time of the infraction. Unless they have been ejected from the game, such penalized players will take their place on the penalty bench and remain there until the first stoppage of play following the expiry of their respective penalties. Where at least one Major and/or Match Penalty is assessed to each team during the same stoppage of play, the coincident Major/Match Penalty will take precedent over the coincident Minor Penalty rule.

                                                             Stop Time           Running Time

             Minor penalties                                 2                         3

             Double Minor                                    4                         6

             Bench Minor penalties                       2                         3

             Major penalties                                 5                         7

             Misconduct penalties                         --                        --

             Game Misconduct penalties                --                        --

             Gross Misconduct penalties                --                        --

             Match penalties                                 5                         7

             Penalty Shot                                     --                        --

 

  1. Goalies are subject to these same rules. Blocking shots by skaters or goalies is permitted if sliding is not part of the blocking action.

Section Ten: Disciplinary Action

  1. Following the hearing, the Discipline Committee will determine the outcome for the player. The Committee has full discretion to impose short-term or long-term suspensions, or expulsion from the league. The Committee’s decision is considered to be final and is not subject to further review or appeal by the player.
  1. The decision to re-instate the player will be at the discretion of the VP of Hockey Operations and the Board of Directors. Should the player be reinstated, their League seniority will be re-set and start to accrue from the date their renewed registration is received.

Section Eleven: Insurance

The BOHC is a member of the Canadian Adult Recreational Hockey Association (CARHA). CARHA supports and protects adult recreational hockey by providing hockey insurance programs for leagues, tournaments, referees, teams, and pick-up and shinny groups for adults across Canada.

A portion of player membership fees goes towards our participation in CARHA and their insurance program. This insurance helps to protect both our League and our players. Our referees are also covered under this policy. For more information about CARHA’s insurance program, click here to go to CARHA’s website:  www.carhahockey.ca/cms/Insurance

Submitting A Claim For An On-Ice Accident

If you are injured while on the ice playing or officiating a BOHC game, you may be eligible for CARHA insurance coverage. For full information, please visit CARHA’s insurance page on their website at:  www.carhahockey.ca/cms/Insurance 

To submit a claim, follow these steps:

Players should refer to the CARHA website for full information on what is covered by the insurance program.

Please note: CARHA insurance acts as primary coverage for players that have no insurance of any kind. Should the member have insurance through work, a spousal plan, or another source, the CARHA insurance acts as secondary coverage.