Maritime Indian Hockey Association

(M.I.H.A.) Tournament Rules & Regulations

( Updated as of January 18th, 2007 )

 Please Note :

The following Maritime Indian Hockey Association Rules cover all Asanctioned@ Maritime Indian Hockey Tournaments in all age levels.  These rules were recently updated so that the great sport of hockey in our communities can be played more fairly, with more sports@person@ship and structured to be more organized for all. 

Please abide by these rules as they are intended to be for the protection of all players, officials and tournament co-ordinators. 

Thank you,  MIHA Committee.

(Please note: We are searching for experienced, seasoned hockey enthusiasts willing to assist in the development of the MIHA, if interested, apply to one of the following.)  ALSO, any new coordinators that are planning to host hockey tournaments are invited to sit on this MIHA Committee.  MYRACL will also be taking the initiative to look for ELDERS to sit on our Committee to help with the process of improving our volunteer services as well as guiding our process.

There have also been tournaments in Tobique, NB and Charlottetown, PEI as well as New Glasgow, N.S. that we are trying to recruit to be part of our process.  Please contact us so that we can get your tournament sanctioned and up to date with any rule changes that the MIHA Committee recommends and passes through a motion.

For more information, please contact one of the following representatives:
 

Mr. Robert Bernard (MYRACL LTD.)                      Ms. Shirley Francis (Indianbrook, NS)         

Mr. Mark Augustine (Big Cove, NB)                      Mr. Buster Matthews (Membertou, NS)

Mr. Patrick Marshall (Eskasoni, NS)                      Ms. Natalie Googoo (We'koqma'q, NS)

Mr. Levi Denny (Eskasoni, NS)                            Mr. Allison Bernard (Eskasoni, NS)

Mr. Luke Morrison (Listiguj, Quebec)                    Ms. Michelle Marshall-Johnson (Eskasoni, NS)

 

IMPORTANT CHANGES/ADDITIONS TO THE MIHA RULES !!

At the most recent MIHA Tournament Committee Meeting, a number of changes were brought up for discussion and motions were passed to add the following to the MIHA Rules as of January 18th, 2007 to all sanctioned MIHA Tournaments for the 2006-2007 Hockey Season and until further notice:

ALL MIHA HOCKEY TOURNAMENT GAMES (INCLUDING ROUND ROBIN, SEMI 
FINAL AND FINAL GAMES WILL NOW INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

*     LAST TWO MINUTES OF EACH GAME WILL NOW BE STOP TIME - (IF THE GAME 
       IS WITHIN TWO (2) GOALS. Should a game not be within two (2) goals, then it will not 
      be stop time and the clock will continue to run until the teams are within two goals again.

*     CHANGE ON THE FLY RULE (LAST TWO MINUTES OF A STOP TIME GAME) - 
      The MIHA Committee has also agreed to start a "change on the fly" rule for the last two
      minutes of a stop time game.  Any team wanting to stall for time by making changes in 
      the last two minutes of a stop time game will be assessed a minor two (2) minute penalty
      for delay of game.

*     NEW HALF SHIELD/VISOR RULE AS OF JANUARY 1ST, 2006.........
      ALL PLAYERS PLAYING IN THE MEN'S A & B DIVISIONS - MUST WEAR A MINIMUM
      OF A HALF SHIELD FOR ALL MIHA SANCTIONED HOCKEY TOURNAMENTS!!
      ALL PLAYERS 18 YRS OF AGE & UNDER MUST WEAR A FULL CAGE.
      PLAYERS 35 YRS & OVER PLAYING IN THIS DIVISION MUST WEAR HALF SHIELD!!

*     35 & OVER DIVISION - TWO 34 YR OLD PLAYERS ALLOWED PER TEAM
      MUST TURN 34 YRS BEFORE THEY PLAY -  SHOW I.D. CARD TO TOURNAMENT
      ORGANIZERS AND THEY WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF ELIGIBLE PLAYERS.
      PLAYERS 35 YEARS & OVER WILL BE RECOMMENDED TO WEAR THE HALF
      SHIELDS/VISORS ARE BUT WILL NOT REQUIRED.
      GOALIES CAN NOW BE 25 YRS & OLDER BUT CANNOT PLAY IN "A" DIVISION.
 

MIHA Rules & Regulations

1           Performance Bond:  (At the discretion of the Tournament Organizer). Performance Bonds prior to the start of tournaments may be issued by the tournament co-ordinator to assist with tournament costs and guarantee team participations as well by either cash or First Nation Band cheque.  Personal cheques will not be accepted. You may pre-register by name before, but your team will be removed from the list if your registration is not in (if required).

2           Retraction of Teams : Upon realizing that your team has registered and for some reason cannot make the tournament (we've heard them all), you have up to four (4) days from the starting day of a tournament to withdraw your team. 

Teams that withdraw by contacting the tournament co-ordinator by person or by phone, will be refunded the entire registration fee, less 10% (ex: $400.00 - 10% = $40.00) which will go to the tournament committee for rink costs (icetime, officials, etc...).  Teams that fail to let tournament co-ordinators know they will not be attending in time will not be refunded their tournament registration.  Please make sure that when you register your team, make every effort to attend.

3            Team Rosters (All divisions):   (At the discretion of Tour. Organizer)

All teams must have their team rosters accompanying their registration fees, seven (7) days prior to the start of the tournament.  PLEASE NOTE: All players on your team roster must have their name signed by the player, or will not be considered as part of that team.  Any forged signatures will mean immediate ejection of any team from any tournament. 

Teams that have the same name of players will be contacted along with the player to determine where they are playing.

Size of Rosters :   Maximum twenty (20) players per roster.  Each team may have three (3) additional, non playing positions, set aside for any of the team=s coaches/managers/trainers.  Only those designated by the team to be their representatives as designated by their team roster are allowed at the bench area.  The minimum number of players that have to be signed per team roster is six (6), one of which must be a goaltender.  This is also the minimum number of players a team MUST HAVE in order to play any game.  If a team fails to ice at least six (6) players, one of which must be a goaltender that is designated to play nets, will lose that game by forfeit.

4                    Penalties : All minor penalties will be three (3) minutes in length during straight time and two (2) minutes in length during stop time.  Any player that accumulates three (3) penalties in one game will be ejected for that game only.

5                    Free Agency Rule :    A player that is not signed on any team roster in any division or a player that is signed on more that one roster in any division is considered part of a particular team once s/he dresses and has participated in the game by either stepping on the ice for any team, or by sitting on the bench representing that said team (dressed via uniform).

Should any team/coach/manager notice this, they can protest the game and then the tournament co-ordinator / MIHA Committee will review the incident and may award the game in question to the opposing team.  The player that has illegally played for more than one team may be suspended for the rest of that tournament, along with the coach of the team.  The team that has iced that player in question will lose that game by forfeit and may lose an invitation to next year=s tournament, depending on the situation, and after review from the MIHA Committee.

6                   Protest of Games :   Teams wishing to protest a game for any particular reason can only protest once the first period has started and before the completion of the third period by notifying the official(s) on the ice that the game is under protest and for what reason.   Protests must be requested by the team captain, assistant captain and/or coach.

7                    Use of Goalies :   All goalies in any of the MIHA Tournaments must play for one team/division in the tournament.  The exception is that the goalies that are thirty five (35) years and older can also play in the Oldtimers division.  All goalies and players in the Oldtimers division must be 35 years and older.

8          Protection of Officials :   Definition - Referees / Tournament Committee Members / Staff / MIHA Officials :  

a. Verbal Abuse of the officials mentioned above ON or OFF the ice, will mean Immediate Ejection from that game and depending on the severity, a player may be suspended an additional number of games (1-4 games) for that same or the next MIHA tournament, upon review of the MIHA Tournament Committee / MIHA officials.

b.     Within the last ten (10) minutes of a game, if an official is verbally abused, the player will be suspended for the following game.  Depending on the seriousness of the verbal abuse, additional games may result also upon review of the MIHA Tournament Committee/MIHA officials.

c.     If it occurs in the last game of the tournament, the suspension will be automatically carried over to the next MIHA Tournament.

d. Any physical abuse to officials (as stated in #6) will result in an automatic  two (2) year suspension from all MIHA tournaments, and in the case of a second offense, it will result in a lifetime suspension from all MIHA Hockey tournaments in any capacity (Player, Coach, Trainer, etc).

*  Fighting / Punches thrown - with gloves off with the intention to fight will result in a one (1) year suspension up to a lifetime suspension for all MIHA sanctioned tournaments, pending a MIHA Committee review.

*  Intention to fight with gloves on - may result in a tournament ejection or an immediate ejection from that tournament up to one (1) year suspension, pending MIHA review and ruling.

*  Fighting with gloves off & no punches thrown (Protecting yourself) - at the judgement of the referee(s), a discretionary call.  Depending on whether the player had the intention to fight or had the intention to protect themselves, and depending on the severity of the incident, suspensions MAY be given upon review of the Tournament  and/or the MIHA Committee.

10.    Bench Brawls:   Team coaches, managers, team officials and players are all responsible for the actions of their team both on and off the ice at all MIHA tournaments and hockey arenas/sites.  In the event of a fight, all players on the ice at the time of the fight, and all players that are on the bench at the time of the fight must proceed and/or stay at their respective benches. 

Team officials and players must refrain other players from getting involved in any fight.

• Teams involved in a bench brawl will automatically be imposed a $500.00 fine and also all players and coaches/team officials directly involved in the bench brawl will be suspended for one (1) year.
   

• Any players/coaches who do not wish to get involved / do not engage in the bench brawl will be recognized by the Tournament Committee & MIHA.

11.    Teams, Captains & Assistant Captains / Requirements :   All registered teams participating at any MIHA Tournaments must be represented on the ice by a CAPTAIN and an Assistant Captain for the purpose of negotiating with the referee on any disputed calls.  Teams that do not have any of these shall appoint them as soon as they are notified by the referee and/or tournament coordinator by placing a AC@ and/or an AA@ on the chosen player=s front jersey.

12.    Use of Video Cameras at MIHA Tournaments :   For the protection of all players, officials and fans, all hockey games at all MIHA tournaments will be video taped and if needed will be used for evidence in lay courts.  This is at the discretion of the tournament organizer to use and depending upon availability.  MIHA encourages all Tournament Coordinators to use video cameras to capture footage for their own protection, in case of injury, incidents involving players, fans, coaches, referees, etc.

13.    Match Penalties : All match penalties will be an automatic suspension of up to one year or more depending on the seriousness of it=s case.  Match penalties will result for the following actions: Abuse of Tournament/MIHA Officials, Stick swinging, kicking, hair pulling, head butting, spitting, attempt to injure, etc... Any match penalties that result in any serious injuries can result in a multi-tournament, multi-year or lifetime suspension from all MIHA hockey tournaments depending on the severity of the incident.

Deliberate Attempt to Injure  (Note : This includes deliberate body checking or deliberate checking from behind in the non-contact Senior divisions) :

Any player/coach/team representative who attempts to injure or deliberately injures another player can receive a suspension anywhere from one year to a maximum of life from all MIHA tournaments, whereas the situation will be dealt with by the MIHA Committee.

Minimum penalty:   Suspension from that tournament.

Maximum penalty :  At the discretion of the referee and after the review of the Tournament Committee and the MIHA, possibility of multiple tournament suspension up to lifetime suspension.  Note: Checking from behind - an automatic five (5) minute major plus a game misconduct.  This is for non-intentional checking from behind.  Intentional checking from behind falls into Deliberate Attempt to Injure category above and will be reviewed by the MIHA Committee for additional suspension consideration.

14.    Suspended Players:  Any team attempting to ice any suspended players from the MIHA or from other organizations such as CAHA, will automatically be withdrawn from that tournament and will lose an invitation to the next MIHA Tournament that they register in.  This includes all players and coaches registered on that team.  If teams/coaches/managers are unsure, please ask the tournament co-ordinator for more information.  Teams, Coaches / Managers are responsible to be aware of this.

15.    Eligibility :   All players must play in the age category that they are in, especially from the Junior level down.  The exception is in the men's and women's category where the players can vary, please read the following ; 

Please Note :  Players are allowed to play in more than one age division - for example ;   Player A plays on the Juvenile team for Millbrook... s/he is also allowed to play for a Senior B team for another team also.  Players are not permitted to play on more than one team in any one division.  Players must decide to either play in the Men's A or B Division or in the Women Division.  There is no free movement here with the exception of goalies, they can play for either Men's A or B and then Oldtimers if they are 35 & older.

Age Restrictions :

Senior Men :           All players must be the minimum of sixteen (16) years of age and over on or before December 31^st of that previous year. Teams will be allowed to ice a maximum of two (2) fifteen (15) year olds, ONLY with written consent forms signed by their parent(s)/guardian(s).  Maximum two (2) underage players (15 year olds) signed per team.  This applies to all Senior A, B & C men=s divisions.  Players and teams caught with underage players may face ejection from that tournament as well as suspensions for those players and coaches involved.  The MIHA Committee as well as the Tournament Committee will be reviewing these incidents on an individual basis based on information gathered and will come to a decision on the issue.
 

Eligibility (Age restrictions):

Sr. Women:             All players must be the minimum of twelve (12) years and over on or before December 31^st of that previous year.  Each team will be allowed to ice a maximum of two (2) eleven (11) year olds, ONLY with written consent forms signed by their parent(s) and / or their guardian(s).  This applies to all Senior women divisions.
 

Maritime Indian Hockey Association Age Limits for all hockey tournaments :

Playoff Eligibility :

Please Note: All players in all divisions must play at least one (1) regularly scheduled preliminary game for the team that they have signed for. See tournament organizer for more information.

Status Cards:  All players playing in the MIHA sanctioned tournaments must have a band number and status card.  Metis Cards will be accepted as proof of Aboriginal Status.

16.     Time of Games:    All teams have a maximum of fifteen (15) minutes from the start of the clock to start their game.  Teams will be forfeited if they cannot ice a minimum of six (6) players for that game.  All MIHA Tournaments will be allowed to start their earliest games at 8:00am of any morning of the schedule and with the last game of the night to start at 11:00pm maximum time. 

17.     Forfeit Games :  In cases of a Ano show@ - the team that is ready to play, is on the ice with a minimum of six (6) signed players for that team will receive a total of 7 goals for or a +7.   Games lost or won on a called AProtest@ shall be awarded a plus / minus of 7.  Teams that do not show will lose by 7 goals or a -7.

18.    Maximum goals allowable : Teams can only claim or lose a maximum of 7 goals for or against per game.  For example, if you win by 12-1, your team can only claim a +7 for that game and if you lose 12-1, your team will be deducted a maximum of that same number but instead a -7.

19.    Registration Fees :   For all MIHA sanctioned tournaments will be set at a minimum of $300.00 and a maximum of $500.00 depending on the location and ice time availability for that tournament and organizer.  This will also be at the discretion of the tournament organizer.

20.    Choice of Home Game Shirts : The home team has choice of color - either by home schedule or place of finish in the playoffs or toss of coin.  Note :    All hockey jerseys in all divisions must have numbers with the names assigned to them on the accompanying score sheets.  Players on the ice with no numbers or players that are not on the game sheet with their number will be ejected from that game.  Please come prepared to play.

LOANER SHIRTS :   The new idea of ALoaner Shirts@ for teams that do not have either the right color shirts or enough shirts with numbers on them has now been introduced.  Depending on the availability through the tournament coordinator(s), these jerseys will be allowed to be used.  These will be available from the tournament officials but must be returned in person with the same number of shirts loaned out.  There is no cost for this, but if your team does not return those same number of shirts, they will be responsible to pay for that missing shirt(s) or will not be allowed to use the Aloaner shirts@ again.  This may also cause a team to be suspended from play until payment is made so please be respectful if loaner shirts are on loan to your team.

21.    Game Information:

Each win is worth two (2) points, each tie is worth one (1) point.  No overtime games in the preliminary rounds.  All preliminary games shall consist of three periods of fifteen (15) minutes (minimum straight time).  These periods will run straight time, until the last two (2) minutes of the final period, which will then be stop time, ONLY IF the goal span is within two (2) goals.   During this stop time, there will also be a “CHANGE ON THE FLY RULE” imposed to both teams.  Referees will have the discretion to call a minor penalty if teams do not use this “change on the fly” rule.

After all preliminary games are played and there is a tie in the standings, the following format will be used to determine placing:

• The team with the best +/-, or goals for and goals against will advance to the next round.

• The record between the two teams, ex: If Team A defeated Team B in the preliminary round, and they are tied after Round 1, Team A will advance to the next round.

• The team with the least number of penalty minutes for all games.

• The team with the most goals scored for in the tournament.

• The team with the least goals scored against in the tournament.

• Flip of a coin or playoff, tournament co-ordinator=s discretion depending on icetime availability and time of game.

Note: All Playoff and Championship Games will use the following tie breaking rule(s) to determine the winner:

1.                 A five (5) minute sudden death overtime period.

2.                 If the game is still tied, a shootout will occur.  Each team must select five (5) players, who in turn have a penalty shot attempt.  The total score from these five shooters will determine a winner.  If a tie remains, then each team will alternate shooters until a winner is decided.

3.                 Or/ at the co-ordinators discretion, an additional overtime period may be used depending on time and ice availability.