CONSTITUTION

CONSTITUTION

Adopted September 2, 1992

ARTICLE 1: NAME

1:1 This organization shall be called the ST. MARGARETS BAY GENTLEMENS HOCKEY LEAGUE (referred to hereafter as SMBGHL).

ARTICLE 2: OBJECTIVES

2:1 To foster and encourage the support of amateur hockey in the St. Margarets Bay area.

2:2 The objective of this League is to have fun while maintaining a friendly competitive spirit.

ARTICLE 3: AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION

3:1 The constitution of this League shall not be altered except at a general meeting. An official quorum shall consist of members present, and at least a two-thirds majority of the quorum is needed to change this constitution. Notification to all team representatives is necessary before a general meeting is called. Team representatives are responsible for notifying their players and team officials. Amendments may be made to the constitution by the Executive prior to the commencement of League play to include League arranged practice ice time.

ARTICLE 4: MEMBERSHIP

4:1 The Executive and each registered member of the teams involved shall be considered as the membership.

4:2 Only one registered member of the hockey team shall be eligible to vote on issues pertaining to the League, with the exception of ARTICLE 3 and ARTICLE 6.

4:3 Each team must nominate three (3) members to attend general meetings of the League. At least one member must be in attendance at each League meeting, failing which, the team may be fined by the League the sum of $25.00.

ARTICLE 5: EXECUTIVE

5:1 This League shall be governed by an Executive consisting of a slate of officers who shall normally be elected for a period of one year commencing September 15^th of each year.

5:2 The Executive of the League shall be as follows:

President Elected Officer

Vice-President Elected Officer

Secretary Elected Officer

Treasurer Elected Officer

Statistician Elected Officer

5:3 If the League President is a team representative, he cannot cast the deciding vote if his team is involved in the dispute.

ARTICLE 6: ELECTION OF OFFICERS

6:1 The President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Statistician shall be elected by the membership for a period of one year.

6:2 Any vacancy that may occur during the playing year shall be temporarily filled by appointment by the Executive.

6:3 Election of officers will be held at a general meeting prior to the beginning of each season.

ARTICLE 7: POWERS AND DUTIES

President

7:1 Must call a meeting at the written request of at least two-thirds of the League members teams.

7:2 Shall preside over all meetings.

7:3(a) Shall, in the event of his/her absence, designate the Vice-President to act on his/her behalf.

(b) This a paid position. $400.00 per year.

Vice-President

7:4(a) Shall perform the duties of the President in his/her absence.

(b) Shall make sure Secretary and Statistician duties are performed.

7:5(a) Shall be co-signer as required.

(b) This is a paid position. $200.00 per year.

Treasurer

7:6 Shall notify the President and members of any indebtedness, and report the financial status of the League when requested.

7:7 Shall be responsible to see that suitable arrangements are made for the handling and safekeeping of the books of the accounts, and all financial documents, and that the same shall be audited whenever required by the Executive.

7:8(a) Shall receive all monies, authorize accounts and bills, and sign a cheque for their payment with another authorized signer. (Normally the Vice-President)

(b) This is a paid position. $400.00 per year.

Secretary

7:9 Shall record and retain the proceedings of all meetings in a minute book, and verify the accuracy of the record of by appending his/her signature.

7:10 Shall be responsible for the conduct of correspondence and insure that the President has full knowledge of it.

Statistician

7:11 Shall see that all the game statistics are calculated on a weekly basis, and that they are posted once a week.

7:12 Shall insure that game sheets are provided prior to each game.

7:13 Shall inform the President and Treasurer of any suspensions resulting from games in writing.

ARTICLE 8: ELIGIBILITY OF PLAYERS

8:1 No player shall play in this League who is carded.

8:2(a) Each team is allowed six (6) imports on their roster. Goaltenders are not considered imports. The boundaries for this League are as follows: Those sections of Halifax County bounded by the Halifax City limits, Bedford Town limits, Heflers Mill on the Lucasville Road and Lunenburg County to East River (Austen Nauss Store on Hwy #3). Persons who grew up in this area and are now residing in the Metro area are deemed to be from the SMBGHL area. Also any person paying property taxes in the designated area are also deemed from the SMBGHL area.

(b) After a period of five (5) years playing as a non-import, if moved outside said boundaries you are still deemed a non-import.

8:3 Minimum player age is 19 years of age on or before December 31^st of the current hockey season.

ARTICLE 9: EQUIPMENT

9:1 Each team has to have its players wearing the same colored sweaters with numbers on the back.

9:2 Any new teams or new sweaters that come in to this League must change if there is a conflict.

9:3 All proper hockey gear must be worn including helmets.

9:4 Wearing of illegal equipment (protective), face mask, helmet, hockey gloves, etc, shall constitute a two minute minor penalty and the player removed to the dressing room area and the penalty served by a player from the playing surface. The offending player may return to the game if he is wearing legal equipment and may return to the ice surface on completion of the minor penalty.

9:5 Any team guilty of one of its players wearing illegal equipment after receiving verbal or written warning from the President shall be subject to a $50.00 fine, which is to be paid prior to the offending teams next game.

ARTICLE 10: PLAYERS LIST

10.1 A list of players with phone numbers , age , and position played must be passed into the

League Executive on or before the 8^th of November. Any team not complying with this

requirement will be fined $100.00. The fine must be paid to the treasurer prior to the

resumption of play. Temporary players lists are on or before the completion of teams 1^st

league game.

10.2 Each team may list 21 players on roster , two of which must be goaltenders.

10.3 Changes may be made due to injuries/retirements with the approval of the League

Executive.

ARTICLE 11: TEAMS

11:1 Each team must dress at least 8 players for each game or forfeit that game. If there is a forfeiture, that game score will be 5-0. Each player on the winning teams starting line-up will receive credit for one (1) goal. A maximum of 19 players, including two goaltenders may dress for any game (CAHA Rule 16a refers).

11:2 Each player MUST play in at least 10 games to be eligible to play in the playoffs.

11:3 Any team forfeiting a game must pay the opposing team the amount of $50.00, to be paid within 7 days.

11:4 Players arriving late cannot play if the 2^nd period of the scheduled game has started.

ARTICLE 12: SCHEDULE

12:1 A season schedule will be provided to each team prior to the start of each season.

12:2 Scheduling will be the responsibility of the Vice-President, assisted by the Statistician, Treasurer or President.

ARTICLE 13: LEAGUE FEES

13:1 A fee schedule will be determined annually by the Executive.

13:2 League fees will be assessed at a rate to cover all League expenses, including ice rental, referees, and minor officials gratuities, and administrative costs.

13:3 All fees are to be paid to the League Treasurer.

13:4 Any team who has not paid their fees can be suspended from the League by the Executive.

13:5 Three (3) payments : 1^st instalment September 28, 2001 - $2300.00

2^nd November 9, 2001 - $1200.00

3^rd December 28, 2001 - $1150.00

ARTICLE 14: MATTERS NOT COVERED IN BY-LAWS

14:1 Any League matter not covered in the by-laws shall be referred to the President for a decision.

14:2 All parties will abide by the Presidents ruling.

ARTICLE 15: PLAYING RULES

15:1 CAHA Rules shall govern play, except where SMBGHL Rules are prescribed.

15:2 All games shall consist of two (2) twenty minute stop-time periods, with no ice resurfacing between periods. The two man referee system will be used.

15:3 All minor penalties during stop-time play will be 2 minutes. All minor penalties during straight time play will be 3 minutes.

15:4 Slap shots are legal.

15:5 Any player under the influence of alcohol or drugs shall not be permitted to play that game. If on the ice he shall receive a delay of game penalty, the player will be ordered to the dressing room, and another player will serve the minor penalty.

15:6 Any player using foul or abusive language towards another player, fan, or referee shall receive a 10 minute misconduct penalty plus a minor penalty. A player continuing this action shall be reported to the President.

15:7 Any player receiving three (3) penalties in a game will be ejected from the game immediately upon the assessment of the third penalty. When a player receives his third penalty he must proceed directly to the dressing room. If he fails to do so, he will receive a game misconduct and the game will be forfeited.

15:8 Any reoccurrence of Article 15:7, to that player, will warrant a review by the President. (Failure to proceed directly.....).

15:9 Any player receiving a 10 minute misconduct penalty during the last 10 minutes of the game will receive a 1 game suspension (no fine) without League review.

15:10 All major penalties will result in an automatic game ejection plus a 1 game suspension.

15:11 The first game each evening will commence at the scheduled time. Each succeeding game shall commence 5 minutes after ice surfacing, regardless of whether either team has a goaltender dressed and ready (CAHA Rule 16(a)) refers.

15:12 If there is a five goal spread in the second period, the time clock shall revert to straight time. When the goal spread goes below five, the clock shall revert back to stop time. This applies to regular and playoff games.

15:13 Contacting or attempting to contact the puck above the shoulder with the stick, constitutes a 2 minute minor penalty.

15:14 A double minor for butt-ending will result in offending players removed from the game. Time served by another player. No fine or no suspension.

15:15 A double minor for spearing will result in the offending players removed from the game. Time served by another player. No fine or no suspension.

15:16 Checking from behind

a)2 minute minor- a game suspension and a $5.00 fine.

b)5 minute major- a 3 game suspension and a $15.00 fine.

ARTICLE 16: SUSPENSIONS

16:1 Suspensions shall be imposed in accordance with the SMBGHL Code of Discipline.

16:2 Under no circumstances shall a player be on the players bench, or on the ice while serving a suspension.

16:3 Any player who plays while under suspension shall be ejected from the League, and the team involved shall forfeit that game. No monies shall be refunded by the League.

ARTICLE 17: FIGHTING

17:1 Fighting is defined as punch or punches being thrown, whether gloves are on or off.

17:2 Fighting will result in an automatic 3 game suspension and a $50.00 fine. A second offence will be a 5 game suspension and a $100.00 fine. The fine must be paid to the Treasurer before the player is allowed to resume play following his suspension. A third offence will warrant a League review.

17:3 Roughing will result in a minor penalty. A double minor for roughing will result in the offending players being removed from the game and time served by another player. No fine or no suspension. ( a 2 minute minor plus a second 2 minute minor in the same play will be a double minor).

ARTICLE 18: SMBGHL CODE OF DISCIPLINE

18:1 The SMBGHL has adopted a Code of Discipline to:

(a) ensure that its members are aware of the serious nature of certain rule violations.

(b) apply a common minimum standard of discipline across the League and

conduct of their teams.

18:2 The Code of Discipline applies to all players and team officials. There shall be no deviation from this code. The Code of Discipline applies to all games, regular and playoff. The Code of Discipline provides for the following MINIMUM SUSPENSIONS AND FINES:

1^st 2^nd 3^rd

Offense Offense Offense

Game Misconduct - suspension 1 game 2 games 3 games

- fine $5.00 $10.00 $15.00

Gross Misconduct - suspension 3 games 5 games 10 games

- fine $15.00 $25.00 $50.00

Match Penalty - suspension 5 games Indefinite Indefinite

- fine $25.00 $5.00/gm, $100.max

18:3 Team officials are responsible to ensure that their members are knowledgeable of the current CAHA and SMBGHL regulations, rules of play, and procedures under which the League is administered. IGNORANCE OF THE RULES IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE

DEFENSE IN THE EVENT OF A DISPUTE. It is recommended that each team have

in their possession for all games, a copy of this constitution and an up-to-date copy of the

CAHA Official Rule Book.

18:4 In all cases, the fine money must be paid to the Treasurer before the player or team official will be allowed to take part in further games following the suspension.

18:5 Suspensions which have not been fully served by the end of a season shall carry over to the next season.

18:6 The League reserves the right to award a suspension to any player blatantly commits an infraction, unseen by the referees, which would or could injure another player, embarrass the League, or make a travesty of the game. Such suspensions shall only be authorized by the President.

18:7 A player who has been ejected from a game shall go directly to the dressing room, they shall stay in the dressing room or go up stairs to the Mezz Hall or they may leave the building completely. Under no circumstances shall players hang around the playing area, including the bleachers and hallways!

18:8 The Executive will not put up with player abuse. Therefore, any player who verbally or physically abuses and Executive will be dealt with by the Executive accordingly.

ARTICLE 19: PROTESTS

19:1 Protests must be submitted in writing to the President accompanied by $50.00. The President will consult with the Executive and hand down his decision in writing to the protesting team.

ARTICLE 20: MINOR OFFICIALS AND REFEREES

20:1 Minor Officials and referees shall be recommended by the League Executive and approved by the President.

20:2 Minor officials and referees shall receive a gratuity at a negotiated rate.

20:3 The timekeeper shall ensure that the game report is completed, including referees signatures and forward to the League Statisticians.

ARTICLE 21: PLAYOFFS

21:1 All teams will be eligible for the playoffs.

21:2 During regular season play, two points will be awarded for a win, one point for a tie, and no points for a loss. If, at the end of regular season play two teams are tied for total points, the team with the most wins shall be awarded the higher standing. If two teams are still tied, only the games between those two teams will be considered. If still tied, the team with the most goals against the other team will be awarded the higher standing.

21:3 The two-man officiating system shall be used in the first round, and the three-man system in rounds two and three.

21:4 The first two rounds will be a best-of-three game series, and the third round shall be a best-of-five series.

21:5 Playoff positions will be determined by League standings. The 1^st place team will play the 8^th place team, 2^nd vs 7^th, 3^rd vs 6^th,4vs5. This will constitute the first round of playoffs. The winners will advance to the 2^nd round. Second round positions will be determined by regular season standings, with the highest playing the lowest.

21:6 If a game is tied at the end of regulation time, the team shall have 5 minute rest without

leaving the ice, change ends and play a 10 minute, stop-time, sudden victory period. If neither team scores during this first overtime period, the team shall retire to the dressing room while the ice is resurfaced and the commence playing 20 minute stop-time sudden victory periods. The ice shall be resurfaced after every second 20 minute overtime period.

21:7 Replacements should come from team list - players with not enough games in.

Exceptional cases will be adjudicated on case by case basis.