The MSHL Rule Book

PART 1 – MSHL & PARTICIPANT WAIVER

The Participant assumes all risk of personal injury that may result from participation in all activities of the Montreal Senior Hockey League (Ligue de Hockey Senior Montreal), MSHL.

The Participant will not hold MSHL, any MSHL officials, staff, owners or the proprietor or employees of any ice facility used by the MSHL, liable for injury the Participant may sustain while participating in any MSHL activity. The Participant is advised to carry medical insurance. The Participant certifies that he/she has no known medical condition that would prohibit him/her from participating in the sport of ice hockey. The Participant agrees to wear specified equipment set out in the MSHL rules. The Participant agrees that he/she will act in a responsible manner in all MSHL activities. There is a strict no alcohol, tobacco and/or drug consumption policy when on arena property. Teams are responsible for any fines they incur for failing to abide by this policy. 

The participant agrees to reimburse the MSHL, in full within seven days of notice, for the cost of any property damage for which the Participant is held responsible by the MSHL staff or owners. The determination of such responsibility shall be binding on the Participant. The Participant agrees to the PHL policy that there is no reimbursement to any Participant. The MSHL has the final authority as to what divisions and times the Teams and Participants will play in. The Participant understands and agrees that he may be suspended and/or expelled from the MSHL in compliance failure to any of the MSHL rules.

PART 2 – GOALTENDER EQUIPMENT WAIVER

A goaltender must wear protective equipment specifically designed for ice hockey goaltenders and be complete with approved: Mask, Leg Guards (Pads), Chest Protection and Gloves designed for use by goaltenders. If you fail to adhere to these terms you must consent as follows:

Goalies acknowledge that it is strongly recommended and have been advised by MSHL to use only CSA approved equipment and absolve the MSHL of any responsibility for injury incurred while using non CSA approved equipment. This includes the use of “Cats Eye Cages” installed on CSA approved goalie masks.

In consideration of my being permitted to participate as an entrant or competitor in this league, I myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns do hereby remise release and forever discharge, waive and save harmless, protest and keep indemnified “MSHL” and its affiliated corporations and any and all clubs, associations, sanctioning bodies and sponsoring companies, participants, competitors, entrants and all respective agents, officials, servants and representatives from and against any and all kind of actions, claims, cost and expenses and demands in respect to death, injury, loss or damage, to my person or property however caused arising out of my being permitted to attend at or in any way take prior to, during or subsequent to this league whether as a spectator, participant, competitor, entrant or otherwise and notwithstanding that the same may have been contributed to or occasioned by the negligence of any of the aforementioned, their agents, officials, servants or representatives.

General Discipline Rules & Regulations

PENALTIES & FIGHTING

1.0) If and when a player accumulates three match penalties in the same game, the player shall be expelled from the remaining duration of the match, regardless of the nature of the penalty. If a player gets two or more penalties on the same play, both or more penalties are counted and stacked. If a player receives a double-minor penalty, it will also be counted as two penalties. 

1.1) Penalties are set in a duration of 1 minute (stop-time). The penalized team will suffer a man down for the duration of the powerplay awarded to the opposing team. One or more penalties to the same player within the same whistle, will stack on top of each other resulting in a 2 minute (stop-time) powerplay for the opposing team. 

1.2) If a Team does not have enough players on the bench to compensate for the penalty kill, the opposing Team on the powerplay is awarded an additional 1 minute powerplay. There must always be 2 skaters present on the ice at all times to play out the penalty-kill. If the same team receives another penalty without any additional skaters on their bench to fulfil the 3 on 2 penalty kill, the opposing Team (on the powerplay) is awarded an automatic goal. This rule would indemnify the Team on the powerplay at any given time and is on repeat until the full duration of the penalty is terminated. After automatically awarding a Team 3 goals, the opposing Team who does not have enough dressed players to fulfil the penalty box is awarded an automatic match-forfeit of 1-0. 

1.3) The referee always has the final call on the match or play penalty, and only the elected team captain or assistant captain is able to address the referee at the imposition of a penalty, and/or other situations if they are not directly involved. Any player caught in default will receive a minor penalty and if he persists, a misconduct penalty may occur, with the possible addition of a game suspension. 

1.4) If the official(s) needs a second opinion on a penalty call, match situation and match point, the official(s) may ask (without the permission of the Teams or Players) the scorekeeper for their match his opinion and could make a decision based on the information gathered. All match/game calls remain final, with the exception (if needed for a revision) if the official(s) deems the need for a second opinion by his scorekeeper. 

1.5) Any illegal or solicit involvement with a hit from behind will automatically be assessed a game misconduct, with an additional 5 minute penalty awarded to the opposing team. Depending on the severity of the gesture, moreover the player could be suspended at a minimum of 5 games with the additional possibility of a season expulsion.

1.6) Fighting in any nature is strictly forbidden at all causes. This includes, on and off the ice. Any behavior of sort will automatically result in a 3 game suspension and the possibility of a season expulsion. The Montreal Senior Hockey League has the final decision and will not negotiate with any Team(s) and/or Player(s) for any fighting misconducts. If a player is not on the ice during a fight, and decides to jump on the ice to participate in a fight, he will automatically be assessed a 3+1 game fighting suspension, with the possibility of a season expulsion. If a player also jumps on the ice to "break-up" the fight, the same 3+1 game fighting suspension will be applied. The nature of the fight does not interest the league owners, staff, and officials. Any nature of a fight is deemed the same and the MSHL does not owe any further explanation if deemed necessary to the team(s) and/or player(s). 

1.7) All suspensions are tracked and saved in our website's database. Any second fighting suspension and/or offence will automatically double in suspension length-duration. If the MSHL deems the gesture of the fight a severe one, the player(s) and/or team(s) could receive an additional season expulsion. 

1.8) For any expulsion, there is a 100% no refund granted under any circumstances. 

Conclusion And Agreement:

Any decision of the Discipline Committee of the league is final. The Discipline Committee reserves the right to study and recommend any other cases and regulations it deems necessary for the proper functioning of the league. Also, the Discipline Committee can sanction without notice if it judges that the behavior of a player is inadequate. Every player who participates in the MSHL, automatically agrees to these rules and regulations and will abide by them at all cause. Any league camera footage is not obligated to be seen by the players and is property of the Arena that the Montreal Senior Hockey League plays in. 

Major penalties

List of major penalties

The (*) asterisk signifies that the player(s) and/or team(s) do not have any right to appeal. The decision of punishment is already decided and will not change under any circumstances. 

General Match Rules

Match Rules

2.0) The MSHL is a 3 versus 3 ice hockey league, using the smaller ice rules format. This includes the floating blue line as the only offside rule. This means that a player must enter the same way he does on a 5 versus 5 ice hockey rink, utilizing the exact same ruleset of the National Hockey League (NHL). This means the puck must 100% cross the blue before the Player does. Once the the blue line is gained; to give the player and/or team adequate spacing in the offensive zone, the red line (center-ice) becomes the off-side boundary line. If the puck crosses over the red line once possession is originally gained, the team is now off-side and must repeat the process of re-entering the blue line. 

2.1) The MSHL uses a 17x17x17 minute, three period format. The clock is always running time unless either or team uses their 1 minute (stop-time) timeout. If the score is within a 2 goal difference in the third period, the last 2 minutes of the clock become stop-time until the game clock runs out, or until the score is not within a 2 goal difference anymore.

2.2) If the score remains a tie after three full periods, the final game winner is decided via a shootout. If a player has an outstanding penalty he cannot participate in the shootout. This rule is applicable to all season games. 

2.3) If the score remains a tie after three full periods, a 5 minute stop time overtime will try to determine a winner. If it is still a draw after 5 minutes, the game will then be head to a shootout to determine a winner. If a player has an outstanding penalty he cannot participate in the overtime and/or shootout depending when the original penalty was called. This rule is applicable to all playoff games. 

2.4) If a team is late to their match for a total duration of 5 or less minutes, the opposing team will begin the match with an awarded powerplay (3 versus 2). If a team is late for more than 5 minutes (up to 12 minutes), every additional minute will result in an awarded goal scored against them. The game clock will be running from when the match time is set to take place. 

2.5) If a team is late to their match for a total duration of 17 minutes (1 period), they will automatically receive a mercy rule forfeit loss of 10-0. 

2.6) Our league mercy rule is a 10 goal differential. Rather it be in the first, second, or third period, at any point of time should the game reach within a 10 goal differential, the game will end in the favor of the leading team. 

2.7) The MSHL permits the use of slapshots. 

2.8) Excessive puck ragging is forbidden in our league. There is no set duration, or amount of puck ragging that is tolerated but is at the discretion of the official(s). Every game situation can be different and certain plays can happen from game to game. If the referee deems an excessive puck ragging sequence, the opposing team could be awarded a powerplay. As we understand this is a known tactic and used even in the professional leagues, the MSHL wants to eliminate and/or control puck ragging as much as possible. The play must go on, and the puck needs to move. Circling around your net over and over to kill valuable game time is not allowed in any excessive way. 

2.9) Teams and players must respect one another, and keep the game clean at all times. Hard played out games are extremely encouraging, but there shall be known barriers and/or limits not to cross. The MSHL emphasizes on our player base to enjoy a recreational, passionate, well-organized and fun hockey league, but safety and respect comes first.