“This a CARHA registered tournament.  Players identified on the team roster acknowledge that there is a risk of being injured when playing the game of hockey.”

1)       Players in Uniform

A minimum of five (5) players plus a goalkeeper must be dressed for the start of each game.  Players cannot play for more than one team during the tournament.

2)       Equipment

All equipment worn by players must be CSA approved and goaltenders must adhere to the CARHA Goaltender Facemask rule.  Players wearing non-CSA approved helmets are not allowed on the ice at any CARHA operated tournaments. Old style JOFA Helmets (often called Gretzky Helmet) which are not CSA approved are not allowed under CARHA Rule 24(b).

While on the ice, including pre-game warm up, all players must wear a CSA approved helmet with the chinstrap properly fastened under the chin. 

3)       Penalties

Any player who is assessed three (3) penalties in one game shall be ruled off the ice for the remainder of the game (Game Ejection Penalty).  A different team player must serve the third penalty and immediately go to the penalty bench. A double minor will be considered as two penalties.

4)       Calling Penalties (Rule 39b)

If the referee signals a Minor penalty(ies) against a team that is shorthanded by reason of one or more Minor penalty(ies), and a goal is scored by the non offending side before the whistle is blown, the goal shall be allowed and the player who is serving the first minor penalty will return to the ice, while the signalled penalty(ies) shall be assessed and served in a normal manner.

5)       Minor Penalties

Coincidental minor penalties to both teams do not cause either team to be short handed.

6)       Game Misconduct Penalty (Rule #32, #33)

A player incurring a Game Misconduct Penalty shall be ordered to the dressing room for the remainder of the game and shall be reported to the Tournament Committee.

A Game Misconduct Penalty assessed under Rule #46, Abuse of Officials, does not incur automatic suspension, unless it occurs in the last 10 minutes of the game (including overtime), in which case the penalized player shall be suspended for a minimum of the next game.  A total of ten (10) minutes shall be charged in the records against the penalized player for a Game Misconduct penalty.

A Game Misconduct Penalty under Rule #46 assessed to a player for receiving a Major Penalty as a result of a rule infraction, other than an Accidental High Stick Rule, shall automatically incur a one (1) game suspension.  Depending on the severity of the infraction, the offender may be subject to further discipline action. 

7)       Gross Misconduct Penalties (Rule 33)

Any player or team official incurring a Gross Misconduct Penalty shall be ejected from the game and will be suspended for a minimum of the next tournament game.  

8)       Match Penalties – (Rule 34a)

Any player or team official incurring a Match Penalty shall be ordered to the dressing room immediately for the balance of the game and will not be permitted to take part in any further tournament games pending a review by the Tournament Committee. 

9)        Major Penalty – (Rule #30)

A player, including the goalkeeper, assessed a Major penalty shall be ruled off the ice for the remainder of the game (Major penalty plus Game Misconduct).  The Tournament Committee based on the severity of the infraction may assess an additional suspension.  The penalized team shall place a substitute player on the penalty bench to serve five minutes actual playing time; during which time no ice substitutions shall be permitted.  

The only exception to this rule is when a Major penalty has been assessed for an accidental high stick, in which case the Game Misconduct shall not apply.

10)    Boarding and Body Contact - Rule #49

A Minor or Major penalty, at the discretion of the Referee, based upon the intent and the violence of the impact with the opposing player, shall be assessed any player who intentionally bodies, pushes, shoves, stands in front of an opponent for the purpose of making contact and/or does not attempt to avert body contact with an opponent.  When injury results from intentional body contact, a Major penalty shall be assessed.   

In the event that a player, by committing an infraction of the rules, causes an opponent to collide with the boards, the Minor penalty normally assessed under the rules will be waived, and a Double Minor penalty shall be assessed.  The Major and/or Match penalty applicable to the rule will be assessed in the normal manner (Double Minor counts as two penalties). 

Where, in the opinion of the Referee, accidental contact has taken place, no penalty shall be assessed.

11)    Fighting – Rule #58a

There is no place for fighting in Old-Timers Hockey.  Players who are deemed to have been fighting (shoving, hitting, chasing, refusing to leaving the ice, over aggressive, to name a few) shall be assessed Match penalties. 

A match penalty (see above) shall be assessed any player who is identified by the referee as the instigator or aggressor in a fight.  The opposing player may then be assessed a “Match” penalty for fighting back or continuing the altercation, a “Minor” penalty for roughing or no penalty at all, depending on the circumstances.  If two players throw the first punch simultaneously, then both players will receive “Match” penalties.  

Any player assessed fighting penalties in a CARHA/COHA affiliated or in CARHA/COHA sanctioned tournament shall be automatically suspended from further play until dealt with by the Tournament Committee. This applies to all players including goalkeepers.

12)    High Sticks - Rule #61

A minor penalty shall be assessed any player who checks an opponent or intimidates an opponent while carrying their stick above the normal height of the waist.

A player who accidentally or intentionally contacts an opponent above the normal height of the shoulders with a high stick shall be assessed a Major penalty, whether or not injury results. A player who is assessed a Major penalty for intentionally contacting an opponent with a high stick shall also incur a Game Misconduct under Rule #30.

Additional Tournament High Stick Rule: Every effort must be made to keep sticks down, at all times, in all situations! Therefore, as well as typical high sticking penalties such as hooking and slashing, the following penalties will be called when: