Section 1 - League Structure

• Member associations may enter teams in any or all of the foregoing classifications and divisions in accordance with the By-Laws and Rules and Regulations.
• Teams competing at the A and B level in the ACHL are restricted to the maximum number of second year players as allowed by MAHA.

Section 2 - League Administration

• The designated Director or alternate director (acting in his stead) shall be responsible for overseeing the conduct of all ACHL games at their respective member association's home arena(s). Included among the responsibilities are: checking player and team official status (i.e., suspensions, etc.) and notifying the Respective Division Coordinators, Conduct Committee, and the Executive Board of any and all matters of concern regarding the efficient fair and sportsmanlike conduct of the league.
• So that a current league standing record may be made available, the home team must mail a League Copy of the score sheet to the designated area conference representive. The Scoring Coordinator shall in turn enter the game information on the web site to compute results and standings for the respective divisions, and return copies to each team, Division Coordinator, and Publicity Coordinator for distribution to the proper media reporters.

Section 3 - Team Registration

• Commitment of teams to the League shall be made as prescribed by the VP/Devision directors. Team fees are due at the scheduling meeting or teams will not be allowed to schedule games.
• All teams, their players' and team officials shall be registered and in good standing with the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association and the USA Hockey Association prior to the start of league play.
• The designated District Registrar shall certify the team. The team representative shall place on file with ACHL a copy of the USA Hockey Roster before the start of league play. Teams failing to submit USA approved rosters to the ACHL by the start of league play of the current season will be removed from the league. Roster changes shall be made in accordance with the rules of the ACHL, MAHA and USA Hockey. Any player added to the roster after December 31 is ineligible to compete in League games. The Division Coordinator or Scheduling Vice President must receive notice of ary USA roster add-ons within 5 days of change. Under no circumstances can a player be legally signed to more than I roster at any time. Any team which fails to timely file its USA Player Registration Form may be subject to disqualification from further league and/or playoff games.

Section 4 - League Games

Game conditions MAY be changed to compensate for unique, isolated situations, which may arise. Such changes MUST be written on the score sheet and SIGNED by either BOTH coaches or managers BEFORE THE GAME STARTS.

1. 1. Entourage: Each team shall be accompanied at all league games by an adult coach and/or manager.
   2. Conduct: Team officials shall be responsible for the conduct of their teams before, during, and after league games: particularly in regard to the use of dressing rooms. Incidents of damage or other conduct prohibited by these Rules and Regulations, the rules and regulations of MAHA or USA or by law should be brought to the attention of the ACHL Conduct Committee. Member associations shall be held responsible for damages or other loss caused by their teams.
   3. Spectators: In order to achieve the objective of teaching good sportsmanship to our players, it is imperative that spectators conduct themselves appropriately. Each member association shall take action to insure that spectators are not abusive to officials, players, team officials, or other spectators.
   4. Home Team: The home team shall furnish Official game pucks, a timer and scorekeeper, ACHL score sheets, and at least one hour of ice with adequate dressing room facilities for each team. Score sheets shall list all registered players' status if absent, suspended, etc. Where uniform colors are similar, the home team shall supply and wear numbered or see through pull-over or scrimmage vests.
   5. Standings:All league games will be determined by 2 points = win; 1 point = a tie; 0 points = loss
   6. Referees Referee's who are immediate relatives to players shall not officiate in games in which their relatives play. Teams securing referees must ensure no relationship exists in advance of team travel to games. Exceptions only granted when opposing team agrees in writing on the game score sheet. (Immediate relative means: brothers, fathers, sisters, or mothers of home team members or staff.)
   7. Rules:
      League games shall be played in accordance with the rules as set forth by the USA as amended by MAHA except as modified herein:
      1. All Mite through Midget games shall consist of at least (3) 10-minute STOP-TIME periods. If in a curfew arena at the end of the allotted time the game is over.
      2. Penalty Times:

• 12 minutes or less Periods
1:00 minute Minor | 3:00 minute major | 6:00 minute Misconduct
• More than 12 but less than 17 minutes Periods
1:30 minute Minor | 4:00 minute major | 8:00 minute Misconduct
• 17-20 minutes Periods
2:00 minute Minor | 5:00 minute major | 10:00 minute Misconduct

Refer to USA Hockey rules for updates and more information.

1. 1. 1. Game Start, Warm-ups: The time listed in the ACHL schedule shall be the time that both teams are to take the ice. A (reasonable) warm-up period shall be allowed both teams (whether or not they are on the ice) commencing at the designated starting timer or at the time the Ice becomes available, whichever is later. The home team is responsible for providing ice time commencing no later than 10 minutes after the time which appears in the ACHL schedule, unless otherwise agreed by both coaches. When there is doubt the official time of day shall be that as provided by the tape-recorded time service of the telephone company.
      2. Game Misconduct A player or coach who receives a penalty requiring sitting out a game or a review board action before returning to active status shall be suspended for at least his team's next league game. MAHA and USA rules apply to non-league games in addition to the Adray League suspension. This covers game misconduct, gross misconduct and match penalties.
      3. Game Confirmation, Makeup's: Teams are expected to confirm all games. Failure to confirm and subsequent failure to appear may result in forfeiture. Failure to appear as scheduled because of adverse traffic and/or weather conditions necessitates that the game be made up within 30 days.
      4. Refusal to Compete: Refusal to compete in any scheduled game is considered to be immediate resignation from the league. Said team will be dropped from all subsequent league activities and the member association from which said team is a part of will be responsible for any expenses that are incurred by any opposing teams due to a team refusing to compete, furthermore it is highly recommended that all member associations will not schedule any games with a team that refuses to compete. A team that drops out of league play after the start of league play will be considered as refusing to compete. The member association could also face possible league expulsion for the remainder of the season and will have to apply for membership into the league the following season.
      5. Cancelled Games: Cancelled games MUST be made up within 30 days. Exception: (Playoffs). Games cancelled In January must be made up by the date of the last scheduled game in conference (group) play. At the time a team requests cancellation of a game; a make-up time and date should be arranged. Teams not able to reach accord on a make-up date must call the Division Coordinator for that division within seven (7) days of the cancellation for determination of a make-up date.
      6. Time Outs: Time outs are NOT permitted in any regular season or playoff game.
   2. PROTESTS:
      1. A protested game MUST be noted immediately to opposing coach and game Official (at next stoppage of play) and on the score sheet at the end of the game. The signature of protesting team official and nature of protest must appear on the League copy of the score sheet.
      2. Formal Protest must be filed (postmarked) within 24 hours of the incident with copies to each Protest Comm. (Conduct Comm.) member and a copy to your ACHL Director, the opponent's ACHL Director and the opposing coach. All Suburban League protests must be filed with the teams Suburban League Director. A copy of the score sheet must be included.
      3. A $50.00 refundable fee (at the discretion of the Conduct Committee Chairman) must accompany the protest, made in check form to the ACHL and included with the protest copy sent to the Chairman of the Conduct Committee.
      4. The Conduct Committee will investigate the protest, rule on it and notify, in writing, all parties involved.
      5. Referee on-ice decisions can not be protested.
   3. APPEALS PROCESS:
      If an Association or Team wishes to appeal a Conduct Committee or Executive Committee decision, the appeal must be presented to the League Vice President. A simple majority of Directors present and voting will determine if the appeal is approved or denied.. Action on such appeals is final. Any appeal of a Conduct Committee decision must be made in writing to the League President within one week of the announcement of the decision. In order to preserve as far as possible the integrity of amateur hockey, and recourse to the courts or legal action by an ACHL member or individual(s) associated with a member team (A, AA or B House Program) before all of the right of the Constitution, By-laws and Rules and Regulations of this association shall have been exhausted, shall be ungentlemanly conduct entailing the immediate suspension and disqualification of any member or individual(s).

Section 5 - Playoff Rules

• Games are to be played according to ACHL rules. See Section 4.
• Game results are to be called immediately to the Division Coordinator by the winning team.
• Score sheets are to be mailed to the ACHL VP or conference representive as in regular season play. Only Playoff game numbers are to be used, and so marked on the score sheet.
• Only players eligible for District and State Playoffs are eligible for ACHL Playoffs, that is, only players registered by Dec. 31 with MAHA and duty registered with the ACHL Registrar are eligible.
• MAHA District and State Play down games take precedence over ACHL Playoff games. NO OTHER PRACTICES OR GAMES TAKE PRECEDENCE.
• All playoff games shall be scheduled by the Vice President and Division Coordinators.
• AlI scheduled games have to be played. Only the VP and/or board of directors may assign a forfeit. When a team has committed to the playoffs and plays its first game and thereafter neglects or refuses to complete all games and required to be played, its head coach and its manager shall be automatically suspended from participation in the ACHL in the next season. Any appeal will be heard by the Executive Board in a meeting prior to the start of the next season.

Section 6 - Playoff Format

• All playoff games will consist of at least 3-10 minute stop-time periods, changing on the fly and NO TIME OUTS are allowed.
• Each Division will determine their playoff format.
• At the end of the regular league season each team chosen will then be seeded in their age division round robin format for playoffs. A scheduling meeting will take place to schedule the playoff games. Each Head Coach or their designate must attend the scheduling and have two (2) ice hours with them to schedule playoff games. Some teams may need three (3) ice hours if they are in a division with twelve (12) teams or more.
• The Vice President and Board of Directors of each conference will seed the teams in their proper order in their division.
• All championship round games must be played, and played to a final determination. Any team that does not play a game or a championship game for any reason will lose their position and the rights to any and all awards. If at the end of regulation time of a championship round game the teams are tied, the tie shall be broken as follows:
  • Three, five (5) minute sudden death overtime periods will be played. The teams will riot change ends.
  • A Shootout consisting of three (3) players from each team alternately taking penalty shots. A coin toss will determine which team will shoot first. If after three (3) players from both teams have completed the procedure, the tie has not been broken, it shall be repeated with three (3) different players until the standings are determined.

Section 7 - Amendments

March 17, 18 and 19, 2023

1. All scheduled games will be played according to MAHA/USA Hockey playing rules.

2. All scheduled games will be played according to the schedule published. There are no exceptions.  If a team fails to participate in any Championship games, the head coach and coaching staff will be suspended from league play the following season as per the Adray By-laws.
3. All teams are expected to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to any scheduled playoff game and be ready to start the game 10 minutes prior to posted game times.
4. Home team wears white, visitor team wears dark.
5. First team listed on Tournament schedule is the Home Team, except Championship game - highest seeded team is Home Team.
6. Protest fee of $50.00.  Referee on-ice decisions are not eligible for protest.  If a game is protested, it must be stopped and the protest made to the referee who will make sure the protest information is relayed to the other team and noted on the score sheet.  At the end of the game, each coach must sign the score sheet nothing there is a protest.  Protests will be ruled on by the Adray Vice-President and acting Tournament Official.
7. All games will be played using the following rules:
8. If there is a 6 goal or greater lead going into or during the 3rd period there will be a running clock.  If the goal differential during the 3rd period goes below 6, then a stopped clock will resume.

There are no Time-outs in round robin play, each team is allowed one (one-Minute) time out in the semi finals and championship games.

• Squirts 3-10 Minute Periods

1:00 minute Minor | 3:00 minute major | 6:00 minute Misconduct

• Pee Wee 3-12 Minute Periods

1:00 minute Minor | 3:00 minute major | 6:00 minute Misconduct

• Bantams 3-14 Minute Periods

1:30 minute Minor | 4:00 minute major | 8:00 minute Misconduct

mm9. Points for Tournament scoring:

• 2 points for a win
• 1 point for a tie
• 0 points for a loss

10. In the case of a tie in total points after Round Robin games the following will be used to break the tie:

• Head to Head
• Fewest Goals Allowed in all games
• Goal Differential Tied Teams Only
• Least Penalty Minutes

m11. 3 or more teams tied – Once a tie has been broken, the seeding from the tie breaker will be used to seed the teams. All games from the tournament will be used:

• Fewest Goals Allowed in all games
• Goal Differential Tied Teams Only
• Least Penalty Minutes

*Once the tie is broken then we return to rule 10 between the remaining tied teams.

12. A championship game or semi-final game that is tied at the end of regulation time will conclude in the following way:

• One 4 on 4, 5 minutes sudden death overtime period
• Shootout 3 players from each team, best score of the 3 players win.  If still tied after the 3 players, then sudden death shootout between teams one player at a time, no player may repeat in shootout until all players have shot, then the order will remain the same as the first round

**  Any game misconduct penalty incurred during the Tournament games will result in the player or coach being suspended from the next Tournament game.