All players must be registered with SEAAHL prior to playing. All registration information and waivers are online at SiouxEmpireHockey.com as part of the registration process. USA Hockey Registration is required and integrated with the online registration.
TEAM CAPTAIN
The team captain should be designated by each team to conduct business with the league.
Responsibilities
Ensure all players register online at SiouxEmpireHockey.com
Maintain roster with full names and jersey numbers
Collect all required fees for the league to submit one online payment
Act as a liaison between the team and the league board on any issues that require immediate attention and assist the league staff with controlling players in any difficult situations that may occur.
CHECKING RULES
BOTH THE “A” AND “B” DIVISIONS ARE CLASSIFIED AS “NON-CHECKING LEAGUES”
USA HOCKEY RULES
All rules are in addition to those enforced by USA Hockey for general gameplay.
SLAP SHOTS
This is a “NO SLAP SHOT LEAGUE”. If the blade of the stick goes above the waist/hip on a shot, play shall be whistled dead for high-sticking. Face off will be conducted in the teams defensive zone that committed the high stick.
ZERO TOLERANCE
Zero tolerance policy will be in effect for all PLAYERS, OFFICIALS, FANS, ECT. For ALL SEAAHL Games. All players must adhere to the Players Conduct policy. Failure to do so will result in temporary or permanent expulsion from league play.
PROTEST
Feedback is appreciated: however, no “PROTEST” will be accepted. Any feedback regarding rules, players, or officials should be directed from the team captain to the board to decide if any discipline will be handed down to the team/player.
ALCOHOL / DRUGS
PLAYERS UNDER THE OBVIOUS INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO PLAY!
Players/fans under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be asked to leave immediately.
SPECTATORS
Spectators are not permitted to be in the player’s bench area at any time.
The player’s bench is reserved for eligible, fully-dressed skaters only.
Ejected players in street clothes may not go back to the bench during gameplay.
EQUIPMENT & JERSEYS
All teams must wear matching jerseys of the same style and color. Players without a matching jersey will be asked to leave the ice.
Jersey numbers must be up to date on the website roster. If jersey numbers aren't updated on the website, the captain will be suspended a game or until the jersey numbers are updated
Jersey numbers must be unique
All jerseys must have perminant numbers. Players without numbers on their jersey will be asked to leave the ice.
Any new jersey colors must be League approved or teams must have 2 sets of jerseys so contrasting jerseys are used
GOALIES are exempt from this rule; however, they are not permitted to wear the same color as the opposing team. Goalies are encouraged to wear the teams issued jerseys whenever possible.
ONLINE STATISTICS
Team captains must check his team in prior to each game to track attendance.
CLOCK / GAME PROTOCOL
PLAYERS MAY NOT GO ON THE ICE UNTIL THE ZAMBONI IS OFF THE ICE AND THE ​ZAMBONI DOOR IS CLOSED.
THREE (3) 17 MINUTE RUN TIME PERIODS, THE LAST 5 MINUTES OF THE THIRD PERIOD WITH A 3 GOAL DIFFERENCE WILL BE STOP TIME.
There will be a (1) one-minute rest between periods
“5” SECOND RULE FACE-OFF WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR ALL GAMEPLAY.
Over Time after regulation a (3) Three player shootout.
Teams are allowed to change after a whistle with less than 2:00 minutes remaining in the game. However, if all players are not ready before the (5) Five-second face-off rule takes effect; it is at the official’s discretion to drop the puck into play.
Teams must have a minimum of five skaters and a goaltender to start any game. If the required number of skaters for either team is not on the ice when the warm-up clock expires, the game clock shall & will run until the required number of player arrives. If the required number of players does not arrive before the end of the first period, the game will be recorded as a forfeit and a 3-0 loss. Referees are not obligated to officiate a forfeited game; however, they will be paid for the forfeited game.
(1) One time-out will be allowed per game.
OFF-SIDES / ICING
(2) Two-line passes are legal
Tag up off-sides will be used.
ICING IS CALLED FROM THE DEFENSIVE BLUE LINE.
ROSTERS
Rosters are limited to 13-15 players (Open divison) (TBD Senior division) and must be submitted prior to the start of each new season.
Senior Division players MUST be atleast 33 years of age as of Sept 1st or they are ineligible for senior division.
All players on a roster must register online at SiouxEmpireHockey.com
Every team must maintain and keep their roster current to accommodate any changes that occur
Any team caught with an ineligible player (not registered with SEAAHL) on the ice will be subject to a forfeit loss.
Rosters must have the player’s first name, last name, and jerseys number listed. Any changes to the roster, such as a change of jersey numbers must be maintained by the team captain
If teams need a sub goalie, you may use any goalie from another team in the SEAHHA league. ALL SUB GOALIES MUST BE REGISTERED WITH SEAAHL TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR LEAGUE PLAY
All players must be 18 years of age or older to play in the SEAAHL
Players may not skate for multiple teams in the “same” division.
Players may only be listed on (1) roster.
SUBSTITUTE PLAYERS
Substitute players may be used for teams who are short players.
The number of rostered players + substitutes + goalie may not exceed 11.
Substitute players may come from the same division or a lower division but may not come from a higher division. This means that B players may sub on A or B teams but A teams may only sub on A team and may not sub on B teams.
NEW PLAYER POLICY
New players will register as a FREE AGENT and go through a draft process.
A drop-in session will occur prior to the season so captains can evaluate players for the draft.
A draft will take place before each season allowing teams who are interested in picking up players to select draft-eligible players.
The draft selection order will be based on the post-season standings from the prior season. The first selection will be made by the last-place team, the second selection will be made by the 2nd to the last-place team, and so forth.
A rostered player must play 50% of their games to be eligible to go back into the draft the following year.
Players returning to the league after hiatus must go through the Draft.
GOALIES
Goalies may only be listed on one roster
(A) Level goalies will be able to sub 8 games total for (B) division teams. The (B) Captains will need to notify the league director that they will be using a sub goalie from the A division.
(B) level goalies will be able to sub unlimited games
During playoffs, teams may get a sub goalie from the same division that the team plays in.
RINGER RULE
THE RINGER RULE APPLIES TO ALL PLAYERS IN "BOTH" DIVISIONS. PLAYERS ARE ALLOWED ONLY 3 GOALS PER GAME. IF THE SAME PLAYER SCORES A 4TH GOAL. THE GOAL WILL BE DISALLOWED AND FACE OFF WILL BE IN THE PLAYER'S TEAM'S DEFENSIVE ZONE.
PENALTIES/OFFICIALS
Players serving a penalty must sit in the penalty box. No player serving a minor or a major penalty may be on the player’s bench.
All minor penalties will be a (2) two minutes in duration and will begin when the puck drops. If a penalty should expire while play is stopped, the player may not leave the penalty box until the puck is dropped to re-start play.
Any player who received (4) four penalties in one game will be given a balance of game penalty & will be asked to leave. (IF THE SAME PLAYER RECEIVES 4 PENALTIES IN A GAME 5 TIMES IN A SEASON, HE/SHE WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON
Any player who is ejected from a game and refuses to immediately leave the ice surface or player’s bench area will be given an additional game misconduct penalty. Play will not resume until the offending player has left the ice and or all viewing areas.
Any player who receives a major penalty will be ejected from the game, and will serve an additional (1) one game suspension.
Any player that illegally plays while under suspension will be removed from the team’s roster. The offending team will be assessed a forfeit loss for any game with an illegal / suspended player on the ice. The team captain will also be suspended for (1) one game for playing an illegal player.
When assessing misconduct penalties, officials may follow USA Hockey rule 601(a). Any player who challenges or disputes the ruling of any official, or endeavors to incite an opponent an opponent (including taunting) or create disturbance during a game shall be assessed a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct (2) two minutes). Any further disputes by the same player will result in either (10) ten minute misconduct or a game misconduct penalty being assessed.
If a player receives 3 game misconducts in a season, he or she will be suspended for the year.
If a player receives 3 game ejections, he or she will go in front of a discipline board.
Any player using racial or ethnic slurs will be expelled for the duration of any season in which he / she is participating or a minimum of (3) three games.
Any player who is given a gross misconduct / match penalty will be suspended for a minimum of (3) three games.
Any player received (4) four gross misconduct / match penalty will be suspended for the year.
League suspensions and / or expulsions will be given to any player who intentionally tries to injure an opponent.
INSTIGATOR: Any player that is an instigator during an altercation will be suspended and go in front of the discipline Committee to decide if more suspension will be handed down.
Officials may eject any player under the influence of drugs or alcohol or due to conduct detrimental to the league.
24 HOUR RULE
For a period of 24 hours following a game, no player may discuss with or ask questions of a referee who worked the game in which the player participated. After the 24-hour period, any game related issues or concerns should be raised with the Board. Violations of this rule will carry an automatic 3-game suspension for the player(s).
For enforcement, any referee who is approached within this window and is uncomfortable with the situation should provide a verbal warning such as "please observe the 24 hour rule". If the conversation continues, the referee will report the infraction to the league director for follow up.
FIGHTING RULE
ANY PLAYER IN A FIGHT WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR 3 GAMES
FOR A SECOND OFFENSE, THE PLAYER WILL GO IN FRONT OF THE BOARD TO DETERMINE IF MORE SUSPENSION OR EXPULSIONS WILL BE HANDED OUT!
FOUL LANGUAGE AND PROFANITY
This is a family facility. Officials may eject a player or spectator for threatening abusive, or vulgar language at any point during a game.
Absolutely no use of profanity towards opponents of officials will be tolerated! Officials may give any player an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for using profanity or obscene language / gestures.
IF ANY PLAYER THREATENS OR VERBALLY ABUSES ANY OFFICIAL, THE OFFICIAL MAY IMMEDIATELY ASSESS A GAME MISCONDUCT!!!!
DO NOT CONFRONT THE OFFICIALS FOR ANY REASON!
Any physical abuse of an official will result in a permanent expulsion from participating in the SEAAHL.
Officials may eject any player at any time for using threatening or verbally abusive language.
Do not ask the official for his name if you have an issue regarding a call or a game outcome. All games are tracked and officials are assigned. Team Captains-Report any problems to the league board members for a resolution.
Re-entering the ice surface following an ejection will result in a suspension. This is for the safety of both player and officials.
All spectators must adhere to good sportsmanship guidelines. Any spectator using foul language towards the opposing team’s players, other fans, or officials will be asked to leave the facility. Refusal to leave the facility will result in a penalty towards the team with whom they are associated. Game play will not resume until the offending spectator(s) has left the facility.
Absolutely no refunds will be given to players who are suspended or expelled from the league play.
PLAYOFFS
Any teams that forfeits more than (4) four regular season games may be disqualified from post-season competition.
Any team caught with an illegal / non-roster player skating during the playoffs shall forfeit that game & be eliminated from further playoff contention. Any player not listed on the team’s roster is considered ineligible/illegal. Round one will consist of teams 1-4 in both Open and 35+ division playing a 3 game series to advance in the playoffs. 1v4 and 2v3 first round. Winners will move on to a 3 game series for the League Championship. The losing teams of the first playoff round will play a 1 game series to determine 3rd and 4th place. Teams 5 and 6 in both Open and 35+ division will play a 3 game series. Winner of the 5 and 6 series will get the number one overall draft pick in the following season.
If any playoff games should end in a tie, we will have a (10) ten minute sudden death until a winner is decided by a winning goal.
Any team that wins a regular season and league championship in (2) two consecutive seasons will be reviewed by the league board for consideration of moving them up a level.
Playoff seeding will be posted as soon as they are available.
If Two teams are tied in points, the following criteria will be used to determine seeding:
