Check payable to "MSHL"- to cover League game referees, administration, playoffs, and other costs - has been sent to and received by the League by October 10.
For Provisional teams, the team roster (MSHL Form S-1) has been provided to the Provisional Team Committee by the date October 6. For all other teams, November 1 or no later than 48 hours before your first game (league or non-league) .
Each student-athlete and coach has registered with USA Hockey and turned in a proof of registration to the team manager. High school teams may roster up to 30 players on a team with USA Hockey. Students who have not properly registered with USA Hockey - including the payment of fees due - are ineligible to practice or play with a League team.
Send a copy of registrations as well as a copy of the S-1 to the Conference Registrars. Failure to send registration information may result in game forfeitures.
Scholastic eligibility of individual students to play a winter varsity sport for their school - such as basketball for public schools that do not recognize hockey as a varsity winter sport - has been determined before they are accepted and registered as players for a team. Note: Students in a suspension status imposed by either their school or USA Hockey are not eligible to practice/play with a League team.
Representatives are aware of their team's school policies regarding practices and games during inclement weather, school closings, test periods, holidays, and other relevant situations. Team policies have been developed and players, parents, and coaches have been informed as to actions to be taken in the event of inclement weather or other reasons for canceling of games and practices. Policy has been implemented that requires the Conference Director (or designated representative) to be notified immediately in the event a League game must be canceled and rescheduled because of weather or for other reasons.
A team policy for the reimbursement of fees paid by students to the team has been established to cover situations such as injuries, loss of eligibility for scholastic or suspension reasons, family moving to another area during the season, etc., and the players have been made aware of this policy.
League Score Sheets are on-hand for both League and Non-League games - score sheets will be available at the September and October meetings and from the League Statistician thereafter.
Arrangements - including a signed contract with SHOA - have been made to provide SHOA referees for all Non-League games. Failure to make timely payment of SHOA fees incurred for Non-League games will result in the suspension of the team from the League and from further League games.
Arrangements have been made to provide a knowledgeable/proficient time keeper and score keeper for League and Non-League games at all rinks used by the team for games. Prior to the first game, ensure that the scorekeeper reads and understands the Instructions for Scorekeepers.
A Binder with a copy of the team's USA Hockey and League Roster and each player's IMR, "Waiver," and "Consent to Treat" forms has been prepared and will be available at all team practices and games.
Locations of ice rinks and travel arrangements have been determined.
Team members/coaches know each ice rink's "house rules" where they will practice/play.
Players with "carry-over" game suspensions from the Previous Season have been notified that the suspensions must be served in League rather than Non-League games - suspensions must be served even if the player changes teams during or between seasons. If the first game scheduled for a player with carry-over game suspensions is a non-League game, the player must miss that first non-League game also. Allowing a suspended player to play in a game will result in the forfeiture of the game by the team, the suspension of the coach from League team practices and games, and the continued suspension of the player - additional suspensions may be added by the League.
Season
Representatives are aware that they must continue to verify a player's eligibility before allowing a student to practice or play in a League or Non-League game and that a student must maintain that eligibility to continue to practice or play with the team during the rest of the season - seasons run from November 1 through March 31 of the following year. Allowing an ineligible player to practice/play in a game will result in the forfeiture of the game by the team, the suspension of the coach from League team practices and games, and the continued suspension of the player - the League may add additional suspensions.
Representatives are aware that they may add players to their team up until 11:59 PM on January 31, but not until the student has been registered with both USA Hockey and the League - for Varsity Provisional teams this includes approval of the player by the Conference Director.
Representatives are aware that League games can not be "rescheduled" by the team without the formal approval of the League.
The white copy of League game score sheets must be provided by the Home team to the League Statistician within 3 work days of the date of a League game. Non-League game score sheets must be provided to the League Statistician within 3 work days if any player received a Game Misconduct (GM), or Match penalty. In the event the white copy is retained by the referee, a photo-copy of the yellow or pink copy will be sent to the League Statistician with a note attached explaining why the white sheet was not forwarded.
Game results are not official until the game score sheet has been reviewed and approved by the League Statistician - failure of the Scorekeeper/Referee to keep track of total penalties for a player or team during a game does not mean that a GM/suspension for excess penalties need not be served by the player/Coach. Scoresheets may not be changed after being signed by SHOA officials. However, the League Statistician may change game results, as necessary, based on information on the score sheet, from the referees, or provided in writing from Representatives/Coaches. Changes in game results may include, but are not limited to: assessing of a GM penalty to a player with 5 or more penalties; forfeiture of a game by a team that played an ineligible player; correcting administrative errors by Off-Ice Officials in the assignment of assessed penalties; and assessing a one game suspension to a coach whose team was assessed 15 or more penalties during a game.
Representatives are aware that the team will be held responsible by ice rink management for damage caused by or resulting from the actions of their team's members.
Representatives are aware that they must not allow a player assessed with a Match penalty in any USA Hockey League to practice or play with their team except as permitted under and in accordance with the terms of the subsequent disciplinary action determined by the authorities of USA Hockey or League involved. Representatives should ask for a written copy of the terms of the disciplinary action to ensure that the terms are not violated.
