Important League Information

Teams must roster a minimum of 13 skaters and 1 goalie. If a team fields fewer than the minimum, a waiver must be filed. Each team may roster up to 30 players; however, only 20 players—no more than 18 skaters—may dress and be on the bench for a game. Additionally, a maximum of 4 staff members, all of whom must be credentialed and registered as coaches, are allowed on the bench during a game.

AAA players (except those in 9th grade) and Junior players are ineligible for JV teams. All other players, regardless of grade level, are eligible to play JV.

We recommend rostering a smaller top-level team and, if possible, pulling players up from a second/lower-level team. However, once a player has participated in 4 games at the higher level, they are no longer eligible to return to the lower-level team.

Each team is allocated a designated number of hours for ice time, which may be used at the team’s discretion for tryouts, practices, or non-league games. If tryouts are scheduled, the team manager must coordinate with the scheduler to select appropriate times and dates.

All individuals on the ice must be registered with USA Hockey as either a player or a coach. Volunteers, even if registered, are not permitted on the ice.

Teams wishing to schedule additional ice sessions beyond the non-game allocation provided by HPHL may arrange and pay for extra ice time directly with the rinks.

Varsity Games: Three 17-minute periods, with an ice resurfacing between the second and third periods.

JV Games: Three 15-minute periods, with no ice resurfacing during the game.

Girls’ Games: Three 15-minute periods, with no ice resurfacing during the game.

Pre-game Warm-ups: All games include a 5-minute warm-up period. There is no additional warm-up before the third period for varsity games.

HPHL Mercy Rule: In the third period, if a six-goal differential exists, the clock will run continuously. If the differential falls below six goals, the clock reverts to stop time. For varsity games, if a six-goal lead exists at the end of the second period, the ice resurfacing between the second and third periods may be canceled with agreement from both coaches.

Curfew Rule: All regular season games are subject to curfew. When the remaining scheduled game time aligns with clock time, the game clock will shift to run time.

Tie Games: If the score is tied at the end of regulation, a 5-minute, stop-time, 3v3 sudden-death overtime will be played if time allows. If the game remains tied after overtime, it will end as a tie. No shootouts will occur during the regular season.

Game Cancellation or Schedule Change: Teams must provide at least two weeks' notice to the scheduler for any game cancellations or reschedule requests. A $900 team fine will be imposed for failing to play a scheduled game.

Fighting

Game misconducts for fighting, assessed under Rule 615(a) or (d), result in a one-game player suspension and a $200 team fine. Fighting misconducts under Rule 615(f) result in a three-game player suspension (per USA Hockey rules) and a $200 team fine.

Abuse

Game misconducts for abuse, assessed under Rule 601(d) and (e), result in a one-game player suspension and a $200 team fine if the penalty is assessed to a player. If a coach is assessed the game misconduct, the coach receives a one-game suspension, but no fine is imposed.

HPHL cannot overturn penalties called by officials or suspensions issued by CAHA.

Per USA Hockey rules, Rule 601(e)(3) results in an automatic match penalty with no fine associated.

Players may be pulled up to participate in higher-level games. However, once a player has played in their fourth higher-level game, they are no longer eligible to return to the lower-level team. This rule applies only to clubs with multiple teams, as players cannot be borrowed from other clubs. Additionally, skaters are not allowed to play on a team lower than the one they are rostered on.

Lower-level goalies may be pulled up as backups for higher-level games. These games do not impact the goalie’s eligibility with the lower-level team unless they actually play. Once a goalie participates in their fourth higher-level game, they are no longer eligible to return to the lower-level team.

A higher-level team’s goalie may sit on the bench as a backup for a lower-tier game but is NOT permitted to play unless the lower-tier goalie is unable to continue.

If a team has no goaltenders available for a game, they must request and receive league approval to use an emergency replacement goalie. The replacement must be another goalie currently registered with HPHL.