ARTICLE I

1.1

The name of this organization shall be known as the Central ATOM Hockey league Inc. hereinafter referred to as CAHL Inc.

1.2

The League shall be comprised of teams with whose Manager, Coach, Assistant Coaches and Players shall be duly registered in ATOM Classification with their respective Associations.

ARTICLE II

2.1

The officers of the League shall be as follows:

1.       President

2.       Past-President

3.       Vice-President of Division AA, A & B

4.       Sec.-Treasurer

2.2

The officers shall be known as the league Executives.

2.3

It shall be the duty of the Executive officers to ensure that all provisions of the Constitution, By-Laws, Rules and regulations of the CAHL Inc. are complied with by membership.

2.4

The powers and duties of the executive officers of the CAHL Inc. during its term of office shall be:

a)       To conduct the business of the league, authorizing expenditures in connection therewith;

b)      To fill any vacancies which may occur;

c)       To interpret the constitution, by-laws, rules and regulations;

d)      To issue or revoke entry certificates with notice of such action;

e)       To hear and determine all protests;

f)        To fine, suspend or expel a team, team officials, or a player for notorious acts of foul play, unsportsmanlike or ungentlemanlike conduct, Individually or Collectively, on the ice or off, or in any Arena where a hockey game, is being played, or at any meeting or gathering in the interest of the game; for any persistent infringement of the laws of the game or the rules and regulations of CAHL Inc.

g)      To expel any team, player or official for refusing to accept and obey the ruling of the League;

h)       To re-admit by resolution, and unanimous vote of the executive officers, any team, or its officials or player under suspension;

i)         To accept or reject any entry applications, and to place teams in categories or groups, as regulated by the constitution and by-laws.

j)         Referees and Linesman

k)       Minor Officials

l)         League Play-offs.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE:

3.1

The Central ATOM Hockey League Inc. is a non-profit organization formed to foster, encourage and promote the development of amateur hockey within its territory.

3.2

The purpose of the Central ATOM Hockey League Inc. is fulfilled through the aims and objectives.

3.3

To reach and maintain highest possible standards of amateur hockey.

3.4

To promote the formation of amateur hockey teams and leagues.

3.5

To encourage the sport of amateur hockey and friendly competition.

3.6

To provide an outlet for minor hockey teams to participate in an organized and competitive hockey structure.

3.7

To establish and maintain justified playing rules and codes of ethics.

3.8

To offer guidance in the interpretation of the Rules and Regulations.

3.9

To facilitate communication between hockey groups and the proper organizations.

3.10

To make suggestions for the improvement of amateur hockey to the proper organizations.

3.11

To promote and assist in the presentation of technical clinics for players, coaches, managers, etc...

3.12

To place at the disposal of coaches, sources of theoretical, analytical, technical, research information, as it relates to hockey through the dissemination of printed, filmed, video taped, materials, etc... when available.

3.13

To promote sportsmanship and social contact amongst team officials, game officials, proper organizations, etc...

3.14

To provide a medium of discussion and interchange of ideas relating to hockey problems of general interest.

3.15

To conduct its responsibilities within its territory; or outside when requested for the good of hockey.

3.16

To present a positive image of CAHL Inc. role vis-à-vis the parents, proper hockey organizations, the news-media, and the public in general.

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERSHIP

4.1

Membership shall be open to all teams meeting the requirements of the Central ATOM Hockey League Inc., duly registered under the ATOM category of the NBMHC, and who desire to partake in an organized hockey league.

4.2a

A team may become a member of the CAHL Inc. by making application on a prescribed form to the Executive Director of the CAHL Inc., and shall be accompanied by the annual entry league fee.

4.2b

Applicant must receive authorization in writing from their association and a copy must accompany their request for membership to OUT association.

4.3

Team executive members shall be eligible for active membership and shall include managers, coaches, players.

ARTICLE V

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

5.1

Notices of Motion shall be submitted by CAHL Executives, and registered teams only.

5.2

Amendments to the Constitution, By-Laws and Regulations shall only be made at CAHL's Annual General Meeting. Amendments shall be submitted on approved CAHL Notice of Motion Forms and must be received by CAHL's President at least 45 days prior the CAHL’s Annual Meeting. CAHL's President shall distribute copies of proper Notice of Motions to all CAHL Executives and registered teams, at least 30 days prior to CAHL's Annual General Meeting.

5.3

Sponsors or their representatives must be present at CAHL's Annual General Meeting to present and explain the motion, otherwise it will be declared invalid.

5.4

Amendments to CAHL's Constitution, By-Laws and Regulations shall require a majority of 2/3rds of the votes cast; amendments passed shall take effect the following season.

SECTION II

RULES AND REGULATIONS:

With the exception of these rules and regulations specifically mentioned hereinafter, the NBMHC and CAHA Rules and Regulations shall apply.

CONDUCT:

101

It shall be the duty of every member of the CAHL Inc. to conduct himself at all times, during the length of his/her membership, in such a manner as to further the best interest of the CAHL Inc., to assist fellow members whenever possible to improve and maintain good relations along with a standard of high quality play, and to assure respect of all participants, officials and spectators.

102

The home team shall be responsible for the proper conduct of the games.

TEAMS: 

103

A team shall consist at all times of not less than twelve (12) players, one of whom must be a goaltender.

104

The admission for member teams shall be one hundred fifty ($150.00) which must be paid prior to commencement of regular season play. Performance bonds may be required of some teams, with the amount to be determined by the Executive Officers of the CAHL Inc.

105

Team lineups must be clearly indicated on the Official Game Report and to include the players' full names along with the proper sweater number. The name of the Referee of the game must also be clearly indicated along with telephone number.

106

The team manager shall be responsible for all managerial business pertaining to his team.

PLAYERS:

107

All players must be registered with the Minor Hockey Association they represent as a team member.

108

Players considered for trophy selections, must have played a minimum of seventy percent (70%) of regular league schedule to be eligible.

109

A report on all games involving major penalties, game penalties or match penalties must be forwarded immediately after the game to the Executive Officers of the CAHL Inc.

GAMES:

110

A game may be forfeited if a team is more than fifteen (15) minutes late arriving for the start of a scheduled league game, and the matter to be immediately reviewed by the Executive Officers.

110(b)

Each game time must consist of at least 2-10 and 1-12 minute stop time periods.

110(c)

There should be 1 referee and 2 linesmen available for all games. A game may be played with 2 officials. In the event there is only one official, the game is awarded to the visiting team (as a 1-0 victory). The game may be played as an exhibition game only.

111

Two (2) goaltenders should be dressed for the sake of the game.

112

Any cancellation of games must be brought up to the attention of the Executive and/or Division Coordinator and the opposing team must be advised forty-eight (48) hours before game time. In the event of a storm a minimum of two (2) hours notice must be given to comply with this rule, the matter will be reviewed by the Executive Officers.

112(b)

Completion of league schedule takes priority for all member teams. Any scheduled game not completed by the pre-determined deadline will be decided by the result from the immediate prior, completed scheduled game between the same teams.

112(c)

The regular season schedule will consist of, at least, a home & home series against each team in their Division registered with the CAHL Inc.

113

The Executive Officers of the CAHL Inc. have the authority to re-schedule any cancelled or unplayed games. However, teams should try to make satisfactory arrangements on their own first.

114

After each game played, the home team is responsible to phone in results of the game the same day and mail the game report within 48 hours. The executive must fine any team that does not comply with this rule.

SUSPENSION:

115

All suspensions will be given in accordance with NBMHC Discipline Guidelines.

116

All suspensions may be reviewed by the Executive at any time and further action may be taken if warranted.

117

Any report concerning the explanation in detail of a Match Penalty of any serious offences, shall be clearly written on the back of the score sheet (first copy) and forwarded without delay to the Executive Officers. All reports submitted to the CAHL Inc. by the game officials shall remain confidential and shall not be made public under any circumstances other than for discussion by the Executive in its inquiry and ongoing investigation into the situation.

PROTEST:

118a

Protests may only be made in regard to interpretations of Rules, By-Laws, Regulations and rules of competition or constitutional matters; not in regard to the judgement of a referee or other officials.

b

A verbal protest must be made by the captain of the aggrieved team to the referee at the first reasonable opportunity after the action of decision, complained of, and in all cases must be made within five (5) minutes of the close of the period in which such action or decision is made and same must be noted immediately on the Official Game Report.

c

When a protest. arises in a league game, and the protesting team has complied with the above, then within twenty-four (24) hours of the completion of the game protested, a telegram or written protest signed by the President or Secretary of the protesting learn must be in the hands of the Secretary of the league, and must be accompanied by a deposit of fifty ($50.00) dollars. A copy of such telegram or written protest must also be served upon the protested team within Twenty-four (24) hours of the completion of the game protested.

d

If the team is the subject of a protest, it shall, within forty-eight (48) hours after the completion of the game protested file its defence with the Secretary of the league, a copy of such defence shall also be served on the President or Secretary of the protesting team within forty-eight (48) hours after the completion of the game protested.

e

The league President shall fix a time and place for the meeting of the league Executive to consider the protest. Each of the teams involved may have a person to present is case at the hearing of the protest.

f

The league Secretary shall retain the fifty ($50.00) dollars deposit of the protesting team and the protest papers for twenty-four (24) hours after the decision of the league Executive is given, and if no appeal has been lodged within that time he shall return the deposit to the protesting team if it has won its protest, otherwise such deposit shall be forfeited to the league.

119

Appeals of suspensions or protest must be received by the Executive Officer(s) in writing accompanied by a fee of twenty-five ($25.00) dollars payable to the Central ATOM Hockey League Inc. Appeals to be heard by the Executive Officers of CAHL Inc. and the Zone Representative at the call of the President, and their findings and decision to be final.

120

All protest and appeals to be countersigned by the team manager and the President of the Minor Hockey Association of the protesting team.

SPORTSMANSHIP:

121

In order to further promote sportsmanship qualities within the confines of the CAHL Inc., all players from both teams are to shake hands after the completion of EVERY game whether it be exhibition or regular season play as this is intended to put players in a frame of mind that the game is a friendly competition and not a war between two sides.

122

Before the start of each game the 2 Team Captains must approach the referees circle to shake hands with the Officials of the game in order to create a friendly atmosphere between game officials and the teams involved, and could possibly indicate to the spectators in attendance that the game they are about to witness will be played under the conditions of good sportsmanship according to the playing rules of the game.

TEAM CAPTAINS:

123

The Team Captain should be aware to the rules of Play.

124

When a Captain or Alternate Captain receives a penalty, he loses all his privileges for the duration of the penalty and must proceed directly to the penalty box. Failing to do so, the player will be assessed a Misconduct Penalty.

125

A misconduct penalty will be assessed to any captain or alternate captain who leaves the players bench to discuss any interaction or interpretation of the rules with the referee.

126

When a player is assessed a Misconduct Penalty, Game Misconduct Penalty, or Gross Penalty, an automatic minor penalty shall be served by a player on the ice at the time of the infraction, designated by the coach through the Captain.

127

A Game Misconduct Penalty will be assessed against a player receiving four (4) penalties in anyone game. The time of the fourth penalty to be served by the penalized team.

128

Any penalties received after the completion of a game will be dealt with severity by the Executive Officers. A one game suspension will be the minimum assessed.

129

A team or team management failing to complete a game or series without permission of the League shall be liable to minimum suspension of one (1) year.

130

All suspensions will be served in accordance with the Discipline Guidelines of the NBMHC.

131

Team Management consisting of the Team Manager and Coaches, who allow a suspended player to participate in their team on ice activities as defined in Rule #130, will be referred to the NBMHC representatives and/or the Executive Officer of the NBMHC for review of their conduct.

SECTION III – BY-LAWS

BY-LAW ONE: ELECTIONS OF THE LEAGUE EXECUTIVES

1.1

Elections for the officers of the League shall be held at the CAHL Annual General Meeting.

1.2

The League Executives shall be elected by secret ballot and by all eligible voters present the CAHL Annual General Meeting.

1.3

Candidates must be present at the CAHL Annual General Meeting.

1.4

The League Executives shall serve for a 1-year term and be eligible for re-election.

BY-LAW TWO: LEAGUE MEETINGS

2.1

Each team in good standing shall be entitled to have three (3) representatives at any league meeting, and have the privilege of debate, but only one (1) vote. One representative from each team shall be entitled to vote and prior to the commencement of the meeting, each team shall indicate to the chairman who their voting representative shall be for that specific meeting.

2.2

A Season Kick-off meeting will be held as early as possible to start the season.

2.3

The CAHL Annual General Meeting will be held as early as possible in the month of January.

2.4

50% plus 1 voting members shall form a quorum at the CAHL Annual General Meeting.