Fitchburg OldTimers Hockey League Bylaws
1) League Objectives
The Fitchburg OldTimers Hockey League (“League”) is an association of hockey players aged 45 years and over, who join for the common purpose of providing a well-organized, competitive, safe and disciplined framework for the continued enjoyment of recreational hockey.
2) Scope and Purpose
These bylaws are intended to present organizational guidelines to assist league officers, board members and players in determining the proper course of action in league matters. These bylaws should not be viewed as all-inclusive, or as limiting the discretion of the league Board and officers, it being the duty of the Board and officers to exercise their discretion in the best interests of the league. The League objectives shall be considered in construing or applying these bylaws
3) Officers
a) The League shall have a President, Vice-President, a Treasurer and a Secretary, each of whom shall serve at the pleasure of the League. The President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary shall each pay only one-half of the playing fees charged to other League players. The League Officers along with Team Captains (Board of Directors) shall meet to organize and administrate all league decisions.
Officers as of 2024:
President - Jim Reynolds
Vice-President - Brian Roy
Treasurer - Mike LeBlanc
Secretary/Webmaster - Don Leger
b) Right to Attend Meetings.
All permanent League members are eligible to attend any league meeting.
4) Playing Fees
The League Treasurer is responsible for collecting the league playing fee (Amount to be set before the start of each season). The playing fee shall be paid in two (2) installments. The 1st due on the night of the first game and the 2nd due on a date set by the board of directors. A player who fails to make full payment by the assigned date will be suspended until payment is made in full. The Board has determined that if a player is not paid in full by February 1st, that player will not be able to play rest of the year until final payment is made. Players who are suspended will be replaced by the team going to the lottery list. If extenuating circumstances exist, the player can ask for a board review.
5) Player Status
a) Tenured Player
A player achieves tenured status upon the completion of the players first season, unless a vote of the Board not to extend permanent status to the player. If no vote takes place. the player is then considered to be a permanent player. A permanent player may be permanently barred from the League by the Board for cause only. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing or the discretion of the League Board, cause for removal shall include the following:
1) attendance problems which disrupt a team or the League as a whole;
2) conduct dangerous or intimidating to League players or officials;
3) failure to pay playing fees when due (reference “Playing Fees in section 4);
4) conduct in violation of these bylaws;
5) conduct which in the sole discretion of the Directors is, not in the best interests of the League.
b) Permanent Spare
A spare player replacing a Tenured player during a leave of absence shall be classified as a Permanent Spare and shall be ineligible to play for any other team during such period.
6) Standards of Conduct
a) Attendance
1) Players are expected to commit to playing in all scheduled games. Any player missing more than seven games, whether replaced by a spare player, shall be subject to review by the Board and may be removed as a permanent player upon such review. Such review shall include consideration of the reason or reasons for the Player’s absences. The Board may consider any factors which, in the sole discretion of the Board, evidence a player’s lack of commitment to the best interests of the League. It is the intention of this provision that the Board may use their discretion in the League’s best interests, and that any decision of the Board shall be final.
2) A player shall not be deemed to have missed a game provided he has personally informed his team captain or other team member, at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled game, of his inability to play. A message left for the manager or team member shall not constitute adequate notice of a player’s inability to play a scheduled game unless acknowledged by a return message from the manager or other team member at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled game. A player shall likewise not be deemed to have missed a game provided he has obtained a commitment to play from an eligible spare who causes a forfeit by failing to honor such commitment, but only if such failure can be charged against the spare player. A player shall otherwise be deemed to have missed a game if not on the ice, fully dressed and ready to play at the drop of the puck commencing with the second period of play.
3) A spare player who misses a game after committing to play shall have such fact noted on the spare list. Upon the second such occurrence, a spare player shall be removed from the spare list and be ineligible for league play. Such second occurrence shall have the same effect whether occurring in the same or any subsequent season.
4) A team playing one or more players short (no spare player) before the start of the 2nd period, shall be penalized by imposition of an automatic forfeit, whether a protest is lodged by the opposing team. Imposition of the forfeit penalty shall occur upon discovery of the violation, without time limit. It is the intention of this provision that teams shall contest all games with ten skaters and a goaltender, except in case of injury or emergency occurring during a game.
b) Dangerous Conduct
A player may be indefinitely suspended or permanently barred from League play for any instance of fighting, high-sticking or other conduct which has the potential, in the sole opinion of the Board, to result in injury or in encouragement of violence in League play. Overly aggressive play alone, may be sufficient to invoke the provisions of this section.
c) Discipline and Enforcement
The President and the Board shall act to investigate any violation of these bylaws and shall impose such sanctions against the team or player committing such violation as the President may deem to be in the best interests of the League. Such sanctions shall include, but not be limited to, imposition of forfeits against a team and suspension of players. Any investigation hereunder shall be informal, and no player shall be entitled to a hearing of any kind. The President may, however, refer any matters of sanctions or discipline to the Board for review and decision, but no sanction imposed by the President shall be suspended or delayed while the review and/or decision of the Directors is pending.
7) Player Ratings
The Board shall be responsible for rating permanent and spare players, and for preparing a list of ratings for players eligible for the League draft. Ratings for spares may be adjusted at any time and shall be set such that a team is unlikely to improve by use of a spare. Players on the Spare list may be re-rated at any time during the season. Team captains are responsible for using a spares current rating. The league secretary will provide team captains with updated spare lists during the season.
8) Substitute Players
a) Substitute players (spares) must be at least forty-five (45) years of age at some point during the regular season, and the spare’s name and correct telephone number must appear on the most current spare list provided to each League team. Use of a spare player not meeting these requirements shall result in a forfeit.
b) When a team is notified that a Regular Player will miss a game, that team may substitute a Spare Player of equal or lesser rating than the missing skater from the current spare list. Using a player of a higher rating than that of the missing player shall result in the offending team forfeiting that game, except goaltenders. Use of any Regular Player as a substitute for a missing player is legal if the team has a "SPARE" for that game. Regular goaltenders are eligible to replace other Regular goaltenders only in situations constituting an unforeseen emergency such as injury, unforeseen absence, or exhaustion of the spare list of eligible goaltenders.
c) If a Spare Player is asked to replace a Regular Player and takes the ice for that purpose, then the Regular Player becomes ineligible for that game.
d) Failure to follow the foregoing substitution rules shall be grounds for imposition of forfeits, suspensions or other penalties deemed appropriate by the League Board.
e) All spares shall pay fees per game as established by the directors. A prospective spare with an unknown rating may receive a one (1) game rating from the League Board who shall assign him his rating for the spare list. Once having rated a spare, it is the League Secretary’s responsibility to keep ratings current for the spare list. A spares rating can be changed during the season by a vote of the Board.
f) Spares — A missing, or injured player can be replaced by going to the Spare’s List for up to two consecutive weeks. On the third week, the team must go to the Lottery List and use the next player on the list to replace the missing player.
g) Lottery List — Teams needing to go to the Lottery List for spares must call the first player on the lottery list by rating for the player being replaced and continue calling in lottery list order until a player says yes to coming into the league If the lottery list expires before getting a yes, you must contact the League Board for discussion. Position is no longer a consideration.
9) Lottery List
a) General
The Lottery List is a process used to bring spares into the League as Regular Players. The League Secretary maintains a listing of those spares who have expressed an interest in playing in the League on a full-time basis. The Lottery List may be revised by the Board at any time based on the number of years a player has been a League spare, his attitude toward the League and his behavior as demonstrated on and off the ice. In situations where there are several players to be added to the lottery list, the Directors shall determine the order of entry. In all cases, length of time on the spare list, and availability for and interest in full time play shall be the primary considerations.
b) Entry as Permanent Spares
The lottery list shall determine the order of entry for permanent spare positions at each player rating. A Permanent spare player committed to play for one player shall not lose his lottery position.
10) Leaves of Absence
Any tenured player may upon his own written request take a leave of absence for a period of no less than three games, but not more than one calendar year without losing status as a Regular player. As of 2023 season, we no longer allow “snowbirds” to play first half of the season. All requests for leave of absence must be in writing to the League Secretary and be approved by the League Board. No leave of absence shall be retroactive, and a player shall be responsible for payment of all playing fees until such time as the leave of absence is submitted for approval. If not approved, all playing fees for all games must be paid.
11) Officials
There shall be two (2) referees assigned to officiate each League game and each playoff game. The League Secretary is responsible to report to the Officials Association any conduct or attendance problems with referees assigned to League games.
12) Protests
All protests must be brought to the attention of the League President within 7 days of the time of the alleged violation. The President shall within 10 days thereafter rule on the protest and may hold a meeting of the Board regarding the protest.
13) Forfeits: Statistics
In the event of a forfeit, points scored by players on each team shall be counted in league statistics. If the forfeiting team wins the game, the score will be recorded as 1 - 0 loss. If non-forfeiting team wins, the actual score of the game will stand.
14) Start of a New Season
The League Board will meet during the summer to organize team rosters for the new season. The board will vote on the draft format and said draft will be scheduled before the season starts.
15) Amendments to Bylaws
League bylaws, rules or policies may be altered or amended by a vote of the League Board. Such amendments shall be effective upon distribution of a notice of the amendment to each team.
16) Playing Rules
Playing rules will follow NHL rules, except for additional offenses and penalties detailed as follows:
Slap shot: Slap shot is minor penalty.
High stick rule: Carrying the stick above the height of the crossbar of the net or to bat at the puck (contact does not have to be made), minor penalty.
Games will consist of:
Two (2) 18-minute periods for 50-minute hour.
Two (2) 20-minute periods for 60-minute hour.
Any player who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be allowed to participate in any League games. These incidents MUST be reported to the League officers. The President may immediately suspend a player violating this provision
17) Penalties
a) Total Penalty Minutes. You are no longer allowed to participate in a game if you have accumulated four minutes, 30 seconds in total penalties in the following manner:
three (3) minors or
one (1) major and one (1) minor or
two (2) majors or
one (1) major and one (1) misconduct or
one (1) game misconduct
one (1) gross misconduct
one (1) match penalty
b) Major Penalty. A major penalty shall be 3:30 minutes.
c) Match Penalty. The player is out of the game immediately. Match penalties have an automatic one (1) game suspension, and the player is not to return to League play until after review by the President.
d) Fighting. All fighting incidents will be reported to the League President. Fighting carries an automatic three (3) game suspension for a first offense and, for a second offense, an automatic suspension from the League for at least the rest of the current season. Further discipline may be imposed by the President and) or the League Board.
e) Misconduct. Six-minute penalty to the player. No penalty to the team.
f) Game Misconduct. Out of the game; directly to dressing room. Any behavior off the ice can result in further disciplinary action.
g) Verbal Abuse of Officials. Same as misconduct; 6 minutes. Expect written report from referees that worked the game. An investigation may be conducted by the President, who may take disciplinary action.
h) Physical Abuse of Officials. Same as game misconduct; out of game immediately. The League will not tolerate any form of physical abuse of referees. The League will take all necessary disciplinary action.
18) Regular Season 1st Place Tiebreakers
1. Most Wins
2. Head-to-Head Record
3. Least Goals Against – Regular season
19) Playoffs
• Last 5 Games on schedule (5 team league) / Last 4 games on schedule (4 team league)
• Each Game worth 3 Points
• 1 Point for the winner of the 1st & 2nd Periods and 1 point for winner of the game. 1/2 point awarded for a tie in a period or final score.
• The two teams with the most points after the 5 games (4 games if 4 team league) will advance to the Championship Game.
• Playoff Round Tiebreakers:
1 Most Wins - Playoff Round
2. Head-to-Head - Playoff Round
3. Least Goals Against - Playoff Round
20) Playoff Substitutions
For the first 5 games of the playoffs, needed spares will be taken from the leagues Spare List. For the Championship Game spares are to be taken from the rosters of the teams that have been eliminated from the playoffs.
