Hockey / HEO ‘AAA’ Hockey League to Begin Developmental Controlled Scrimmages Oct. 1

HEO ‘AAA’ Hockey League to Begin Developmental Controlled Scrimmages Oct. 1


 

It is with great pleasure to announce that the HEO ‘AAA’ Hockey League is beginning its Developmental Controlled Scrimmages as part of the HEO Return to Hockey Framework Stage 3B proposal on Oct. 1.

This will allow our players an opportunity to continue their development by participating in modified for COVID non-contact gameplay. These scrimmages will see modified rules that are compliant with the Province of Ontario Regulation 340/20.

HEO and Dr. Kristian Goulet, the branch’s Chief Medical Officer, have been working in conjunction with the four local health units in eastern Ontario, as well as the Provincial Ministry of Health to ensure that our teams provide a safe and compliant environment that follows all the public health rules.

These developmental scrimmages will be played within the confines of mandated bubbles and will include modified game rules ensuring that no physical contact is allowed. The leagues will be utilizing on-ice officials to maintain both Hockey Canada and public health regulatory rules on ice.

Our league has provided a proposal outlining steps to facilitate compliance to all regulations as they relate to sport in Ontario. The complete proposal is included below.

HEO and the HEO ‘AAA’ Hockey League take the health and safety of our players very seriously and we will continue to monitor and update our rules as required to facilitate a safe environment for our athletes.

We look forward to seeing our players take the ice with this new developmental format.

 

 

HEO AAA Hockey League Stage 3B Proposal

(Plan is Subject to Change as Per Public Health, Hockey Canada and HEO Guidelines)

Developmental Controlled Scrimmages Rules for Stage 3B

Length of Developmental Controlled Scrimmages (Depending on Ice Allocation);

  • 5 minute warm-ups.
  • 3x10 minute stop-time periods (1 Hour Games).
  • 3x15 minute stop-time periods (1.5 Hour Games).
  • 3x20 minute stop-time periods (2 Hour Games).
  • 1 minute intermission in between Periods.
  • No Overtime/Shootout for any Tied Games in Scrimmage, Exhibition, Regular Season and Playoff Play.

All Developmental Controlled Scrimmages, Regular Season and Playoff play will have a minimum of 2 on-ice officials.

Face-offs will be permitted at all times.

Physical Contact and Body Checking is not permitted – Intentional Body Checking will result in a Game Misconduct and a Suspension as per HEO Code of Discipline – Third Offence will result in a Suspension for the remainder of Stage 3.

Accidental, Incidental and Stick Checks may occur and are permitted.

Play must be stopped after 5 seconds of any prolonged contact.

Fighting will not be tolerated – Fighting will result in a Game Misconduct and Suspension as per the HEO Code of Discipline. The HEO U15 AAA League reserves the right to conduct a player review to determine if such conduct was detrimental to the league, and can issue additional sanctions if required on these grounds.

Players and team officials serving “game specific suspensions” from the previous season may, with permission from their District Chairperson, participate in team tryouts, including preseason exhibition games. The suspension will begin at 12:01am of the day of the first meaningful game of the team the player/team official is registered with.

f) Players and team officials receiving suspensions in preseason, tryout, or exhibition games, may have their suspension deferred to begin at 12:01am of the day of the first meaningful game for the team the offender is registered. For the second or subsequent offence, a formal hearing must be held by the respective HEO Minor official before any further deferrals are permitted.

Line Changes are permitted on the fly or after a stoppage of play.

Penalty Shots will be awarded for all Penalties as per the following;

  • 2 minute penalties – 1 penalty shot
  • 4 & 5 minute penalties – 2 penalty shots
  • All Misconducts and Game Misconducts will result in further discipline according to HEO minimum suspension guidelines.
  • All penalty shots must be taken by the individual the infraction was committed against unless they are unable to do so due to injury.

There will be no handshakes pre, during, or post-game.

Each team is allowed up to 19 skaters during each Developmental Controlled Scrimmages, Regular Season, and Playoff play as per Hockey Canada Regulations.

Each team is required to have a 1 off-ice official to assist with the Score clock and Game Sheet. Physical Distancing and Masks are required at all times.

 

Mandatory Regulations

Government of Ontario Public Health Regulations: Team sports may only be practised or played within the facility if they do not allow for physical contact between players or if they have been modified to avoid physical contact between the players.

Organized team sports that are practised or played by players in a league/cohort may only be practised or played within the facility if the league/cohort either;

• contains no more than 50 players and does not permit its teams to play against teams outside of the league, or

• divides its teams into groups of 50 or fewer players and does not permit teams in different groups to play against one another or against teams outside of the league/cohort.

No deliberate contact or body checking is permitted.

Players may transition from their home League/cohort (bubble) to take part in private instruction and then return to their home League. To limit the spread of COVID19, players are reminded to follow established public health measures (self-monitoring for symptoms, completing COVID19 screening, physical distancing, hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, wearing a mask when required).

Players cannot take part in more than 1 League/Cohort within HEO at any given time. (i.e. players can take part in a AAA Cohort, but cannot also take part in a AA Cohort concurrently).

Coaches, officials and volunteers may support multiple Leagues/cohorts (bubbles). To limit the spread of COVID19, coaches/officials/volunteers should stick with one cohort of players as much as possible, limit their number of contacts, and maintain a list (date, time, location, teams/players involved) of practices/games they work in the event of a positive COVID19 test. HEO Mandatory Regulations

All Team Staff must wear masks at all times, can remove masks while taking part in on-ice activities. Medical exemptions can be granted.

Players must wear masks while not actively participating in an on-ice activity.

Players must bring their own properly labelled water bottle.

Team Travel outside of HEO is not permitted.

No Tournaments are permitted.

Facilities are responsible to administer the amount of people inside a facility; all members must adhere to the Facility and Public Health Guidelines and Regulations.

No Pre or Post Game Handshakes as per Hockey Canada Mandatory Regulations.

All Minor Hockey Players must be registered with their Local MHA for the 2020/2021 season to be eligible to take part in any sessions by October 1st 2020. The start of the 2020/2021 insurance season is September 1st, 2020.

Regular HEO/Hockey Canada NCCP On-Line Coach Training is required, this includes Respect in Sport, Gender Identity and Expression, and Rowan’s Law Acknowledgment. This is required by December 1st 2020.

Officials must be properly registered and certified for 2020/2021 by October 31st 2020. (As per Hockey Canada Guidelines)

All Coaches, Officials, and Team Staff are required to take the Hockey University COVID-19 Planning a Safe Return to Hockey on-line Module.

No affiliations may occur from outside your cohort. (If a shortage of players occurs then player sharing within the cohort is permitted).

Spectators may be allowed if Ontario Public Health Guidelines permit. Masks will be required for all Spectators at all times.

Team Meals and/or Team Functions is not permitted.

Single family transportation is highly recommended.

It is required that all participants complete a Public Health Questionnaire prior to every on-ice session.