Rules - Hockey

Warm Up: Now combined with the 1st period. 1-2 minutes.

1st Period: 15 minute RUN TIME period1,3,4

2nd Period: 15 minute RUN TIME period1,3

3rd Period: 15 minute RUN TIME period1,2

Period Breaks: 45 seconds

Shootout: Starts immediately following 3rd period. 3 players per team. Both teams shoot simultaneously. If tied after 3 shooters, it becomes sudden death, shot for shot shootout.

Time outs: Only permitted in playoffs. 1 x 30 seconds per team.

1Last 30 seconds of each period is stop time

2Last 3 minutes of the third period is stop time if the game is separated by 2 goals or less.

315 minute RUN TIME period for the following sites due to venue time requirements: Arizona State, Calgary, Colorado State, Fredericton, Indiana, Iowa, Lethbridge, Ohio University, University of Arizona, University of Maine, University of New Hampshire

4 The clock starts at 15 minutes and puck drops by the 13-minute mark. Refs will blow their whistles by 13:30 to drop the puck by 13:00. 

LUG Permits the use of extra players during the regular season in order to maintain a competitive level of play. All extras should be of similar skill level to the league they are playing. Teams should follow the How to Call up a player process when doing so. 

• Only registered players can participate in the playoffs.
• The ONLY exception is for a call-up goalie.

• All players will be informed to bring a piece of ID to the game and onto the bench. 
• ID checks can be requested by the captain of the opposing team, to validate that a player is registered for LUG. 
• If a request is made, it must be done either before the game, or within 10 minutes after the game has ended. After this time, it is no longer valid. There are no ID Checks mid game. We do not want the flow of the game to be stopped and ultimately if a ringer or non-registered player plays, the outcome will be a forfeit regardless. 

• An ID check can only be requested up until puck drop. After that time, there are no ID checks until after the game. 
• The Time Keeper will check that the player matches the ID and this player is registered on the LUG website. You can view this in the game sheet or by visiting the team roster on the website. 
• If the player is not registered, they are not permitted to play.
• If the player ignores this, the game, regardless of the outcome, will be an automatic default for the offending team. 

• The Time Keeper will check that the player matches the ID and this player name is registered on the LUG website. 

• If the player is not registered, the game, regardless of the outcome, will be an automatic default for the offending team. 

Teams are given LUG jerseys for the season. All players must update their player number on their HockeyShift profile in order to receive stats for their games. Click here for information on how to update your jersey number.

Players must wear skates, pants, jock strap, shoulder pads, shin pads, hockey gloves, and helmet in order to participate in league games. 

Mouth guards, neck guards, and cut resistant base layers are strongly recommended.

All players must wear a helmet with a cage or visor. Half visors are permitted however full visors are strongly recommended. Goalies must wear a full goalie face mask.

Helmet chinstraps must be properly done up at all times a player is on the ice.

Any player who does not have a helmet with cage or visor is not permitted to take the ice. 

All helmets MUST be CSA approved including goalie masks.

Passing from behind the centre ice line is permitted, and will not result in a whistle blown.

The tag up offside rule will be in effect.

Body checking is not permitted. Incidental body contact is unavoidable. 

3 players per team. Both teams shoot simultaneously.* 

If tied after 3 shooters, it becomes a sudden death, shot for shot shootout. The home team will choose what team shoots first.

Any player whose penalty was not fully served by the end of regulation time is NOT eligible to participate in the shootout. 

A whistle will be blown after any instance in which a puck is shot off the face mask or helmet of a goaltender.

For the purposes of this rule, the optional goalie neck protector is not included no matter how it is attached to the mask.

If a team agrees to play an additional game to replace a matchup originally forfeited by another team, this pickup game will count as an additional game for both participating teams in the division standings.

The original forfeited game will still be recorded as a win for the non-forfeiting team and a loss for the team that forfeited.

Teams/Free Agents will be placed into divisions initially based upon their submitted registration, skill level, and position.

League administration reserves the right to move a team (or player) to a higher or lower division based on;

• Overall and/or individual Player skill level

• Win/loss record

• Age of players

• Any other statistical data

This rule is applicable at any time during the season.

Win = 2 points

Tie/Shootout/OT Loss = 1 point

Loss = 0 points

1. Points

2. Win %

3. Head to Head

4. Goal Differential 

5. Wins 

6. Regulation Wins

7. Greater Goals for

8. Fewer Goals Against

9. Fewest penalty minutes (avg per game)

10. Coin Flip

In the event more than two teams are tied, the above process is followed until one or more teams are removed and the process begins again with the remaining teams. This is followed until only one team is remaining. 

LUG holds the right to take disciplinary action on teams that have not fulfilled the full balance of team fees 2 weeks after the first game is played.

LUG Teams are expected to pay the full amount designated to each league regardless of rostered players.

• ELITE DIVISION: NCAA | U Sports | Semi-Pro | Jr. (A/B/C) 
• A DIVISION: Jr (A/B/C) | AAA
• B DIVISION: AA | A | Select
• C DIVISION: House League | Pond Hockey Legends
• D DIVISION: Beginners
• W DIVISION: Women's only. Tiers are created during season. Women are eligible for play in ANY division.
• 26+ DIVISION: Our 26+ division is targeted to A/B level players, graduate programs students etcl

All players/coaches/fans/LUG affiliates are expected to respect LUG HOCKEY Arena Rules.

• Shooting pucks, balls or other objects in the arena common areas is prohibited.

• Use of profanity, slander, racial comments or any kind of inappropriate language is not permitted.

• Groups/Individuals are responsible for any damage caused to the facility.

• Garbage must be placed in bins provided. This includes arena locker rooms.

• Spitting/Chewing tobacco products is strictly prohibited in all areas of the arena.

• Anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be refused entry and or removed from the premises.

• Possession and/or consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited and includes the locker rooms, arena benches, stands, and parking lots.

• Smoking/Vaping of any kind is prohibited in the arena or in the locker rooms.

Minor = 3 minutes running time 

Double Minor = 6 minutes running time

Major = 8 minutes running time

Match = Automatic 1 game suspension + review for further discipline. In game Major penalties are to be served by any member of team.

If a penalty ends during a stoppage in play in running time, a penalized player must remain in the penalty box until puck is dropped to resume play. 

Face-offs following any penalty will take place in the offending team’s defensive zone (NHL rules).

Three minor Penalties will result in an ejection from the game.

Players who serve any penalty as a server for any other player shall not be charged for that penalty.

A delayed penalty which is cancelled by a goal scored, must be reported to the scorekeeper and recorded and does count toward a players gross penalty total.

Any Player, except a Goaltender, incurring a Misconduct penalty, shall be ruled off the ice for a period of ten (10) minutes playing time.

A substitute for the penalized Player shall be permitted immediately. A Player serving a Misconduct penalty shall remain on the penalty bench until the first stoppage of play following the expiration of their penalty.

Any Player who is assessed a second Misconduct penalty in the same game shall automatically be assessed a Game Misconduct penalty. An automatic (minimum) one (1) game suspension will be assessed.

All Misconduct penalties are subject to review by the LUG Management. No Player shall be required to serve a Misconduct penalty for another Player.

Any Player or Team Official incurring a Game Misconduct penalty shall be ordered to the dressing room for the remainder of the game and shall be reported to LUG Management for further action. If this penalty is assessed in the last five (5) minutes of regulation time, an automatic (minimum) one (1) game suspension will be assessed. All Game Misconduct penalties are subject to review (and possibly further suspension) by LUG.

Any Player or Team Official incurring a Gross Misconduct penalty shall be ordered to the dressing room for the remainder of the game and shall be reported to LUG Management for further action. This penalty will be assessed to any Player or Coach who conducts themselves in such a manner as to make a travesty of the game.

Any Player or Team Official who engages in verbal or non-verbal taunts, insults or intimidation based on discriminatory grounds (race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, language) shall be assessed a Gross Misconduct and be suspended according to Discipline and Complaints Policy (add link). There will be no tolerance for this type of behaviour and LUG Management will be very harsh with their assessment of suspensions. Should the Player who committed the offense is not discovered, the team representative will be automatically and indefinitely suspended pending a review by LUG.

This penalty will be assessed when any Player physically abuses another Player with intent to injure (whether or not an injury occurs). A Match penalty will result in an automatic indefinite suspension from the League. There is no minimum suspension.

An attempt to injure is an automatic Match penalty, regardless of whether it causes injury or not will be reviewed by LUG Management. The results of the injury will be considered by the League Manager when determining the length of the suspension and whether additional penalties are to be handed out.

No one is allowed to play on any team in the league while on suspension from another team.

Captains are ultimately responsible for notifying their players of any suspensions.

Suspension from the regular season will carry over to the playoffs and future seasons.

Suspended players are not permitted on the Player’s bench. 

Any player knowingly participating in a League game while under suspension will automatically have their teams’ points removed for that game and the suspension length will be doubled (at minimum). If the Team Rep knowingly permits a suspended or ineligible Player to participate in a League game, the Team Rep and the team will face disciplinary action.

Player with Alcohol = 1 game suspension. 2nd infraction results in removal from league.

Benches - 2 game team suspension. 2nd infraction results in removal from league.

FIRST INFRACTION
Major Penalty & ejection from game.

* Serious offences may result in subsequent suspensions or disciplinary actions.

** Any call up player that is assessed a fighting infraction will be ineligible for any further games in the season.