Rules

The MGHA has adopted the following game rules:

All games will be played under current USA Hockey Adult No-Check rules (pdf), with the following additions:

1. Slapshots: No slapshots are allowed. The note from rule 617(a) will be applied:
   
   (Note) The use of the “slap shot” in the 10 & under age classification and below is prohibited. This applies to both Youth and Girls. A face-off shall take place at one of the end face-off spots adjacent to the goal of the offending player’s team who, in the process of making a forehand shot or pass, raises the blade of his stick above his waist in the backswing of such shot or pass.
2. Protective Equipment:
   1. In addition to the protective equipment required by rule 304, the following equipment is required and shall be considered included in rule 304(a): Hockey gloves, shin pads, shoulder pads, elbow pads, padded hockey pants, protective cup or pelvic protector.
   2. Facemasks: Rule 304(d) shall apply:
      
      (d) All players, including goalkeepers, in all age classifications below Adults, are required to wear a facemask certified by HECC, plus any chin protection that accompanies the facemask.
      (Note) Any helmet or facemask that is altered except as permitted in Rule 304(b) shall be deemed to be illegal equipment and shall not be allowed to be used in a game. (This shall include helmets from which a part has been cut or removed, facemasks from which the chin-cup has been removed or any other such alterations from the original manufacturing specifications.)
3. Game Time and Timeouts:
   1. Game times:
      • Warmup: 5 minutes
      • Periods: 12 minutes (stop time)
      • Intermissions: 1 minute
      • Minor Penalties: 1:30
      • Major Penalties: 3:00
      • Misconduct Penalties: 6:00
      • Timeouts: 1:00
   2. The R4HC 5-Minute Rule will be used, with the exception that timeouts will be permitted:

      At the first stoppage of play after 5:00 or less are left in the allotted ice time: if the clock shows more than 3:00, the on-ice officials will ask [the game timekeeper] to reset the clock:

      • The time on the scoreboard clock should be reset to show 2 minutes plus the number of seconds on the clock. For example, suppose the scheduled ice time ends at 10:00 am. If the scoreboard clock shows 3:48 left at the first whistle after 9:55 am, the clock should be reset to 2:48.
      • Penalty times are not reset. The on-ice officials will notify each team that the clock is being reset.
      • [the game timekeeper] may verbally call the attention of the on- ice officials if they do not notice that it is time to reset the clock.
      • [the game timekeeper] should not reset the clock unless told to do so by the on-ice officials.