Participation in Non-Sanctioned Hockey
Recent media attention and scrutiny has raised many questions regarding Hockey Canada Policy 6.22. To better help our members, KMHA is posting this article to answer questions and provide a direct link to the policy, and supporting documentation from our governing bodies.
Please find a link to the Hockey Canada Policy Manual
HERE. A Cut and paste of policy 6.22 is below. Please note if you have any questions regarding the interpretation of this policy, KMHA will make every effort to answer or forward your concern to the correct governing body for an answer.
6.22 Outlaw Leagues
This policy is aimed at those leagues that choose to operate outside the hockey structure established by Hockey Canada, its member Branches and the Canadian Hockey League
6.22.1 Definition Hockey Canada and its member Branches view all leagues that operate outside the auspices/sanctioning of Hockey Canada programs to be classified as “outlaw” leagues. This currently does not include summer hockey leagues/teams, adult recreational hockey leagues/teams, high school hockey, and/or hockey schools.
6.22.2 Sanctions
• Any individual who participates (knowingly or otherwise) in "outlaw" programs after September 30 of the season in question (“the Cut-Off Date”) will lose all membership privileges with Hockey Canada for the remainder of that season, and may only reapply for membership with Hockey Canada after the end of that season. “Participation” in an “outlaw” program will be considered to have occurred if the individual takes part in one game (including an exhibition, tournament, league or playoff game) after the Cut-Off Date. If a participant makes the choice to participate in these “outlaw” programs, they must understand the ramifications of that choice and that the sanctions described in this paragraph will remain in effect even if the league or team folds, or the individual is released, suspended or fired.
• Hockey Canada and its member Branches across the country will make every effort to ensure that local minor hockey and female hockey associations in areas where “outlaw” leagues exist are not supporting these leagues in any manner whatsoever. For greater certainty, “supporting” includes, but is not limited to, assisting an “outlaw” league directly or indirectly through advertisement, promotion, ticket sales, volunteer activities, assigning Officials, sharing resources or enabling such a league to participate in Hockey Canada sanctioned activities. We will withhold tournament sanctions and will preclude such associations from benefiting from any Hockey Canada/Branch/CHL sanctioned event by whatever means necessary, including the withdrawal of any such event from any community within the geographic boundaries of that association if need be to stress this point.
To help provide clarity regarding the participation in Non Sanctioned Leagues, KMHA has reached out to our governing bodies for a list of leagues that would cause policy 6.22 to come into play. KMHA also requested clarification regarding 3on3 PD day programming at the request of our members and the following is a quote from Alliance Hockey.
"In light of recent events we have received questions about 3 on 3 PD Days etc. These events are good to go and do not constitute Non Sanctioned Programming.
Thanks
Tony Martindale
Executive Director
ALLIANCE Hockey
519-273-7209"
For a list of non sanction programs please see this
Information Bulletin from Alliance Hockey. This list is kept and updated by Alliance Hockey. As a member of Hockey Canada, the Ontario Hockey Federation and Alliance Hockey; KMHA players and members are expected to adhere to these rules and regulations.
We hope that this information helps to express the regulations and policies in question. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions.
Rolland Cyr
General Manager
Kitchener Minor Hockey Association
519-741-6292