Revised: February 22, 2024
1.1 The name of the association is the Kanata Masters Hockey Association, abbreviated as KMHA.
1.2 The aim of the Kanata Masters Hockey Association (KMHA) is to provide a safe and friendly environment for our members to play a game they enjoy at an adult recreational level.
1.3 This Constitution lays out the rules and regulations followed by the KMHA.
1.4 The Constitution will be reviewed annually. Changes and/or revisions must be forwarded to the Board of Directors and be approved by a majority vote as per Article 4.5 and 4.6.
1.5 The fiscal year for the KMHA commences August 1st and ends July 31st.
1.6 During the regular season of the KMHA, each team will play of thirty-five (35) games and each of the six (6) teams will play every other team seven (7) times.
1.7 During the playoffs of the KMHA, each team will play of five (5) games and each of the six (6) teams will play every other team one (1) time.
2.1 The Kanata Masters Hockey Association is committed to providing an environment in which all players and officials are treated with respect both on and off the ice.
2.2 Players shall conduct themselves at all times in a responsible manner and refrain from behavior that is either offensive or abusive.
2.3 Players are required to demonstrate good sportsmanship and not engage in behavior that endangers the safety of others.
2.4 Failure to comply with this Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action, suspension or ejection from the KMHA.
3.1 All players must complete and sign the CARHA General Participant Waiver. The form may be downloaded from this link
4.1 The Board of Directors shall carry out the business of the KMHA.
4.2 The Board of Directors is empowered to make all rules, regulations, constitutional amendments and decisions for the operation of the KMHA.
4.3 The Board of Directors will consist of a President and six team Captains, for a total of seven (7), all of which must be members in the KMHA.
4.4 The Constitution does not prevent the President from being a team Captain. In this case the Board of Directors will be the six (6) team captains.
4.5 Each member of the Board of Directors will be entitled to one (1) vote on matters pertaining to business of the Board.
4.6 The President shall cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie vote.
4.7 When a vote is requested by members of the Board of Directors, votes must be cast within twenty-four (24) hours by the President and/or team Captains. Proxy votes are not permitted.
4.8 Any one member of the Board of Directors may be removed upon a written motion that is signed by all other members of the Board of Directors.
5.1 Individuals on the Board of Directors shall execute positions of the Executive Committee. This committee will be comprised with the following positions and duties:
5.1.1 President
5.1.1.1 Shall be the official spokesperson for the KMHA.
5.1.1.2 Shall call all meetings of the Board of Directors or Executive Committee.
5.1.1.3 Preside at all called meetings of the Board of Directors or Executive Committee.
5.1.1.4 Co-sign all cheques.
5.1.1.5 Prepare an agenda for all meetings and distribute them prior to the called meeting.
5.1.1.6 Record all minutes of the Executive and Board meetings.
5.1.1.7 Ensure all Board members receive minutes following the meeting.
5.1.1.8 Act as the third member of the Disciplinary Committee (as per Article 5.1.3.2).
5.1.1.9 Work with the Head Referee to ensuring there are Referees available for each game.
5.1.1.10 Shall be the KMHA representative in discussing all officiating matters with the Head Referee.
5.1.1.11 Shall ensure all Referee Reports are in order and reported to the Disciplinary Committee.
5.1.1.12 Ensuring there is a Timekeeper available for each game to run the clock and accurately record game statistics.
5.1.1.13 Ensure the Timekeeper is paid for each game.
5.1.1.14 Shall be responsible to coordinate and implement the annual year-end banquet, including:
5.1.1.15 Be appointed by the Board of Directors.
5.1.2 Treasurer
5.1.2.1 Purchase ice from the City of Ottawa.
5.1.2.2 Maintain all financial records of the KMHA.
5.1.2.3 Maintain registration records of players.
5.1.2.4 Maintain CAHRA player insurance for all registered players.
5.1.2.5 Will ensure Referees are paid for each game.
5.1.2.6 Be the Official Signee for all financial matters for the KMHA.
5.1.2.7 Will prepare a budget for the following season.
5.1.2.8 Will provide the budget for the year-end banquet.
5.1.2.9 Submit a financial report at the annual meeting detailing expenditures, revenues and bank balance.
5.1.2.10 Replace the President on the Disciplinary Committee in the event the President is unavailable or must remove himself due to a conflict.
5.1.2.11 Be appointed by the Board of Directors.
5.1.3 Disciplinary Committee
5.1.3.1 The Disciplinary Committee will be comprised of a minimum of three (3) members from the Board of Directors.
5.1.3.2 The President will be a member of the Disciplinary Committee.
5.1.3.3 The Disciplinary Committee shall review and investigate all matters brought forward to their attention and shall strive to assess all discipline issues within seventy-two (72) hours.
5.1.3.4 The Disciplinary Committee shall strive to notify a player and his Captain of any suspension no less than twenty-four (24) hours before the player’s next game.
5.1.3.5 While carrying out an investigation, the Disciplinary Committee may have the scenario where it is known that the incident under investigation will require a lengthy suspension; the only decision required is the length of the suspension. In this scenario, the Disciplinary Committee may suspend the player indefinitely, pending the completion of the investigation.
5.1.3.6 In carrying out an investigation, the Disciplinary Committee shall provide the Captains (or their representative) of players involved in the altercation an opportunity to provide details of the incident.
5.1.3.7 Upon completion of the review, the Disciplinary Committee shall prepare a written report for the Board of Directors which shall include:
5.1.3.8 At any time the Disciplinary Committee is empowered to refer the recommended action/discipline to the Board of Directors for consideration. In such situations, the Captain of the Player(s) involved in the altercation are deemed to be in conflict of interest and are ineligible to participate in any related vote by the Board of Directors.
5.1.3.9 In the event the Board of Directors votes on the disciplinary action to be taken, the vote will be conducted in a timely fashion and will be completed no more than twenty-four (24) hours (as per 4.7).
5.1.3.10 Upon receiving a suspension notice, the player may file a written protest via his Captain. The protest will be reviewed by the Board of Directors. The Player filing the protest remains under suspension during the review of the protest.
5.1.3.11 The Disciplinary Committee will be appointed by the Board of Directors.
5.1.4 Website Manager, Scheduler, and Statistician
5.1.4.1 Prepare the schedule for the regular season and playoffs.
5.1.4.2 Will be responsible for ensuring the KMHA website is updated on a regular basis.
5.1.4.3 Will report penalties exceeding the set limit for suspension of a player to the Disciplinary Committee.
5.1.4.4 Be appointed by the Board of Directors.
6.1 An Annual Board Meeting may be held at or near the end of the regular season for the purpose of carrying on the business of the KMHA and to ratify the actions of the Board of Directors. The agenda will include:
6.1.1 Appointment of Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the next year.
6.1.2 Lottery for draft positions.
6.1.3 Review financial statements.
6.1.4 Review the past season and consider any changes to be implemented to the Constitution for the following season.
6.1.5 The Treasurer will present the proposed budget for the Captains to agree on fees for next season.
6.1.6 The Scheduler will present any proposed schedule changes for the Captains to agree on for the next season.
6.2 The Board of Directors will hold at least one (1) meeting during the regular season to review issues of the current season and suggest changes that could be implemented in the current season.
6.3 All Board of Directors and Executive Committee meetings will be determined by the President upon necessity or requirement to carry out KMHA business.
6.4 The quorum of a Board of Directors meeting shall be a minimum of four (4) of the members of the Board of Directors.
7.1 The Treasurer will propose to the Board of Directors before the registration process begins. the fees for the upcoming season including:
7.1.1 The first amount.
7.1.2 The final amount.
7.2 To be eligible for registration, a player must provide postdated cheques for the first and final amount before the end of annual KMHA banquet.
7.3 Any player who fails to provide their cheques before the deadline in Article 7.2 may be subject to having their registration denied.
7.4 Any player with issues with their first amount cheque and have not made alternate arrangements with the Treasurer before their first game can be removed from the KMHA.
7.5 Any player with issues with their final amount cheque and have not made alternate arrangements with the Treasurer before their next game can be removed from the KMHA. No refunds of the first amount will be made to the removed player.
8.1 Eligible players must be a minimum fifty (50) years of age at the time of the annual draft.
8.2 The Board of Directors has the discretion to waive Article 8.1.
8.3 Eligible players must be in good standing with the League, which includes but is not limited to financial standing, disciplinary standing and team sweaters having been returned.
8.6 KMHA registrations will be accepted in the following priority:
8.6.1 Players who have played at least two (2) seasons in the KMHA and are in good standing.
8.6.2 Players who have played their first year and are in good standing and have been accepted back in the KMHA.
8.6.3 Alumni players who have played at least two (2) previous seasons in the KMHA.
8.6.4 New Players, where preference will be given to players from the spares list who participated during the season.
8.7 The Board of Directors has the discretion to waive the order in Article 8.6.
9.1 Team rosters will be established based on the annual KMHA draft with no protected players.
9.2 The list of eligible players shall be divided based on their KMHA status and be listed numerically.
9.3 The Board of Directors will provide a numerical list of players ordering their relative strength of hockey skills from high to low.
9.4 The Captains will be rated for the purpose of the draft. Captains must select themselves in the round where they are rated.
9.5 The Captains will agree on the ratings of the Captains prior to the draft by vote.
9.6 The draft order selection will be by a draw of a marked ballot numbered one (1) to six (6) prior to the drafting process.
9.7 Prior to drafting players, goaltenders will be drafted in reverse of the draft order. Marked ballot numbered six (6) will pick the first goaltender, then five (5) and so on.
9.8 Once goaltenders have been drafted to each team, players will be drafted.
9.9 The order of drafting players off the draft list will follow a snake draft format: one (1) to six (6) and then six (6) to one (1).
9.10 Trading of draft positions (draft order) is permissible up to the start of the draft. Once the President indicates that the draft will commence no further trading of draft positions (draft order) are allowable.
9.11 Trading of specific draft picks is not permissible. More specifically, Captains cannot trade single or multiple draft picks (i.e. overall pick #12 and #29 for overall picks #19 and #21).
9.12 Trading of players is allowed, but all trades must be approved by vote of the Board of Directors present at the draft.
9.13 There will be NO trading after the closure of the draft meeting except in extenuating circumstances.
9.14 The draft will be deemed closed by the President and this will occur approximately 30 minutes from the time the last player being selected.
9.15 Team rosters shall number thirteen (13) including one goaltender and cannot ever exceed this number.
10.1 If a team is losing a player for an extended period of time (minimum of four (4) weeks), the Captain has the option to pick up an assessed player of equal caliber from the spares list. The spare player will pay fifteen ($15) per game. The following procedures are to be followed:
10.1.1 The Captain seeking a replacement player will notify the Board of Directors.
10.1.2 The email shall contain information on the length of time the player will not be available and the reason (i.e. injury, personal) and the proposed replacement.
10.2 The Captain utilizing a replacement player will be responsible for collecting the fifteen dollar ($15) fee for each game played and ensuring that the player that is absent receives the funds.
10.3 The refund available to the player that is absent for an extended period of time is limited to the KMHA fees collected for games played by the replacement player.
10.4 A Multi-Game Player Replacement is optional and there is no guarantee an injured player will receive a refund during their injury.
11.1 A Captain has the option to have a single game replacement player(s) if they would otherwise have less than ten (10) skaters (i.e. nine (9) skaters not including the goaltender).
11.2 A single game replacement player shall be an active player in the KMHA or a player on the official spares list.
11.3 It is desired to have as many players as possible play for the spares list for evaluation as future members of the KMHA.
11.4 In the spirit of fair play, it is expected that a single game replacement player will be of equal or lower skill than the player being replaced. It is not fair play to replace your missing ninth, tenth and eleventh round drafted player with a first round player.
11.5 When selecting an active player in the KMHA, it is recommended that they don’t participate in a game before their own game on the same night.
11.6 Captains should first try to get a substitute goaltender who is not already playing that night.
11.7 A Player under suspension from the KMHA is not eligible to play as a single game replacement until their suspension has been served. For the purpose of single game replacement their suspension is deemed to be complete at the completion of the last game they were suspended. In this manner they could play as a single game replacement before they actually play with their own team again.
11.8 A Team may not replace a player who is currently under suspension from the KMHA.
11.9 Penalty minutes assessed while playing for another team as a replacement player are included in a player’s total penalty minutes in assessing a suspension under Article 12.
11.10 When utilizing a single game replacement player(s) the team roster may not exceed ten (10) skaters plus a goaltender.
11.11 In all situations, the Captain utilizing a single game replacement is required to notify the full Board of Directors in advance of the game.
11.12 The Captain utilizing a single game replacement player will be responsible for collecting a fifteen dollar ($15) fee for each game played and ensuring the fee is given to the Treasurer. The game fee only applies to players from the spares list and not active players in the KMHA.
12.1 It is expected that a Captain will arrange to have single game replacement player(s) if they would otherwise have less than ten (10) skaters for a playoff game (i.e. nine (9) skaters not including the goaltender).
12.2 A single game replacement player for the playoffs shall be an active player in the KMHA who was drafted at the start of the season.
12.3 A single game replacement player will be of two rounds or lower skill than the player being replaced. As an example, if a team is missing first, fifth and tenth round drafted players, they may select a third round drafted player or lower as a replacement player.
12.4 When selecting a replacement player, it is expected that they don’t participate in a playoff game before their own playoff game on the same night.
12.5 A Player under suspension from the KMHA is not eligible to play as a single game replacement until their suspension has been served. For the purpose of single game replacement their eligibility to spare starts the next night of league play after the last game of their suspension.
12.6 Penalty minutes assessed while playing for another team as a replacement player are included in a player’s total penalty minutes in assessing a suspension under Article 13.
12.7 When utilizing a single game replacement player(s) the team roster may not exceed ten (10) skaters plus a goaltender.
12.8 In all situations, the Captain utilizing a single game replacement is required to notify the full Board of Directors in advance of the game.
12.9 The Board of Directors has the discretion to adapt the rules via a majority vote prior to the playoffs commencing.
12.10 Captains will agree on substitute goaltender candidates for the playoffs prior to the playoffs commencing.
13.1 The KMHA will observe the CARHA playing rules, following the CARHA Official Rule Book.
13.2 The KMHA will observe the CARHA Minimum Suspension Guidelines available for download from the CARHA website.
13.3 Minor penalties will be two (2) minutes in duration running time except in the last two (2) minutes of a game when it is stop time.
13.4 A short-handed team may only change players on-the-fly. Changing or attempting to change during any other situation can result in a two (2) minute Delay of Game penalty. The exceptions are:
13.4.1 If the game is in the final two (2) minutes and it is in stop time.
13.4.2 The offending team scores short-handed.
13.4.3 If there is another penalty to either team.
13.5 Full equipment, including a CSA certified hockey helmet is required. The League highly recommends all players wear full-face protectors (masks), although wearing full-face protectors, eye protectors or BNQ approved throat protectors are not mandatory in the KMHA.
13.6 The game will consist of two periods, the first (1st) period 25 minutes and second (2nd) period 23 minutes. Teams will NOT change ends at the end of the first (1st) period.
13.7 The last two (2) minutes of the second (2nd) period will be stop time except when the score differential exceeds two (2) goals.
13.8 The game will begin four (4) minutes after the posted starting time for the game. The clock will initially be set to twenty-five (25) minutes for the first (1st) period. At three (3) minutes after the posted starting time the timekeeper shall sound the horn. The game will begin at precisely twenty-two (22) minutes. Teams not ready for the opening faceoff can be assessed a two (2) minute Delay of Game penalty at the discretion of the officials.
13.9 A team’s defensive blue line, that is the blue line closest to the goal they are defending, will be used for assessing whether a team has intentionally iced the puck.
13.10 A full slap shot or faking a slap shot is forbidden. A slap shot is defined as when a stick is raised above the knee with the resulting action being able to slap at the puck. The play is blown dead and the face-off will take place in the offending player’s zone.
13.11 Play will be stopped immediately when the goaltender has been hit in the face mask by a shot unless it goes directly into the net. In this case, the goal will be allowed.
13.12 When an offensive player stands or falls in the goaltender’s crease, the play is immediately whistled dead and followed by a faceoff outside the defensive blueline.
13.13 accumulation of three (3) minor penalties to a player in one game will result in ejection from that game.
13.14 Players reaching a plateau of twenty (20) minutes in penalties will receive a one game suspension.
13.15 Players reaching a plateau of thirty (30) minutes in penalties will receive a two game suspension.
13.16 Players reaching a plateau of forty (40) minutes in penalties will receive a three game suspension.
13.17 All players’ penalties will reset to zero at the start of the playoffs.
13.18 Players reaching a plateau of ten (10) minutes in penalties in the playoffs will receive a one game suspension.
13.19 Players reaching a plateau of twenty (20) minutes in penalties in the playoffs will receive a two game suspension.
13.20 Ten (10) minute misconducts are recorded as ten (10) minutes in the official KMHA penalty statistics.
14.1 In case of a tie, the following will apply for the regular season:
14.1.1 Most wins among the tied teams.
14.1.2 Head to Head Record: Most points in games against each other among the tied teams. The head to head tie breaker only applies when there are two (2) teams tied.
14.1.3 Goal Differential: Using the total goals scored during the regular season, the greater positive differential between goals for and against among the tied teams.
14.1.4 Most Goals For: Using the total goals scored during the regular season, the greater number of goals for among the tied teams.
14.1.5 Least Goals Against: Using the total goals scored during the regular season, the fewer number of goals against among the tied teams.
14.1.6 Fewest penalty minutes: Using the total penalty minutes during the regular season, the fewer number of penalty minutes among the tied teams.
14.1.7 Flip of a coin.
15.1 In case of a tie, the following will apply in the playoffs:
15.1.1 Most wins among the tied teams.
15.1.2 Head to Head Record: Most points in games against each other among the tied teams. The head to head tie breaker only applies when there are two (2) teams tied, not three (3) or more tied teams.
15.1.3 Goal Differential: Using the total goals scored during the playoffs, the greater positive differential between goals for and against among the tied teams.
15.1.4 Most Goals For: Using the total goals scored during the playoffs, the greater number of goals for among the tied teams.
15.1.5 Least Goals Against: Using the total goals scored during the playoffs, the fewer number of goals against among the tied teams.
15.1.6 Fewest penalty minutes: Using the total penalty minutes during the playoffs, the fewer number of penalty minutes among the tied teams.
15.1.7 Flip of a coin.
16.1 Once the playoffs have been completed, a set of final games will be played for the KMHA playoff championship.
16.2 First place in the playoffs will play fourth place in the playoffs, second place in the playoffs will play third place.
16.3 The winners of the games in Article 16.2 will play in a final game for the championship.
16.4 Fifth place will play sixth place in the playoffs for a fun final game.
16.5 If there is a tie in any of the playoff games of Article 16.2 or Article 16.3, a shootout will commence immediately and the end of the game. The rules for the shootout are as follows:
16.5.1 Each team selects three players for the shootout.
16.5.2 Both teams will go at the same time during the shootout.
16.5.3 If the shootout is tied after three shooters, additional rounds occur until a winner is declared.
16.5.4 A shooter can only go once, unless all other players have gone.
16.5.5 Timekeepers will keep track of who is shooting for each team.
16.6 The annual KMHA banquet will occur after the final game.