League Rules
Revised 1/1/2007

  1. Games are officiated based upon USA Hockey Rules unless otherwise specified below.
  2. All games begin promptly at 6:30 am.
  3. No Checking is allowed. Checking will result in a minor penalty. Players must "play the puck, not the man".
  4. Full Slapshot is allowed.
  5. All players are required to wear helmets with fully fastened chinstraps. If any player loses a helmet, play will be stopped immediately.
  6. Icing is called from behind the center ice red line. The center ice red line is not used for determining two-line offsides.
  7. Each game shall consist of 3 running periods of 19 minutes in length. Referee has option of calling delay of game penalty and adding time to game clock if warranted.
  8. Each team is allowed one time out per game, for one minute. This stops the clock.
  9. Minor penalties are 2:00 minutes in length. Any player who receives 4 total penalties in one game will be deemed ineligible to play for the remainder of that game.
  10. Any player who is assessed a Fighting or Game Misconduct penalty will be ejected and suspended for one additional league game. A second Fighting or game Misconduct in the same season will result in a suspension for the remainder of that season. All suspensions are final and may not be appealed.
  11. Each team will elect a team captain who alone will have the privilege of discussing with the Referee any question relating to the interpretation of the rules, which may arise during a game.
  12. All Referee's decisions are final. In accordance with USA Hockey Rule 601, any player disputing a Referee's decision beyond reason will be ejected for the remainder of the game.
  13. Any jousting, roughing, pushing etc. after a whistle will result in a penalty for Roughing and review by AMHL Management for further discipline. Strictly enforced.
  14. Overtime will consist of one 5-minute running time "sudden death" period. Teams play 3 on 3 unless a penalty is called or carried over into overtime, in which case, teams will play 4 on 3. At the conclusion of the power play, teams play 4 on 4 until next stoppage. 3-on-3 play will then resume. If no goals are scored in OT, the game will end in a tie, except during playoffs when a shoot-out will determine the winner.
  15. Playoff Seeds. Teams are ranked by regular season point total. In the event of a tie, tiebreakers are (in order): most wins, head to head play record, head to head goal differential, and total goal differential.
  16. If a goalie is absent, and a shooter-tutor is used in one net, the "live" goalie will defend his/her own team's net for the final 9:30 of period 2, and all of period 3.
  17. Playoff Format: All four teams make the playoffs. In the semi-finals, Seed 1 plays Seed 4 with the 1st place team receiving an automatic 1 goal lead at the start of the game, and Seed 2 plays Seed 3.
  18. Inappropriate, offensive, or discriminatory behavior while participating in AMHL events may result in suspension at the discretion of AMHL management.
  19. Roster spots in the AMHL are non-transferable.
  20. By signing a registration form/waiver, players agree to all above rules.