Season Information:

Divisions: 

Weather/Cancelation:

1. Cold Weather Policy: Based on WCCO weather site WCCO Weather
   1. Will be determined one hour prior to game time
      • Contact the park site to check the status of the game.
   2.  11U, 13U, 15U and 18U
      • Games will be postponed when the temperature is -10° Fahrenheit or colder or the wind chill is -20° Fahrenheit or colder 
   3. Squirts
      • Games will be postponed when the temperature is 0° Fahrenheit or colder 
2. Ice Conditions:
   • Games will be postponed when the temperature rises sufficiently to cause thawing, excess standing water or frost “boils” resulting in unsafe skating conditions.

Minimum play Rules:

• Every player dressed and attending a game MUST play at the least the equivalent of one period in each game. 

Playing Rules 11U, 13U, 15U and 18U:

1. Coaches must wear a helmet while on ice during practices and games. NO EXCEPTIONS.
2. USA Hockey Rules shall govern all games with the following exceptions. 
3. Minimum Play Rule: Each player dressing for and attending a game shall be assured playing time. It is the head coach’s responsibility to ensure each player participates in the equivalent of one period each game. Intentional disregard of this rule may result in forfeit or coach discipline (up to or including suspension). This decision will be at the discretion of the League Director
   1. Coaches have the authority to withhold a player from competition for disciplinary reasons. They must inform the referee and opposing coach prior to the start of the game.
4. Protective Equipment: 
   1. New This Year: All players are required to wear a hockey neck guard.
   2. All players must wear a helmet with a full facemask. Helmets must be strapped at all times. 
   3. All players must wear an internal mouth guard attached to the facemask
   4. All Goalies must wear a helmet that protects their entire crown, front, temple and back of their head. They must also wear throat guards. 
   5. Players must wear gloves (padded ski gloves or thick gloves may be substituted for hockey gloves).
   6. Shin guards are required
   7. All stick ends must be protected 
5. Length of Periods – Indoor Games: Players do not leave the ice in-between periods 
   1. Periods 1 & 2: 12 Minutes Stop Time
   2. Period 3: Running Time: Officials will set the clock to the remaining time
      • Example: if your game started at 6pm and the 3rd period was set to start at 6:40pm, the game clock would be set at 20 minutes. 
      • Officials reserve the right to shorten the period if necessary 
6. Length of Periods – Outdoor Games: 
   1.  Periods 1, 2 & 3: 15 Minutes Running Time 
7. Tie Games:
   1. All regular season games ending in a tie shall remain a tie in the standings
   2. Overtime will be played in the Invitational Tournament when a winner must be decided for advancement.
8. Body Checking: 
   1.  A player cannot deliver a body check to any player while participating in any of the park board leagues. 
      • Examples: (USA Hockey Official Playing Rules: Points of Emphasis)
      • Makes deliberate physical contact with an opponent with no effort to legally play the puck. 
      • Uses overt hip, shoulder or arm contact with the opponent to physically force them off the puck. 
      • Physically impedes the progress of the opponent with hips, shoulders or torso without establishing legal body contact and having no intent of playing the puck.
9. Slap Shots: 
   1. Allowed in 13U and 15U.
10. Player Benches: 
    1. Only uniformed players and coaches with MPRB Coaches ID badge are allowed on the bench 
    2. Coaches badges will be issued by the park director.
       • 1st offense: warning to coach & fans
       • 2nd offense: minor penalty to offending team 
       • 3rd offense: the game will be forfeited 
11. Delayed Offsides: 13U, 15U and 18U Only
    1. The Official shall signal a delayed off-side if an attacking player precedes the puck into the Attacking Zone. The delayed off-side will be nullified if: 
       • The puck was to exit the attacking zone.
       • All attacking players are simultaneously clear of the attacking zone by making skate contact with the blue line, at the same instant.
    2.  If any of the following conditions are met, play shall be stopped and a face-off conducted according to sub-section (c) of the rule (USA Hockey Rulebook, pages 184- 185).
       • An attacking player touches the puck.
       • An attacking player attempts to gain possession of the puck or continues to apply pressure to the defending puck carrier.
       • The puck is shot directly on goal.
12. Penalties:

Playing Rules 9U:

1. Indoor Games:
   1. Games will be played on half the sheet of ice
   2. 4 players and 1 goalie will be allowed for each team.
2. Outdoor Games:
   1.  Games are played on the full sheet of ice
   2. 5 players and 1 goalie will be allowed for each team.
3. Coaches:
   1. Each team must have at least one coach on the ice for games with a maximum of two coaches allowed per team.
   2. Each “on ice” coach must be wearing a helmet.
   3. Coaches should meet before the game to determine how they want to keep time and call the game.
4. Officials:
   1. No officials will be assigned to fundamental games
5. Scores and Standings:
   1. No scores or standings will be kept for the fundamental league.

Playing Rules Girls 15U/18U 3 on 3:

1. Indoor games will either be played on a half sheet or the Parade Studio Rink. Outdoor games will be played at rinks based on availability. 
2. The winner of a captain’s coin toss will determine which goal to defend. Teams will switch goals after first half. 
3. All players must wear helmets and hockey skates. Protective equipment is optional but highly recommended.
4. No goalie equipment or goalie sticks allowed (no goalies).
5. All teams must have matching light and dark color jerseys.
6. There will be one official to monitor the play (scoring, time, puck reset, and arbiter of infractions. 
7. Penalties will be called for rule infractions. Penalties called by the referees are final. A minor penalty will result in a penalty shot awarded to the opposing team as well as possession of puck. 
8. Any major penalty, which includes any action that could possibly injure another player, will result in that player being ejected from the game and two penalty shots. The team that receives the ejection will play the remainder of the game without that player. League director will determine if a suspension is required.
9. Abuse of officials will be considered a major penalty. This includes yelling, swearing, or arguing about calls.
10. No checking. Checking may can result in a major penalty
11. No slap-shots. Slap-shots will be a minor penalty.
12. Players cannot fall or lay on the ice in an effort to protect the goal area. Such action will result in a minor penalty. 
13. Goaltending is not allowed. A player may not patrol, “camp out” or remain stationary in the crease area and act as a goaltender. A defender may deflect the puck in the crease area, but the defender must do so while continuing to move through the crease area. The crease area is defined as an imaginary box extending out four feet from the outside corners of the goal. 
14. Contacting the puck with the stick above the waist will result in a loss of possession.
15.  Raising the puck with a stick above the waist will result in a loss of possession
16. If a puck goes out of bounds, the last team to touch it loses possession. During restart, the defender must give their opponent 2-stick lengths of space.
17. There is no offsides or icing.
18. Goals must be scored from the attacking side of center ice.
19. Teams must give their opponents ½ ice after a goal is scored or an infraction takes place. 
20. Games will be composed of two 25-minute halves with a 5-minute halftime.
21. All games are running-time and substitutions can be made during play (“on-the fly”) or while a puck is being retrieved. There is no stoppage of play after a goal is scored, or after a penalty is awarded. It is up to each team to ensure that there are only three players on the ice.

General MPRB Hockey Information: