Overview
Policy outlines the procedures and guidelines for rescheduling, cancellations, and forfeits within the League. Its purpose is to ensure a fair and consistent approach to handling game changes, while minimizing disruption to the schedule and maintaining the integrity of the competition. The policy aims to provide clear expectations for teams, coaches, parents and organizers regarding the circumstances under which games may be rescheduled or canceled, and the process for handling forfeits. By setting these standards, the League seeks to promote fairness, accountability, and effective communication across all levels of play.
9.26.1. Advance Rescheduling of Games:
.1 When a centre/zone wishes to change the date of a game for any reason other than an emergency, the change must be made a minimum of fourteen (14) days in advance of the scheduled date to a mutually agreeable date prior to that originally scheduled. The Home Team Ice Scheduler is responsible for posting the game change online within twenty-four (24) hours of the initial change.
9.26.2 Process for Rescheduling of Games:
.1 The decision to cancel or reschedule a game will be made as promptly as possible by contacting the Ice Scheduler for each association.
.2 If the two Ice Schedulers cannot mutually agree on a cancellation or reschedule date, the Chair of the Structure Committee must be contacted immediately. The Chair will assess the situation and determine the appropriate course of action or, at the Chair’s discretion, consult with the Structure Committee members for a collective decision.
.3 Only the Ice Schedulers and the Structure Committee have the authority to cancel or reschedule games.
9.26.3 Forfeits
.1 Forfeits or defaults of games will only occur if determined by the ALLIANCE Hockey Structure Committee.
.2 If a team fails to show up for a game due to circumstances beyond the control of either team, as determined by the ALLIANCE Hockey Structure Committee, the game will be rescheduled.
9.26.4. Cost of Canceling Games:
.1 Centres/Zones that cancel games on an ongoing basis within a seventy-two (72) hour period, for any reason (including section 10.3), except in cases of last-minute weather-related issues, may be held responsible for the costs associated with staging the game (e.g., ice time and game officials) if an agreement for rescheduling cannot be reached between the centres.
.2 If a game is canceled or cannot be played due to a facility issue (e.g., power outage, ice resurfacing issue, etc.) or injury, the Home Centre will be responsible for the costs associated with staging the game, including ice time and game officials. However, the Home Centre will not be responsible for any travel-related costs.
9.26.5 Cancellations Due to Weather Conditions:
.1 In the event of adverse weather conditions, the decision to postpone and reschedule a game will be made as promptly as possible.
.2 Games cannot be canceled more than ninety (90) minutes before the expected departure of a team to the host destination.
.3 Teams must be prepared to travel to each game until it has been "officially" canceled by their ice scheduler.
.4 The designated contact person in each Association is responsible for making decisions regarding inclement weather and/or coordinating with the ice schedulers.
.5 In the event of a conflict regarding the cancellation or rescheduling of a game, the Chair of the Structure Committee should be contacted immediately. The Chair will assess the situation, make a final decision, or, if needed, consult with the Structure Committee until a resolution is reached.
.6 If a game is canceled due to weather during League Playoffs or ALLIANCE Playoff/Playdown series and cannot be rescheduled in sequence, the series will continue with the next scheduled game in the signed contract. If necessary, the weather-affected game will be inserted into the schedule by the Ice Schedulers at the first available time. If this is not possible, the game will be played at the end of the series.
.7 In situations like the one above, the following individuals should be contacted in this order:
1. Association Ice Scheduler
2. Council Representative
3. Board Member of the Local Association
4. ALLIANCE Hockey Board Member Regional Representative
5. ALLIANCE Hockey Structure Committee Chair
6. ALLIANCE Hockey Structure Committee Vice-Chair
7. ALLIANCE Hockey Executive Director
.8 In the event that the ice schedulers do not make a decision to cancel, postpone, or reschedule a game due to adverse weather conditions, Team Members (e.g. players, parents, Team Officials) retain the responsibility to exercise their own best judgment and discretion in deciding whether they feel that they are able to safely travel to or from a scheduled game in light of any prevailing weather circumstances. The Member Association Ice Schedulers and ALLIANCE Hockey do not assume any responsibility or liability with respect to the safety of travel or road conditions. A decision by a Team Member (e.g. players, parents, Team Officials) to travel to a game constitutes an assumption of risk by that individual and a waiver of any claim or potential liability against the relevant Ice Schedulers and the ALLIANCE.
9.26.6 Failure to Show – Defaulting Intentionally without Just Cause:
.1 A team that intentionally fails to show up or does so without valid justification may forfeit the two (2) points associated with the default. The decision regarding this default will be made at the discretion of the Structure Committee.
.2 Any ALLIANCE team that defaults a game without just cause, as determined by the ALLIANCE, may be prohibited from further participation.
.3 The defaulting team may be required to pay costs and/or face suspension of the organization and its teams.
.4 Teams that qualify or register for ALLIANCE Hockey House League, House League Select, or BB-B Championships but choose not to participate will be fined the registration fee for the respective Championship.
9.26.7 Game Suspended Re: lack of players, injury, facility issues, etc.:
.1 If a game is suspended because one team cannot continue due to a lack of players, the game will be awarded to the non-offending team.
.2 If neither team can continue due to a lack of players, the game will be considered final and will stand as it was at the point of suspension.
.3 If a game is suspended where 30 or more minutes have been played, it will be considered final, as per Game Operations 9.16.1.1.
.4 If a game is suspended that results in the stoppage of the game prior to 30 minutes played as per Game Operations 9.16.1.1, the remaining time of the game shall be played at a subsequently scheduled time with the game beginning/resuming at the original point of stoppage, e.g. if a 10-10-15 game was stopped at the 3-minute mark of the 2nd period, the subsequently scheduled game will begin with 7-minutes on the clock, period two. The 7-minutes of period two will be played followed by the 15-minute third period to conclude the game. All rosters must remain the same, including primary players and Team Officials. Affiliated players may participate if they were in the game, but their presence will not be the reason for the game to be considered unplayable.