This season, the Board of the NCWHL has updated policies surrounding penalties and supplemental disciplinary action.

  • We added a Progressive Suspension Policy.  Learn More >
  • We amended our rules to include that any penalty other than a minor will result in a game misconduct.  Learn More >
  • We added the NCWHL Code of Responsibility.  Learn More >

Progressive Suspension Policy

For violations of the NCWHL Code of Responsibility, players are subject to League discipline as summarized below:

  • First offense: warning
  • Second offense: one game suspension
  • Third offense: three game suspension
  • Additional offense: expulsion

For particularly egregious violations, the Board reserves the right to employ stricter discipline than the above progression dictates. These violations, whether penalized on-ice or not, are subject to interpretation by the League’s governing body, as outlined by USA Hockey Rules.

This progression written to address those players who habitually ignore issued warnings to adjust their gameplay to that which is acceptable in our League and as a result, put other players in dangerous situations. In the past, these players have received numerous warnings; some received a suspension on the first offense. By offense, we are referring to anything which may or may not have been penalized on-ice. We needed a policy that was clear-cut on what the repercussions are when you don’t play the way this League was intended to play.

NCWHL Code of Responsibility

(AKA, the way we expect players to conduct themselves during game situations)

Players are responsible not only for their actions on the ice, but also for being aware of the other players on the ice and being able to act in a responsible manner for the safety of all players.

Repeated violations of the standard of play in the NCWHL will be reviewed by the Board and could be subject to suspension. Repeated violations after suspensions and additional Board review could result in expulsion from the NCWHL.

Message from the VP:

The Breakdown: What this really means has 2 parts. First, there is a responsibility on the part of the player initiating the play. You are responsible for how you play and whether your actions are intimidating or aggressive. If you are going for a puck and there are 9 players in between you and the puck, it might not be a great idea to plow through them all just to get to the puck. If you are still learning how to stop, don’t use other players as your cushion. Skate with your head up so you don’t run into other players accidentally (which is really a good hockey play anyway – the skating with your head up thing). It really doesn’t matter if you get a penalty on the play or not. You are still responsible for how you play.

The second part to this Code is the receiving end of the play. When you have a player on the ice with you that is known to use other players as bowling pins, try to avoid putting yourself in a vulnerable position when they are on the ice with you. When you see someone bearing down on you and you know they don’t like to (or can’t) stop, try not to turn your back to them and skate out of their path to protect yourself. We fully recognize that the onus should be on those players to address dangerous playing styles, but we all need to learn to protect ourselves because while checking is not allowed in our League, we are all still knowingly engaged in a physical, contact sport.

As players in this League, we should all value each other and recognize that we all need to go to work the next day with all our body parts functioning. This is in our waivers when you sign up to play. When you agree to play in the NCWHL, you agree to respect all players on the ice, including yourself.