Overview

• Ages: 7-18 (9U-18U leagues)
• Winter: December- March
• December: practices begin
• January - March: weekly games begin
• February - March: Metro tournament
• Games and Practices
• Monday - Thursday
• Saturday

Divisions

• Open: all children welcome
• Girls: specifically for girls
• 9U - 18U offered
• 5v5 with goalie
• 3v3 w/o goalie
• Age divisions
• 9U
• Open
• 11U
• Open
• Girls
• 13U
• Open
• Girls
• 15U
• Open
• Girls
• 18U
• Open
• Girls (3v3)

Resources

• Youth Sports Homepage
• Youth Sports FAQ
• ActiveNet Registration
• Youth Sports Guidelines
  

Registration

• Registration opens in October
• Check out ActiveNet to see options and register

Youth Program Discount Fees Available

• All youth activity fees are fully discountable for Minneapolis residents
• See discount qualifications here

Roster rules

• Maximum roster
• 20 players (5v5)
• 12 Players (3v3)
• Maximum of four non-Minneapolis residents per roster

Play rules

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

Important Dates

• December 1: Practices begin
• January 2: Games begin
• February 14: Tournament declarations due
• Teams that participate in all regular season games will be eligible for post season play. No call/No Show to regular season games will result in ineligibility for the post season. Multiple reported (excused) absences to regular scheduled games will be subject to the league director decision regarding post season participation. 

Policies and Post Season Play

• Cold Weather Policy
• Based on WCCO Weather
• Will be determined one-hour prior to game
• Contact park site to check game status
• 11U-18U- Games will be postponed when the temperature is -10° Fahrenheit or colder or the wind chill is -20° Fahrenheit or colder 
• 9U- Games will be postponed when the temperature is 0° Fahrenheit or colder 
• 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
• Additional Costs
• The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Youth Hockey league plays games for all leagues at Parade Ice Garden and Northeast Ice Arena
• Facility rental fees are assessed to the league and shared with the teams. A bill will sent to either the recreation center or council at the end of the season 

League rules

Governing Body

• USA Hockey

MPRB Modifications

• Coaches must wear a helmet while on ice during practices and games. No exceptions.
• Protective Equipment
• All players must wear a helmet with a full facemask. Helmets must be strapped at all times.
• All players must wear an internal mouth guard attached to the facemask
• All Goalies must wear a helmet that protects their entire crown, front, temple and back of their head. They must also wear throat guards.
• Players must wear gloves (padded ski gloves or thick gloves may be substituted for hockey gloves)
• Shin guards are required
• All stick ends must be protected
• Length of Periods
• Indoor games
• Players do not leave the ice in-between periods 
• First and second periods: 12 minute stop time
• Third period: Running time- official will set the clock to the remaining time
• Officials reserve the right to shorten periods as necessary
• Outdoor games
• All periods: 15 minute running time
• Tie games
• All regular season games ending in a tie shall remain a tie in the standings
• Overtime will be played in the Invitational Tournament when a winner must be decided for advancement
• Body Checking
• A player cannot deliver a body check to any player while participating in any MPRB leagues
• Point of emphasis 1: Makes deliberate physical contact with an opponent with no effort to legally play the puck
• Point of emphasis 2: Uses overt hip, shoulder or arm contact with the opponent to physically force them off the puck
• Point of emphasis 3: 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
• Officials will make a penalty call based on the severity of the check
• Slap Shots
• Allowed in 13U and up
• Player Benches
• Only uniformed players and coaches with MPRB Coaches ID badge are allowed on the bench 
• Coaches badges will be issued by the park director
• First offense: warning to coaches and fans
• Second offense: minor penalty to offending team
• Third offense: game will be forfeited by offending team
• Offsides
• 9U and 11U: Automatic off sides
• 13U and up: Delayed off sides
• Penalties

All levels

• Indoor Major- four minutes
• Outdoor Major- six minues
• Indoor Misconduct- eight minutes
• Outdoor Misconduct- nine minutes

11U

• Indoor Minor- one minute
• Outdoor Minor- two minutes

13U

• Indoor minor- 1.5 minutes
• Outdoor minor- 2.5 minutes

15U and 18U

• Indoor minor: two minutes
• Outdoor minor- three minutes

Significant Penalties & Infractions

• Game misconduct: out for the remainder of the game
• Game disqualification: out for remainder of the game and the next scheduled game
• Officials are required to report all disqualification penalties to the league director
• Fighting (major penalty) and/or Intent to Injure
• First offense- out for remainder of the game and the next three games
• Second offense- suspended for the remainder of the season

Fundamental (9U) Modifications

• Indoor
• Games will be played on a half sheet of ice
• Four players and one goalie will play for each team
• Outdoor
• Games are played on a full sheet of ice
• Five Players and one goalie will play for each team
• Coaches
• Each team must have at least one coach on the ice for games with a maximum of two coaches allowed per team
• Each "on-ice" coach must wear a helmet
• Coaches should meet before the game to determine how they want to keep time and call the game
• Officials
• No officials will be assigned to fundamental games
• Scores and Standings
• No scores or standings will be kept for the fundamental league

• 3v3 Modifications
• Goalies may play in a full net or a net can be “minded” as a reduced net by a goalie board, a pond hockey goal or other restricted scoring approach
• The “other” net approach may be used when no goalie is available and no goalie board or pond hockey goal is available. As examples, this could be bags placed in the net as obstacles, a small mite net, shoes as targets, or any creative approach agreeable to both coaches. 
• When a goalie board or other reduced net is used, defensive players may not act as a goalie. This is as for pond hockey rules (below). Referees may award a score if a player blocks a shot near the goal. 
• 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. 
• When playing with 3x3 or 4x4 skaters, minor penalties will result in a penalty shot. For a reduced net, players will take the shot while standing at the blue line. Major penalties result in a game misconduct for the offender and a penalty shot. 
• Offsides will not be enforced on smaller rinks
• When a stoppage of play would result in a face-off in offensive or defensive zone, the offensive players will leave the offensive zone. A whistle will restart play with the defensive team playing the puck behind the goal line