primer for new teams

Primer for new teams wanting to participate in the Good Times Hockey League of the Arts

(A member of the Hockey Association of the Arts)

It is our priority to encourage the ideals we were founded on of sportsmanship, fun, safety, camaraderie, collaboration, cooperation, community, creativity, imagination, artistic expression, social involvement/awareness/activism, inclusion, fairness, communication, responsibility, empathy and participation among our members. Every team and player must promote them. We expect players and teams to take responsibility for their actions on the ice. We expect a common respect for everyone on the ice. We realize that on-ice confrontations always start from the actions of an opposing player. It is important to acknowledge that offenses are often accidental, but no matter what, retaliation is even more inexcusable and will often escalate the situation. A sincere apology after fouling someone is necessary.

Referees are present to supervise official games, and it is important to accept that they cannot see the entire surface of play and may not be able to witness every infraction. Players’ interaction should be no different in an official game then in a pick-up game without referees.

The team is the primary authority in maintaining discipline and promoting these ideals amongst its players. Specifically, we feel fighting, roughing, verbal abuse and harmful stick-work are not part of the game. We do not have any patience for it and it is not welcome. It is the team’s responsibility to filter out all of these unacceptable elements by not allowing certain players to play and preventing any on-ice confrontations.

If there are any issues with missed infractions or consistent unsportsmanlike behaviour from specific opposing players, it must be indicated to your own captain, who can then discuss it further with the referees and/or opposing captains during the game. After the game, the team can discuss issues with league officials and opposing team captains and managers to increase understanding within the framework of the league’s values and mission. Finally, every team must demand discipline from their own players before they request more from others.

You can read all the GTHLA rules on our website, www.goodtimes.exclaimhockey.ca. Our rules include some of the following stipulations:

1. We play without the centre red line. Automatic Icing is called from behind the blue line.

2. There is no intentional body contact permitted.

3. If a team is short-handed on the ice due to a penalty, they can only substitute when the puck is in play or the clock is stopped.

4. Half or full visors or cages are mandatory

5. Each Player is only permitted to receive up to 4 minutes in penalties in a game (10 minute misconducts are equivalent to a 2 minute penalty for the purpose of this rule). If they receive more, they are ejected from the game and will be reviewed to assess whether more discipline is warranted. If a player is ejected for too many minor penalties, the opposing team will be rewarded a penalty shot instead of the team with the infraction having a player serve the 2 minute penalty in the penalty box.

6. If a team gets more than 30 minutes of penalties in one game, the team is suspended indefinitely from any GTHLA play. If the opposing team in that game has less than half the team penalties of the team with more than 30 minutes of penalties, the opposing team will only have a 1/3 of their team penalty minutes from that game count toward their qualification requirements.

2008 Exclaim! Hockey Summit of the Arts Participation Requirements

The Exclaim! Hockey Summit of the Arts is the annual tournament and festival for the membership of the HAA. To be eligible to participate in the event, hockey teams within a 150 km radius of Toronto must be members of the Good Times Hockey League of the Arts.

Teams that are outside of a 150 km radius of Toronto, but are within 150 km radius of Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Peterborough, Guelph, St. Catharines, London, Sudbury, Edmonton or Vancouver must play at least 1 exhibition game with a HAA team from the city or cities they’re close to before they apply .

Joining the Good Times Hockey League of the Arts

The league is focused in south central Ontario, spanning from Peterborough to Guelph to St. Catharines, including Toronto. We welcome any team that shares our ideals and is based in this vicinity. A team can apply to become a member or simply just enjoy playing single exhibition games at a time. Here are the steps to go through to play...

Step 1: Contact us to set up an exhibition game against one of our member teams or other teams participating in our scheduling. Please contact us through gthlamembership@hockeyaa.net. Single exhibition games cost $180 + GST ($190.80), we must receive payment before we can schedule. Payment details are below. Games are generally scheduled 2 months ahead.

Teams who don’t get any penalties in their first game with us are encouraged to book another 3 exhibition games. Teams who only get one penalty in their first two games with us are encouraged to book another 2 exhibition games. Teams who surpass these limits can only book single exhibition games and must complete each game in good standing before continuing to book another game.

Step 2: After a team has completed 4 single exhibition games without any incidents, including a maximum of 20 minutes in team penalties over their last 4 games, they are invited to apply to join the league. To apply to join, the team must play another four exhibition games without incident, including a maximum of 20 minutes in team penalties, and exemplify why their team would be a positive addition to our membership.

Step 3: After a team has successfully completed their application to join they are invited to become a member of the league as an Exhibition Team Member. You can only register after June and before February.

Step 4: After a team has completed a season as an Exhibition Team Member with a maximum of 40 team penalty minutes (in their last 8 games) and has attended all the General Managers' meetings over the season, they are invited to join the league as a Comprehensive Member.

Payment: The league must receive fee payment before we can schedule any games. The Fees listed below are based on Toronto team fees and can be customized for teams outside the Greater Toronto area. You can email a money transfer to tom@hockeyaa.net or mail payment to:

GTHLA
Dundas-Dovercourt Postal Outlet
PO Box 16010
Toronto, ON
M6J 3W2

Cheques and money orders should be made out to "GTHLA" or "Good Times Hockey". (GST# 844871160)


For the 2007-2008 Season

Single Exhibition Game $180 plus GST ($190.80)

This includes:

• 1 exhibition game
• Players may participate with the league sponsored Wanderers**
• Eligible to participate in our GTHLAKids program
• Access to coach for team practices or clinics on demand
• Social Events
• Website
• A network of like minded hockey and Arts enthusiasts
• Collective philanthropy efforts and building further social awareness

Applying to be Member $825 plus GST ($874.50)

This includes:

• 4 exhibition games (1 game must be out of the Greater Toronto area, if there is one available)
• Eligible to participate in our GTHLAKids program
• Monthly league subsidized “Commissioner’s open pick-up games”.
• Players may participate with the league sponsored Wanderers**
• Access to coach for team practices or clinics on demand
• Social Events
• Website
• A network of like minded hockey and Arts enthusiasts
• Collective philanthropy efforts and building further social awareness

Semi-Exhibition Membership $1615 plus GST ($1,722.50)

This includes:

• 8 exhibition games (Toronto teams must travel out of town for 2 games, this may end up being only 1 for some teams)
• Eligible to have player representation in 2 “No-Star” games
• Eligible to participate in our GTHLAKids program
• Monthly league subsidized “Commissioner’s open pick-up games”.
• Eligibility to apply for the 2008 Exclaim! Hockey Summit of the Arts and extended access to the HAA network of tournaments and travel exhibition games
• Players can participate in the Wintermingle Series.
• Players may participate with the league sponsored team – the Wanderers
• Access to coach for team practices or clinics
• Social Events
• Website
• A network of like minded hockey and Arts enthusiasts
• Collective philanthropy efforts and building further social awareness

Mandatory

• One team member at each GM meeting
• Team must host a social event for the entire league at anytime during the season.

Optional

• Committee meetings

All team members are subject to losing membership privileges and membership if they grossly violate rules or the spirit of the GTHLA

The Wanderers are a league sponsored team who play exhibition games within the league's schedule and travel outside of Southern Ontario for tournaments and exhibition games. The team is open to any one within our membership.

Games may take place Mon-Thurs between 7 & 10PM; Fri between 7 & 11PM; Sat between 12 & 11PM; Sun 12 & 10PM anywhere in Greater Toronto. Currently, most games take place at McCormick and Ted Reeve Arenas on Saturday nights. Generally, games are booked two months ahead.

These regulations are subject to change pending on stipulations our members want.

HAA Mission Statement

The H.A.A. is an international organization with a common interest in hockey, the Arts and community involvement. Inspired by the amateur roots of the game, the H.A.A. was founded on the ideals of sportsmanship, fun, safety, camaraderie, collaboration, cooperation, community, creativity, imagination, artistic expression, social involvement/awareness/activism, inclusion, fairness, communication, responsibility, empathy and participation. The H.A.A. is a forum for participating in hockey and sharing imagination upon which its members can build collaboration to strengthen community and initiate positive social change. Leagues, clubs and players can liaise with others through the association and have their games publicised and recorded.

www.goodtimes.exclaimhockey.ca