Denver North Hockey League

The DNHL is a youth hockey league that emphasizes skills development with a recreational component. For this reason it is imperative that each association will select teams on a parity basis. The players in the given age division will be placed on teams in a manner that distributes the talent between all teams in that association's age division teams evenly. Teams that are obviously stacked against the other teams in their respective association age division will be required to make adjustments as directed by the DNHL.

These rules are to be posted in the scorekeeper's box and in the referee's locker room at all rinks where DNHL games are played. The DNHL is made up of In-House teams from the Arvada Hockey Association (AHA), Big Bear Hockey Association, Hyland Hills Hockey Association (HHHA), Northern Colorado Youth Hockey (NCYH), and Summit Hockey Association. There are several age divisions represented; 8 Squirt teams (ages 9-10) non-checking, 11 Pee Wee teams (ages 11-12) checking, 11 Bantam teams (ages 13-14) checking and 16 Midget teams (ages 15-18) checking.

Games will be played at the APEX Center for all AHA home games, Big Bear Ice Arena for Big Bear home games, the Ice Centre at the Promenade for HHHA home games, the Epic Ice Arena and Greeley Ice Haus for NCYH home games, and Breckenridge Ice Arena for Summit home games. Players should have both their home and away jerseys with them at all games. The hosting teams will be responsible for scheduling all game officiating with 2 on ice officials, a score keeper, clock/scoreboard operator and their penalty box attendant.

League Blackout dates -

Thanksgiving -11/25 - 11/26
Christmas/New Years - 12/23 - 12/31, league games resume on 1/7/07
MLK Weekend -01/13 - 01/14
Presidents Day Weekend -02/17 - 02/18

2006-2007 DNHL Schedule

DNHL League Games Start - 9/30/06-10/1/06
DNHL League Games End - 2/10/07-2/11/07
Playoffs - 2/24/07-2/25/07
Championship Games - 3/4/07

Age Format: Squirts, Pee Wees and Bantams practice Saturday with games on Sunday. DNHL Midgets play games on Saturdays and Sundays with practices rotated in every few weeks.

Game Format: 5 Minute warm-up, 2 Minutes between periods, First and Second periods are to be 15 minutes long, running clock . Third period is to be 12 minutes stop clock. One-30 second timeout is allowed in 3 rd period per team.

Mercy Rule: In the event of a score differential of 4 or more goals, the timekeeper will revert to a running clock in the 3 rd period. The clock will remain running until the score differential is 3 or less at which point the stop clock rule will be reemployed. All coaches are required to utilize all appropriate means to prevent their team from running up the score on an opponent. Score differentials of 5 or more will be scrutinized by the DNHL governing body.

Curfew: When the remaining game time equals the time left to curfew, the clock shall be kept running.

Ranking: Team rankings are determined on a point basis. 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie. End of regular season team ranking will determine playoff seed position.

NOTE: For the 2006-2007 season, due to USA hockey's new standard of enforcement of penalties, DNHL will not award penalty points in the game standings.

League Rules:

Squirt division is non-checking and will use black pucks (per USA Hockey revised rules).
2 man Referee rule for all games at all levels except Midgets use 3 man Referee rule. CAHA game rules apply.
Game misconduct rules from the Denver North Hockey League apply.
DNHL will adhere to the USA hockey 15 penalties in one game rule. Both the Coach and the Team Captain will be ejected and sit the next game.
DNHL will adhere to the USA hockey individual 5 penalties in one game rule. The player will be ejected and sit the next game.
Fighting will result in an automatic 3 game suspension for all combatants.The second fighting offence will result in a 6 game suspension and a 3rd offence results in a 12-month suspension. All suspensions are carried over to the next season of play. Fighting involving last year eligible players in final game will result in game forfeiture by offending team (s).
Team Captains must wear a ”C” and be clearly marked on score sheet. This applies to rotating Captains as well.
All decisions of the governing board (Tyson Davis, John McKibbon, Mark Wildrick, & Jamie O'Leary) are final and not subject to appeal.
Scheduling of make-up games is the responsibility of the hosting team. Home ice team managers are responsible for providing the game results and score sheets to their association's DNHL coordinator or director. Each association DNHL coordinator is responsible for submitting the results and score sheets to the DNHL and handling statistics discrepancies or inquiries. DNHL contact info will be available through your Hockey director.

Last Updated November 11, 2006