The Ontario Hockey Federation passed the following motion on February 16, 2008:

"All Minor Hockey team officials, volunteers and NCCP Instructors are required to wear CSA approved helmets during all on-ice activities. Trainers or any other team officials who enter the ice surface for the purpose of attending an injured player are exempt from this rule. Any person found to be in violation of this rule will receive a warning for the first offence, a two week suspension for a second offence, and a one year suspension for a third offence."

And a few reminders from last season: Travel: For ease of reference, teams participating in the league are from two distinct regions: Region A – Teams from Associations within the City of Greater Sudbury (Copper Cliff,
Nickel Centre , SMHA, Rayside, Valley East, Walden) AND Region B – Teams from Associations other than Region A (Blind River, Elliot Lake,
Espanola, Manitoulin, West Ferris & West Nipissing)
Starting in the 2005/2006 season, in the Novice, Minor Atom and Major Atom Divisions, all interlocking games between Region A and Region B are to be scheduled on weekend ice slots starting no earlier than 5:30pm on Fridays and no later than 5:00pm on Sundays.

GE56 Suspensions: Any player or coach receiving a second GE56 (game ejection) through the course of the season shall be suspended for one (1) additional League game. Any additional GE56's incurred will result in an additional League game suspension. Please refer to Appendix #1 of the NDMHL Rules and Regulations for further clarification.

League Meetings: It is now MANDATORY that at least one representative from each team competing in the League shall attend the Annual General Meeting (usually in May) and the scheduled meeting in September. A fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per team shall be levied against an Association that does not ensure that at least one representative from each team competing (or planning to compete) in the League attends these two meetings.

Contact Lists: Prior to August 1 of each year, each Association is to submit the Name, Address, Telephone Number, Fax Number and E-Mail Address of the Association President and the Association NDMHL Representative to the President of the League.

Rules & Regulations:

Section 4 General 5 h - League Coach’s suspension –

Minor Bantam, Major Bantam and Midget Divisions:

1. A suspension of one game will automatically be levied to a team’s Head Coach immediately following the first or second occurrence of that team incurring in excess of 60 penalty minutes in any Nickel District League regular or playoff game.

2. A suspension of two games will automatically be levied to a team’s Head Coach immediately following the third or subsequent occurrence of that team incurring in excess of 60 penalty minutes in any Nickel District League regular or playoff game.

Novice, Minor Atom, Major Atom, Minor Peewee and Major Peewee Divisions:

1. A suspension of one game will automatically be levied to a team’s Head Coach immediately following the first or second occurrence of that team incurring in excess of 40 penalty minutes in any Nickel District League regular or playoff game.

2. A suspension of two games will automatically be levied to a team’s Head Coach immediately following the third or subsequent occurrence of that team incurring in excess of 40 penalty minutes in any Nickel District League regular or playoff game.

Rationale:

The league has had to deal with teams in some Divisions that have been out of control on an ongoing basis, wherein an excessive amount of penalty minutes have resulted in league games. The Executive feels that the Coaching staffs, and particularly the Head Coaches of teams are responsible directly for not controlling the team in these situations.

The above 60 and 40 minute levels have come from much discussion and analysis and it is felt that the coaching staffs should more than be able to meet these guidelines very easily and control their players. For those coaches who cannot control their teams, suspensions will result.