| 1. Preamble | The NGHA operates under the jurisdiction of the OWHA and adheres to the OWHA suspension policies as set out in the OWHA Handbook, including the Discipline Policy and Procedures set out in Part VII of the Handbook, and the Minimum Suspension Guidelines set annually by the OWHA Executive Committee: Discipline Policy and Procedures (Oct 24).pdf (rampinteractive.com) Ontario Women's Hockey Association : Website by RAMP InterActive (owha.on.ca) Competitive and House League Coaches should be knowledgeable of the OWHA policies and procedures for suspensions. The guidance below is intended to clarify the main steps that must be taken by team officials when a suspend-able action occurs by a player or team official. Please note: The OWHA will not review video to overrule an official’s call. |
| 2. Offending Team Responsible For Reporting The Suspension Immediately By Email | It is the responsibility of the offending team to report suspendable offences (GM, GRM, and MP penalties) immediately by email. Note: Player misconducts (ex. M20, M21) are also to be reported regardless of whether or not they occurred in the last ten minutes of the game. If a suspend-able offence occurs during an OWHA-sanctioned game, the OWHA requires that all suspensions must be reported by email within 24 hours of game completion and prior to the next game (whichever occurs first) regardless of game type (e.g. league, playdown exhibition, tournament) and within or outside Ontario. The reporting email goes to: OWHA: stats@owha.on.ca NGHA: NGHAsuspension@gmail.com Email contents must include: 1. Copy of electronic game sheet, or scanned copy of paper gamesheet (yellow or pink copy), preferably in pdf (cellphone photo is acceptable provided all sections of the gamesheet are legible) 2. Player name and # or coach name incurring the suspend-able penalty 3. Suspension code as recorded on gamesheet 4. Game date and team |
| 3. Written Reporting by On-ice Officials | In addition to the email reporting above in Section 2, there are procedures for the on-ice Officials to provide a written report to the OWHA by completing the back side of the white game sheet: a) Exhibition Games When a suspendable offence has been assessed, the on-ice Official is required to complete reporting on the back of the white copy of the game sheet and submit it directly to the OWHA. Beginning in the 2019 season, officials are responsible for transmitting these reports to the OWHA. b) Tournament Games As per the OWHA Handbook, tournament organizers are responsible for ensuring that the white copy of the game sheet, with the Officials report on the back, is sent to the OWHA. c) Competitive Team Playdowns When a suspendable offence has been assessed for a Playdown game, the offending team is responsible for ensuring a copy of the electronic gamesheet is sent to the OWHA (stats@owha.on.ca) and NGHA (NGHAsuspension@gmail.com) by email. d) House League Games When a suspend-able offence has been assessed for a House league game (regular season or playoff), the offending team is responsible for ensuring that clear and legible copies of both sides of the white copy of the game sheet are sent to the OWHA (stats@owha.on.ca) and NGHA (NGHAsuspension@gmail.com) by email. It is not necessary to send the original hard-copy game sheet by regular mail. |
| 4. Serving a Suspension - Reporting | The offending team is also required to send copies of game sheets for each game a player sits out to serve a suspension. Note that exhibition games do not count towards games served. The game sheet will be clearly marked showing SUSPENSION game X of Y. The game sheet must not be signed by the suspended person and the player’s name should not be crossed out. The reporting email goes to: OWHA: stats@owha.on.ca NGHA: NGHAsuspension@gmail.com Email contents must clearly detail the suspension game # being served, and include: 1. Scanned copy of electronic or paper gamesheet, preferably in pdf (cellphone photo is acceptable provided all sections of the gamesheet are legible) 2. Player name and # or coach name incurring the suspend- able penalty 3. Game date and team Only the electronic copy is required by the OWHA. |
| 5. Failure to Report a Suspension and Games Served | Failure to report within the timeline guidelines will result in the following:
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| 6. Return to Play | A suspension is not considered to have been served until copies of all game sheets for games served are in the possession of the OWHA (stats@owha.on.ca), and the NGHA (NGHAsuspension@gmail.com). When an NGHA-imposed suspension results in a hearing having to be held, the suspended person cannot return to play until they have attended the hearing and clearance to return to play has been granted by the NGHA Discipline Chair (Vice-President of Operations). |
| Questions | Contact the VP Operations (NGHAVPOps@gmail.com) or the Director, Policy, Risk and Safety (NGHApolicy@gmail.com) |
Updated: May 17, 2022
