Operating Rules

APAC Operating Rules 2024-25

TEAM ELIGIBILITY

Team rosters must be on file with the APAC Commissioner prior to any member being permitted to play in any APAC games. Upon receipt of the USA Hockey Roster, each team is eligible for conference play. If it is determined that any member team is using an ineligible player, all games in which said player participated will be forfeited and recorded as a 1-0 loss to the offending team. The APAC Commissioner and Athletic Directors will review the actions of the member’s personnel for possible disciplinary action. Thirty (30) players may appear on the USAH Roster. A maximum of 21 players, of which not more than 18 are skaters, shall be permitted to play in the game. Teams are permitted to dress 3 goaltenders.

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

A player may not be 19 years of age or older before July 1 prior to the current
A player in the 8th grade or lower is not
A player is eligible for a period of 8 regular semesters after the commencement of 9th grade or upon completion of the course work of the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades inclusive, whichever is the less.
All players must attend the school for which they play and be on the school’s official USA Hockey Roster.
No player who possesses a High School diploma will be eligible to
Home/Cyber School players are not eligible to If a school must transition to virtual learning for any reason, that will not impact a school’s eligibility.
Grade 10 or 11 students who transfer into an APAC member school prior to the given school year’s official start date are eligible for participation without penalty. Students entering grades 10 or 11 that transfer into an APAC member school after the school’s official start date, are not eligible for participation in games (APAC or non-conference) for a period of 30 days after their official enrollment date at the new school. Students transferring into grade 12 are not eligible for participation unless approved by the commissioner.
When a transfer student enrolls (into grades 10, 11, or 12) at an APAC member school, the school must submit the required transfer eligibility form to the commissioner, to approve student participation.
Questions about player eligibility rules are to be directed to the If a team uses a player that is not in compliance with the APAC Player Eligibility Rules, the games that the player participated in will be recorded as a 1-0 forfeit loss.

Note: The APAC Operating Rules relate to APAC competition. Some APAC teams also strive to compete in the Flyers Cup Tournament, an invitational tournament hosted annually by the Flyers Cup Committee. Flyers Cup Tournament team and player eligibilities are defined by the Flyers Cup Committee and may differ significantly from APAC team and player eligibility rules.

PLAYOFF ELIGIBILITY

A player must be on the USAH Roster to compete in the conference playoffs and must have played in at least 10 regular season games (Varsity, JV, or a combination) against other APAC teams or previously designated non-conference opponents. Consideration for a player who may have been ill or injured for a portion of the season, thus not meeting the 10-game requirement, will be given if written request is submitted to the APAC Commissioner and approved prior to the start of conference playoffs.

PLAYING RULES

USAH Rules Apply and as modified herein regarding Fighting, Major and Match Penalties: Any player receiving a fighting major under rule 615 Fighting, or any other Major penalty that requires a game misconduct, will be accessed a five (5) minute major penalty, a game misconduct penalty, and a one (1) game suspension in accordance with USA Hockey rules. For the second fighting major or any other Major penalty that requires a game misconduct in the same season, the player will receive a three-game suspension. Should a player receive a third fighting major or any other Major penalty that requires a game misconduct in the same season, the player will be removed from the APAC for remainder of the season with a minimum of a five (5) game suspension to be served on a carry-over basis. Match Penalties: A player or Team Official incurring a Match penalty in an APAC game or any other High School game, shall be suspended from representing their school in games and participating in practices until the case has been dealt with by the Atlantic District and APAC Commissioner. Note: The Referee is required to report all Match penalties and the surrounding circumstances to the proper authorities immediately following the game in which they occur.

APAC Head Coaches are required to report any Fighting, Major, or Match Penalties to the Commissioner and their Athletic Director within 24 hours after game completion.

Suspended players must be checked off as suspended in Gamesheet. Until this requirement is met, the individual will be ineligible for any further participation in any scheduled games. Suspended players may not be replaced on the roster by another player. A suspension earned in an APAC game must be served in the next scheduled APAC game(s). If the next scheduled game is a non-conference game, per USAH Rules, the suspended player must sit that game as well. A suspension earned in a Varsity Game must be served in a Varsity Game and vice versa for Junior Varsity.

It is the responsibility of the APAC member to ensure that suspensions are served. Suspended players or coaches are considered ineligible. If a team is found to be using a suspended player or coach in a game, that game will be declared a forfeit. A player who participates in a game while under suspension will be assessed an additional one game suspension. A coach who participates in a game while suspended or allows a player to participate in a game while the player is under suspension will be assessed an additional two game suspension for each instance.

GAME MANAGEMENT

Level	Periods	Minor	Major	Misconduct	Ice Cut	OT/Shootout
Varsity	17 Min	2 Min	5 Min	10 Min	Yes	Yes

Warm-up (5 Min), Starting Line-ups, National Anthem, Post Game Handshake
Officials (4-man system)

Level	Periods	Minor	Major	Misconduct	Ice Cut	OT/Shootout
JV	17 Min	2 Min	5 Min	10 Min	Optional	No

Warm-up (5 Min), Post Game Handshake
Officials (2-man system)

Varsity Overtime/Shootout & JV Playoff Procedures

If needed, a single 5-minute 3v3 “Sudden Victory” overtime will be Long Change.
If still tied, a 3 Player Shootout (single round) will take place with teams submitting their list of 3 shooters prior to the SO. Home Team has the choice of shooting 1^st or 2^nd
If still tied, the Shootout moves to a 1 1 “Sudden Victory” Shootout until a winner is determined.
- Teams must use 10 different shooters before they can repeat a shooter.

Home Team is Responsible for

Payment of Officials
- Varsity 4 Man System: $350 per game (Referees: $95 x 2 and Linesmen $80 x 2)
- JV 2 Man System: $150 per game ($75 per Official)
- Assignor Fee: $5 per game (Varsity and JV)
Providing iPad and scoring live in Gamesheet
Providing/payment of Athletic Trainor and Scorekeeper
Providing pucks for warm-ups
Livestreaming games when possible

VARSITY STANDINGS

Conference standings will be determined using the below Point System

3 Points for Regulation win
2 Points for an OT/Shootout win
1 Point for an OT/Shootout loss
0 Point for a loss

JUNIOR VARSITY STANDINGS

Conference standings will be determined using the below Point System

2 Points for a Win
1 Point for a Tie
0 Point for a loss

Tie Break Procedure to determine placement in Standings

Total Points
Head-to-Head
Total Wins
Goal Differential (Goals “For” minus Goals “Against”)

SCHEDULING

Regular Season: Varsity (play each other 2x) and Junior Varsity (play each other 3x)
Conference games may begin on November 1^st
APAC Founders Cup 4v5 Play-in the week of February 10^th
APAC Founders Cup Semi Finals February 19^th (HGP turn to host). 1v4, 2v3
APAC Founders Cup Championship is week of February 24^th. The highest remaining seed has the right to host.
Junior Varsity semi-finals week of February 3^rd. 1v4, 2v3
Junior Varsity Championship week of February 10^th. The highest remaining seed has the right to

GAME CANCELLATION AND FORFEITS

APAC member schools will make every effort to play games as scheduled and published on the APAC website master schedule. The APAC website schedule is the official schedule https://www.theapac.org/ If an APAC member school requests to cancel a game within a 72-hour period, prior to the scheduled start date/time, that school must have permission from the APAC Commissioner Review Committee. If the Committee deems the reason for cancellation to be unacceptable, the game must be played as scheduled or, result in a 1-0 forfeit.

JERSEY COLORS

The Home Team wears a light jersey color and Away Team wears a dark jersey color.

VARSITY GAME ADMISSION CHARGE

A gate charge of $5.00 may be collected for designated APAC Varsity games. Children ages 11 and under are free.

COACHING ACCREDITATION

All APAC Coaches must be accredited at the proper level, have background checks as required by their respective schools, and per the by-laws set forth by the AAHA. All Coaches must have completed all modules required by USAH and fulfilled all other USAH & AAHA requirements.

ASSIGNOR OF OFFICIALS

The APAC Assignor of Officials will act as a liaison between the officiating community and our conference. The appointed position will have the duties of handling all communication and feedback from the Commissioner and Coaches regarding specific officials, handling all official related complaints, and negotiating official’s fees.

VARSITY CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY AND APAC ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS

The APAC Champions will receive the Founders Cup to display at their school. An All-Conference 1^st and 2^nd Team will be named at the conclusion of the season. Each APAC member school will nominate a maximum of six players from their team with a brief description of why they deserve All Conference recognition (3 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 1 Goalie). Schools are not required to use all six spots. The APAC Commissioner will email a ballot of the nominations by position (with pertinent stats/player attributes) to all Head Coaches for voting. Head Coaches may not vote for their own players. The 3 Forwards with the highest totals will be the All-Conference 1^st team, with the next 3 forwards being on the 2^nd team. The same procedure will be used for Defensemen (2) and Goalies (1).