Important Recap of Legislative Rule Changes from Annual Meeting
Be aware of all the key changes for the upcoming season
Massachusetts Hockey's Board of Directors met on Sunday, June 16, 2019 for the Annual Meeting in Plymouth, Mass.
A few key rule changes were presented, voted on and approved during the Annual Meeting.
See below:
- An election for USA Hockey Section Representatives, the requirements to serve those positions and the position will serve for terms of 3 years.
- Five (5) Directors shall be elected annually from each of the following twelve (12) Districts/Division. A quorum of one-third of the associations/programs of the District/Division shall constitute a quorum at meetings of the Districts/Divisions when elections are held.
- District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5, District 6, District 7, District 8, District 9, District 10, Girls'/Women Division & Club Division.
- Nominating Committee shall determine whether or not any potential candidate is eligible to be placed on the official ballot pursuant to the bylaws of the corporation and any applicable statutes. One week prior to the March meeting, the Nominating Committee shall notify the Board of Directors of the names of those who it intends to list on the official ballot and those, if any, deemed not qualified, unless the aspiring candidate has withdrawn his/her name from consideration.
- Minor penalty time for games with a period length of over 12 minute to 2 minutes for minor penalties, 5 minutes for major penalties and 10 minutes for misconducts. Change the minor penalty time for games with a period length of over 12 minutes, or less, to 1 minute and 30 seconds for minor penalties, 4 minutes for major penalties and 6 minutes for misconducts.
| Period Length | Minor | Major | Misconduct |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 minutes or less | 1:30 | 4:00 | 6:00 |
| over 12 minutes | 2:00 | 5:00 | 10:00 |
During the Sunday morning meeting elections for open Massachusetts Hockey Board positions were held. To review, click here.
To review the listed members for the 2019-2020 Massachusetts Hockey Board of Directors, click here.
To review 2018-2019 Board of Director Meeting Minutes and Committee Reports, click here.
The next 2019-2020 Massachusetts Hockey Board of Directors meeting will be held on Monday, September 9, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. at Sheraton Needham Hotel, 100 Cabot St, Needham, MA 02494.
2019 USA Hockey Annual Congress Key Points
Click here to see all that you need to know from the 2019 USA Hockey Annual Congress.
2019 Mass Hockey Annual Meeting Wrap Up
Click here to read more about the entire 2019 Annual Meeting.
2019 Legislative Proposals Result Synopsis:
| PROPOSAL TITLE | ANNUAL GUIDE | DESCRIPTION | STATUS | SUBMITTED BY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MA Hockey Bylaws Article VII | Bylaws; Nomination and Elections | An election for USA Hockey Section Representatives, the requirements to serve those positions and the position will serve for terms of 3 years. | Passed | Mark Lissner, Girls’/Women Registrar |
| 2 | MA Hockey Bylaws Article VII | Bylaws; Nomination and Elections | Nominations for any elections to fill a vacancy to close two weeks prior to the scheduled election or the day before the date of the election, whichever time is greater. | Failed | Jeff Brown, 1st Vice President, Co-Chair Rules Committee |
| 2A | MA Hockey Bylaws Article VII | Bylaws; Nomination and Elections | Five (5) Directors shall be elected annually from each of the following twelve (12) Districts/Division. A quorum of one-third of the associations/programs of the District/Division shall constitute a quorum at meetings of the Districts/Divisions when elections are held. | Passed | Jeff Brown, 1st Vice President, Co-Chair Rules Committee |
| 3 | MA Hockey Bylaws Article VII | Bylaws; Nomination and Elections | Nominating Committee shall determine whether or not any potential candidate is eligible to be placed on the official ballot pursuant to the bylaws of the corporation and any applicable statutes. One week prior to the March meeting, the Nominating Committee shall notify the Board of Directors of the names of those who it intends to list on the official ballot and those, if any, deemed not qualified, unless the aspiring candidate has withdrawn his/her name from consideration. | Passed | Rules Committee |
| 4 | MA Hockey Bylaws Article VII | Bylaws; Nomination and Elections | No person shall serve as President for more than four (4) years in their lifetime. | Motion passed to postpone consideration until the September 2019 Board of Directors meeting | Rules Committee |
| 5 | MA Hockey Bylaws Article XIV | Bylaws; Suspension, expulsion, other discipline; Appeals | Applicable Rules includes policiies, codes of conduct, ethics, club, sponsor, facility, other group, organization. | Passed | Maura Sheehan, General Counsel |
| 6 | MA Hockey Bylaws Article XIV | Bylaws; Suspension, expulsion, other discipline; Appeals | Expansion of the disciplinary action susspension, expulsion or other action of any member may occur by operation of or violation of. | Passed | Christine Mayer, 2nd Vice President, Discipline Chair, SafeSport Coordinator, USA Hockey Director |
| 7 | MA Hockey Bylaws Article XIV | Bylaws; Suspension, expulsion, other discipline; Appeals | Removed "for any alleged violation of these Bylaws, Massachusetts Hockey and USA Hockey, Rules and Regulations, Policies, Codes of Conduct and Ethics or any such Bylaw, Rules and Regulations, Policies, Codes of Conduct and Ethics any association league, club, sponsor, facility or other group or organization" | Passed | Rules Committee |
| 8 | MA Hockey Bylaws Article IV | Bylaws; Board of Directors | Added "Removal for cause pursuant to this paragraph shall not be the only remedy for a violation of any Applicable Rule as defined herein." | Passed | Rules Committee |
| 9 | MA Hockey Bylaws Article VI | Bylaws; Duties of Members of the Executive Board | Addition "The treasurer shall receive a stipend of $1,500 per month." | Failed | Ron Cincotta, District 9 Director |
| 10 | MA Hockey Bylaws Article III | Bylaws; Membership | Associations changes to Hometown Programs and addition of Club Teams | Passed | Christine Mayer, 2nd Vice President, Discipline Chair, SafeSport Coordinator, USA Hockey Director |
| 11 | MA Hockey Bylaws Article VI | Bylaws; Duties of Members of the Executive Board | The General Counsel will "Chair the CORI screening Committee;" | Passed | John Tobin, President |
| 12 | MA Hockey Bylaws Article I | Bylaws; Registration | Persons and Associations desiring membership in Massachusetts Hockey are required to register in the category of membership sought as defined in Article III of the Bylaws of Mass Hockey. The term “Association” shall refer to and include, but not be limited to, Hometown Programs, Girls/Womens Teams, Club Teams, and all Leagues | Motion passed to postpone consideration until the September 2019 Board of Directors meeting | Christine Mayer, 2nd Vice President, Discipline Chair, SafeSport Coordinator, USA Hockey Director |
| 13 | MA Hockey Bylaws Article I | Bylaws; Registration | Signature of Massachsuetts Hockey Association Membership Agreement, fees, rosters and SafeSport Program Policies. | Motion passed to postpone consideration until the September 2019 Board of Directors meeting | Christine Mayer, 2nd Vice President, Discipline Chair, SafeSport Coordinator, USA Hockey Director |
| 14 | Policies of Massachusetts Hockey | Policies of Massachusetts Hockey | Change the minor penalty time for games with a period length of 15 minute periods or under to 1 minute and 30 seconds for Pee Wee aged players and under. | Failed | Richard Gallant, USPHL |
| 15 | Policies of Massachusetts Hockey | Policies of Massachusetts Hockey | Change the minor penalty time for games with a period length of over 12 minute to 2 minutes for minor penalties, 5 minutes for major penalties and 10 minutes for misconducts. Change the minor penalty time for games with a period length of over 12 minutes, or less, to 1 minute and 30 seconds for minor penalties, 4 minutes for major penalties and 6 minutes for misconducts. | Passed | Kevin Donovan, USAH Referee-in-Chief for Masscahusetts |
| Housekeeping | Housekeeping | 1. Page 37 of Massachusetts Hockey Annual Guide: COACH HELMET USAGE ENFORCEMENT POLICY Change: As per “USA Hockey Bylaw” to “USA Hockey Rules and Regulations” or whatever language will make this consistent with the USA Hockey Coach helmet Usage Enforcement Policy. 2. Add the following policies the Massachusetts Hockey Annual Guide: Confidentiality Policy; USA Hockey Transgender Athlete Eligibility Policy; and Conflicts of Interest Policy. 3. Article IA (page 24) of the Rules and Regulations and throughout bylaws and Rules and Regulations, change the term “Association” or “Associations” to “Home Town Associations.” 4. Article IC (page 26) of the Rules and Regulations, change the title “Team” to “Club Association.” 5. Throughout; Change the term “Home Town Program” to “Home Town Association.” 6. Add/replace updated SafeSport policy. | Passed | Rules Committee |
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