Welcome Empire Players!
1.) All teams will be playing an 8 week schedule in February and March, 2021. RWB/8U will play Half Ice 50 minute curfew games. Squirt/10U & Peewee/12U wll play 50 minute curfew with three 10 minute periods & 1.5 minute minor penalties. Bantam/14U and Midget/18U will play 80 minute curfew games with three 15 minute periods, 2 minute minor penalties. Major penalities will be 5 minutes and Misconduct penalties will be 10 minutes for ALL divisons. Games will start on February 5th and are completed by the end of March. Home Team on the schedule (not the host org) is responsible for supplying the timekeeper and scorekeeper, however if the host org team is the away team (which may happen), please offer to help if the designated home team is struggling with the timeclock. Home team is responsible for mailing the scoresheet to the Commissioner for Squirt thru Midget games. NOTE: games will not be rescheduled for weather unless the rink closes. Leave early, drive carefully and plan for weather.
2.) Most teams will play one game per weekend. However, if your team is in a division with an odd number of teams (5,7, 11, 13), your team may play two games in one weekend and skip a weekend. Games were scheduled using "block scheduling" meaning each organization hosts one or more blocks of games (with 2 thru 5 game slots) with the host team(s) playing an opponent and other teams within their division playing in the rest of the game slots on this date/game block. The next weekend there will be 1 or more blocks at other rinks. In this scenario, a Squirt game schedule may look like:
01-Mar 10 am Geneseo vs Canandaigua Webster Ice Arena
01-Mar 11 am Webster vs RYH Webster Ice Arena
01-Mar 12 pm RochJr Amerks vs Batavia Webster Ice Arena
01-Mar 1 pm Roch Edge vs MCYH Webster Ice Arean
3.) Teams should expect to hear from their Commissioners before games start with more information. Commissioners will have the scoresheets to hand out. Teams must get scrimmage scoresheets form their home org and NOT use EAHC scoresheets for scrimmages. Teams are STRONGLY requested to utilze stickers (3 stickers needed per game). Stickers MUST include all players on their USA Hockey Roster. Managers should ensure players not playing are crossed off, any suspensions are noted (cross off player and write uspended next to this/her name). All coaches on the bench MUST be listed on the scoresheet (NYSAHA rule). Teams must include their proper TEAM NAME and TEAM ID (listed on their USA Hockey Roster) on the scoresheet either on their sticker or hand written in the Team Name field (per NYSAHA rules). Managers and Head Coaches must ensure scoresheets are an accurate representation of the players and coaches present for each game on the scoresheet for contact tracing if this is needed! Bantam & Midgets players do NOT have to sign scoresheets.
4.) Teams should always follow the rules of the host rink including limits on spectators. Please follow all rules so everyone can continue playing games at all of the rinks in the Rochester area. Below are links to the rinks COVID Policies including their policies on spectators allowed (varies), social distancing, wearing masks (everyone entering the facility per State Law), capacity limits, etc. Teams should be aware of the rink policy and be prepared to follow them for every game. Ignorance is not an excuse. Make it safe for everyone and follow the rules! NOTE: Per USA Hockey Policy, coaches are required to wear masks on the bench.
Rochester Ice Center (RIC)(page down to find the policy) (Jr. Amerks)
https://www.rochestericecenter.com/
Bill Grays IcePlex (BGIP) (RYH, Edge, Jr Amerks) as of 2/1/2021
https://www.billgraysiceplex.com/covid.html#top
PDF document & Email from Rink Mgr posted on DOCUMENTS page
Webster Ice Arena (Webster) (Webster Youth Hockey)
https://www.leagueathletics.com/Page.asp?n=119169&org=websterarena.org
Paul Louis Arena (PLA) (Jr.Amerks, Edge, TCYH)
http://www.paullouisarena.com/files/PLA%20COVID%20Reopening.pdf
Lakeshore Hockey Arena (Lakeshore) (TCYH, MCYH)
https://www.lshaice.com/
Scottsville Ice Arena (Scottsville) (Geneseo, MCYH, TCYH) as of 2/1
https://www.scottsvilleicearena.com/News/SIA%20Rink%20Protocols.pdf
Canandaigua Civic Center (GCCC) (Canandaigua) Updated 2/10
http://www.gccc.org/#562186
Batavia (Falletti) (Batavia)
http://www.bataviaicearena.com/covid-safety/
Village Sports (VS ) (RYH 8U)
TBD- document coming soon! Max two spectators per player. Players should exit the building as soons as possible after the game has completed.
5.) Per agreement of all organizations involved in EAHC, there will be NO game resceduling for ANY reason. The season is only 8 weeks long and ice availability is limited especially with three rinks down (RIT, Brockport and Geneseo). Have less than 11 players - play the game. Head Coach not available - the asistant coaches step up and the game is played. Refs do not show up - play the game with one coach from each team "reffing". Every team should always have one coach ready with skates, helmet and whistle ready to fill in as refs. We will not reschedule if a team has no coach available to "ref". Play the game.
6.) Per agreement of the EAHC Board on 2/23/2021, the following changes to EAHC Penalty limits are now in place for this shortened season:
In an effort to slow a growing trend of penalty minutes the Empire board, via e-vote unanimously voted to change the penalty minute limits for this season 2020-2021. Below you will find the new standards for minutes before suspension and the suspensions that follow if the minutes are maximized. All current penalty minutes are retroactive, so some players are already on the clock. Our goal is to keep players safe. If there are any questions please reach out to your commissioners.
For all age groups, cut the Penalty minute thresholds to 75% of their current values for the 2021 season. Additionally, cut the suspensions in half as well. Upon meeting these threshold numbers, a player will follow the 2021 Guidebook for subsequent minutes accumulated as outlined in the guidebook.
New Levels:
SQ 22 Minutes
PW 30 Minutes
Ban 45 Minutes
Mid 60 Minutes
**1 Game suspension for any player surpassing these levels.
Additional games for additional minutes
SQ/ PW each 15 minutes, 1 additional game.
BAN/ MID each 20 minutes, 1 additional game.
*No hearings due to the length of the season.
Aggressive play penalty Thresholds to drop by 1. Suspensions start at 3 games (instead of 4). Hearings start at the 5th infraction.
All levels return to levels stated in the Guidebook for the 2021-22 season and beyond.
Again we should all be thankful for the opportunity to play organized, scheduled games. Please instill in your players that we have a short season. It would be foolish to miss game time due to playing the game recklessly.
MORE INFORMATION on game play will be posted as it comes available!
MOST IMPORTANT - Empire is offering a short season (8 games in 8 weeks) so the kids have the opportunity to play games and have a fun experience to end the season. Winning and Losing is less important than giving our children a good experience to end this very challenging season.
