Code of Regulations

Article I - Name

This organization shall be known as the Buckeye Travel Hockey League, also called the BTHL or the Corporation. This organization is a non-profit Corporation.

Article II - Purpose

To provide the best environment possible in amateur hockey. The BTHL shall emphasize: the excellence of coaching and teaching the sport; the spirit of competition and fair play; a goal of providing the optimum medium to enhance the ability and attitude of participants as individuals and team representatives; the providing and development of leadership; the fostering and promotion of the reputation of the league, the sponsors, the teams and its players.

Article III - Membership

Section 1. Membership will consist of area Amateur and/or Youth Ice Hockey Associations. To qualify for membership in the BTHL an Association must be a current member of USA Hockey and in good standing. Application must be made to the BTHL Board of Trustees and approved by two-thirds affirmative vote of all Trustees. A two-thirds vote is also required to revoke membership. If at any time a member Association is suspended or otherwise terminated by USA Hockey, that Association's membership in the BTHL shall be automatically revoked. Re-entry will require application and approval, the same as any other new member. Any team skating for a member Association in good standing, properly registered and rostered by USA Hockey as a Tier II team, may participate in the BTHL.

Section 2. Membership is non-transferable. No membership shall be transferable or assignable except by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the BTHL Board of Trustees.

Section 3. Voting. Each Association that has successfully applied for membership in the BTHL shall be entitled to one vote on all matters that come before the Corporation at any meeting; it is further provided that each participating Association shall appoint a Representative, plus one Alternate, to this Corporation. The Representative, or Alternate, in the event that the Representive is absent, shall be entitled to cast such vote.

Section 4. Omission of Liability. No member Association or Team shall be in any manner, individually or collectively, liable for any act or omission of this Corporation, nor for any loss, damage or injury of whatsoever and or nature suffered by or occurring to any other member team or to any other person, concern or body.

Article IV - Board of Trustees

Section 1. Powers: The Board of Trustees, hereinafter called the Board, shall have and exercise all the usual powers of Trustees of a business and Corporation also the immediate government and direction of the property and affairs of the Corporation. The Board shall make all rules and regulations that they deem necessary for the government of the Corporation and for the due and orderly conduct of the Corporation.

Section 2. Representatives: Each Association with at least one member team in good standing shall appoint one official Representative and Alternate to act as a League Board Member. The appointment of this Representative is the sole responsibility of the member Association and shall be for a term of one year or until otherwise notified by the Association in writing. The Alternate shall vote in the absence of the Representative but shall not assume the responsibility of an Executive Officer.

Section 3. Meetings: The Board shall meet during the month of May each year for their Annual Meeting at which they shall elect officers for the ensuing year. Nominations for Officers of the Executive Board shall take place at the same meeting. Other meetings may be called by any Board Member according to the notice requirements set forth hereinafter. At all meetings of the Board, a quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of a simple majority. Business shall be transacted by a majority vote of all Board Members present, provided a quorum is present. Any action so taken shall be deemed the action of the full Board.

Section 4. Notice: At least ten days written notice shall be given all members of the Board for annual meetings and at least five days notice shall be given of all other meetings of the Board. The last known address of a Board Member in the absence of written notice to the contrary shall be the address appearing in the then current notebook. Emergency meetings may be called by any Officer, or any two Trustees with twenty-four (24) hour notice.

Section 5. Compensation: No Board Member shall receive any salary or compensation for services as a Board Member unless otherwise especially approved by the Executive Board. Board Members shall be reimbursed for verified expenses submitted to and approved by the Executive Board.

Section 6. Paid Services: The Executive Board may employ staff or contract for services as it deems necessary. Duties, responsibilities, qualifications, consideration and compensations shall be set by the Executive Board. Paid staff may be requested to attend meetings and/or report to the Executive Board.

Section 7. Financing: The operation and conduct of this Corporation shall be financed by regular membership fees and dues, voluntary contributing and incidental receipts. All membership fees and dues shall be on a team basisis. No team can begin BTHL play until membership fee and dues are paid in full.

Section 8. Insurance: The Board shall cause liability or other Insurance to be obtained as deemed necessary or as required by law and shall be paid on an annual basis in such amounts and to such firms as the Board may determine.

Article V - Executive Board

Section 1. The elected Executive Board shall consist of: President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The past president shall automatically become a member of the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall appoint from the remaining Board Members: a Chairperson in charge of Scheduling, a Chairperson in charge of Publicity, a Chairperson in charge of Tournaments and a Chairperson in charge of Rules and Referees.

Section 2. The Treasurer shall furnish a fidelity bond in such amount as the Executive Board annually may deem necessary, the cost thereof to be paid by the Corporation. A counter-signature by a Board Officer, in addition to the Treasurer, shall be required on all checks and savings withdrawals of any amount greater than a limit which shall be set annually by the Executive Board.

Section 3. The President, after having successfully completed his/her full term in office, shall serve one full year as immediate Past-President of the Board, with the rights, and privileges, and duties pertaining thereto, as a member of the Executive Board.

Section 4. An officer may be removed by a two-thirds majority vote of the entire Board of Trustees, whenever in its judgment the best interest of the Corporation would be served thereby.

Section 5. A vacancy in any office shall be elected by the Board of Trustees, from recommendations by the Executive Board or nominations made by Represenetatives at that meeting for the unexpired portion of the term of office.

Article VI - Duties of Officers

Section 1. General Duties: The duties of the officers shall be as their title implies and indicates, as required by law and by these Code of Regulations, and as may be assigned to them respectively, from time to time, by the Board.

Section 2. President: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Corporation; have the power to call meetings; exercise general direction over the affairs and activities of the Corporation; have the power to create necessary committees; present an annual report to the Board and to the members reviewing the season ended and making such forecast for the season approaching as may be reasonable.

Section 3. Vice President: The Vice President shall assist the President in the general direction of all affairs and activities of the Corporation. To aid in the smooth transition of power from year-to-year, an effort should be made to have the Vice-President assume the role of President in the following year.

Section 4. Past President: The Past President shall act as chairperson of the Protest Committee and act in other capacities as may from time to time be requested by the Executive Board. In the event the Past President shall be unable to fulfill his/her duties, the Executive Board shall determine a successor.

Section 5. Secretary: The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Executive Board meetings; maintain a membership list; attend to the giving of notices of the corporation; be custodian of the organization records according to the laws of the State of Ohio and the establishment of the Corporation; distribute the minutes of all Executive Board meetings as soon thereafter as possible.

Section 6. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall have custody of, collect and keep accounts of all money, funds and property of the Corporation and shall render such accounts and present such statements to the Board as may be required. A financial report shall be provided to the Executive Board at each monthly meeting. An annual budget shall be presented to the Executive Board for approval at the July meeting. A tax return and year-end financial report shall be presented to the Executive Board prior to April 15.

Section 7. Chairperson Scheduling: The Scheduler shall be responsible for the formulation and administration of the league schedules and serve as co-chairman of the Tournament Committee. This is a paid Board of Trustees appointment.

Article VII - Committees

Section 1. There shall be one committee known as the Conduct Committee to be chaired by the immediate Past President or Vice President and shall include at least two other members of the Board to be appointed by the Executive Board. It shall be the duty of the Conduct Committee to hear and make all decisions on all matters of conduct and protest filed with the committee according to the rules and regulation of the Corporation.

Section 2. The Regulations Committee shall be a standing committee. The Code of Regulations shall be reviewed on an annual basis and modifications proposed or its accuracy reported at each annual meeting.

Section 3. The Tournament Committee shall be a standing committee and shall be co-chaired by the Chairperson-Tournaments and Chairperson-Scheduling. The League playoffs shall constitute the minimum requirement for the Committee. Note: The League Organizing Committee has decided that for the first year of operation as a League there will be no "League Sponsored" tournaments.

Section 4. Other committees may be appointed by the President from time to time as they may become necessary.

Article VIII - Fiscal Year

The fiscal year shall begin the first day of June and end on the last day of May. The annual meeting shall coincide with the ending of the fiscal year.

Article IX - Amendments

Section 1. Proposed amendments to these Code of Regulations shall be read at a general meeting or special meeting called for that purpose, and may be voted upon at that time; provided however that fifteen days prior notice of the proposed change is given to all Board Members.

Section 2. Adoption shall require a two-thirds majority vote of the entire Board of Trustees.

The By-laws listed above have been adopted for the 1995/96 season by the following charter members:

Columbus, IN (Flames)

Cincinnati Amateur Hockey Assn

Dayton Bluehawks (DAHA)

Findlay Amateur Hockey Assoc

Fort Wayne Youth Hockey

Hamilton (Golden Triangle)

Indianapolis Blues

South Bend (Irish Rovers)

Toledo (TOYHA)

Buckeye Travel Hockey League

Rules and Regulations

League Structure:

A league structure of games shall be conducted for the following age classifications with a minimum of four (4) member teams: Mite, Squirt, PeeWee, Bantam and Midget. Eligible teams include any properly registered and rostered Tier II team from a member Association.

League Administration:

  1. A team making application to the League must name an official team representative and alternate. This representative shall be responsible for overseeing the conduct of all BTHL games at their respective teams home arena(s). Included among the responsibilities are: checking player and team official status (i.e. suspensions, etc.) and notifying the Conduct Committee of all matters of concern regarding the efficient, fair and sportsmanlike conduct of the League.
  2. So that a current league standing record may be made available, the home team shall be responsible for reporting the score and mailing a copy of the score sheet to the BTHL in accordance with the procedure set forth by the Executive Board. The official record shall be the game score sheet.
Team Registration:
  1. Commitment of teams to the League shall be made in writing before the last commitment date determined by the Board of Trustees. Application shall be accompanied by a non- refundable fee. Should an application be rejected by the League for any reason (i.e. not enough teams, etc.) the application fee shall be refunded.
  2. All teams, their players, and team officials shall be registered and in good standing with USA Hockey. The team representative shall place on file with the BTHL a copy of the USA Hockey registration form before the start of League play. Roster changes shall be made in accordance to the rules of USA Hockey. Any player added after December 31 shall not be eligible for that seasons League play. Participation of an ineligible player is grounds for forfeiture of all games the player participated in.
  3. Movement of players from one BTHL club to another BTHL club in the same division of play shall be allowed only with the written consent of both franchise holders and accepted by the Board of BTHL. Movement without the written permission of the BTHL Board may result in forfeiture of all games participated in by the player for the offending club.
League Games:
  1. Team Responsibility: Each team shall be accompanied at all league games by an adult coach and/or manager.
  2. Conduct: Team officials (coaches, managers and team representatives) shall be responsible for the conduct of their teams before, during, and after league games. Particularly regarding the use of dressing rooms. Incidents of damage or other conduct prohibited by these Rules and Regulations, the rules and regulations of USA Hockey, or by law, should be brought to the attention to the BTHL Conduct Committee. Team Officials shall be held responsible for damages or other loss caused by their teams.
  3. Spectators: Each Teams Representative shall take action to insure that spectators are not abusive to officials, players, team officials, or other spectators. Failure to do so could result in team suspension or game forfeiture.
  4. Home team: The home team shall furnish official game pucks, a timer and scorekeeper, and at least one hour of ice with adequate dressing room facilities for each team. Scoresheets shall list all registered players of the competing teams, and indicate the player's status if absent or suspended. Where uniform colors are similar, the home team shall supply and wear numbered or see-through "pullovers" or scrimmage vests.
  5. Referees:
    1. The home team shall provide two officials 18 years or older for Bantams and Midgets. PeeWees may use a 16 year level two along with a level three referee. Mites and Squirts may use a 14 year old with a level four and a 15 year old with a level three. One adult referee is acceptable only with the written approval of both team coaches on the front of the scoresheet, signed before the start of the game.
      Amended on 14Dec1996 and effective 1Jan1997, to read as follows:
      "Each home team shall provide two officials. Officials must be USA Hockey certified and meet the requirements as established by USA Hockey as set forth in the annual USA Hockey Guide. One adult referee is acceptable only with the written approval of both team coaches on the front of the scoresheet, signed before the start of the game."
    2. If a home team does not have 2 official referees on hand at game time, and the visiting team does not wish to play under these circumstances, then the game is to be played at the Visiting team's rink. Rescheduled within 14 days. The offending team will pay for the rescheduled ice and referees. Problems in rescheduling the game must be brought immediately to the attention of the Scheduling Chair to avoid a FORFEITURE.
    3. Referees who are immediate relatives to players or coaches shall not officiate in games involving their relative. Teams securing referees must insure no relationship exists in advance. Exceptions may only be granted when the opposing team agrees in writing on the front of the scoresheet before the start of the game. Forfeiture may result if this rule is violated. Immediate relatives are defined as brothers, sisters, fathers or mothers.
      Amended on 14Dec1996 and effective 1Jan1997, to read as follows:
      "All officials assigned to BTHL games must adhere to the "On-Ice Officials Code of Conduct" as listed in the annual USA Hockey Guide. Further, teams securing on-ice officials should strive not to have referees who are immediate relatives of players or coaches involved in the game. USA Hockey has guidelines which deal with this and these should be followed."
  6. Game Rules: League games shall be played according to the rules as set forth by USA Hockey except as modified herein:
    1. The number of League games shall not exceed 24 for any team at any division. In the case that non-league games are played in addition to league games it is understood that unless otherwise noted ahead of time the first games played during the official season will be considered "league" games. Any additional games during that time will be considered "non-league" scrimmages. The schedule format will be as follows:
      1. With 7 teams or less in a given division, each team will play all the other teams in the division twice at home and twice away for a total of 4 times.
      2. With 8 or 9 teams in a given division, each team will play all the other teams in the division a total of 3 times. In order to even out the number of home and away games an effort should be made to schedule a 4th game and play it as a "non-league" scrimmage. If due to scheduling conflicts it is not possible to schedule the 4th game it is understood that the teams will share the cost of ice and referees in the 3rd game.
      3. With 10-13 teams in a given division each team will play all the other teams in the division twice -or- consideration should be given to sub-dividing the division. Sub-division could be done geographically (north, south, etc), randomly or by playing level ("A", "AA", etc).
      4. With 14 or more teams sub-division must occur.
    2. Game time. Games will be played with 12 minute periods where possible. Where there is not enough ice time for 12 minutes, 10 minutes will be acceptable.
    3. In the case of a curfew rink, the game will end at the time the teams must be off the ice. Running time will be used.
    4. Penalty times. Players in all divisions shall be assessed 2 minutes for a minor, 5 minutes for a major and 10 minutes for a misconduct.
    5. Game start/warm-up. The time listed in the BTHL schedule shall be the time that both teams are to take the ice. A reasonable warm-up period shall be allowed both teams (whether or not they are on the ice) commencing at the designated starting time, or at the time the ice becomes available, whichever is later.
    6. Teams will shake hands AFTER the game.
    7. Game misconduct. A player or coach who receives a penalty during a league game requiring sitting out a game shall be suspended for at least his team's next league game. USA Hockey rules apply to non-league games in addition to the BTHL suspension. Please note that a single game mis-conduct could result in sitting 2 games if the penalty occurred in a league game and the next game for the team happens to be non-league. Any player, coach or manager who receives two game or gross misconducts in one season shall present the local governing boards' disciplinary action in writing to the Executive Board for review and further consideration.
    8. Confirmation/make-ups. Failure to appear as scheduled may result in forfeiture. Failure to appear as scheduled because of adverse traffic and/or weather conditions necessitates that the game be made up before the last day of the regular season.
    9. Refusal to compete. Refusal to compete in any game as directed by the Scheduling Trustee or Conduct Committee is considered immediate resignation from the League. Said team will be dropped from all subsequent League activities, functions, schedules, standings and trophy eligibilities.
    10. League schedule. Any team not completing their League schedule will be ineligible to participate in playoffs and will be brought immediately to the Conduct Committee with possible further action taken.
  7. Cancelled games:
    1. Cancellation of a game must be approved by the Scheduling Chair prior to the game date.
    2. Cancelled games must be rescheduled by the home team before the last day of the regular season.
    3. In the event these rescheduling conditions cannot be met, the Scheduling Chair must be notified to enable the Executive Board to take appropriate action.
    4. The Scheduling Chair must be notified in writing of the rescheduled date.
    5. All games must be played prior to the completion of the regular season as determined by the BTHL Board.
    6. Failure to comply with the above stated rules will result in a forfeiture.
    7. All Championship games must be played on the dates scheduled by the BTHL Board.
  8. Scoresheet Procedure:
    1. Home team will be responsible to provide scoresheets, BTHL will use the official USA Hockey scoresheet available for purchase through USA Hockey Magazine.
    2. The team representative is responsible for ensuring that the scoresheet is properly filled out and distributed to the required parties.
    3. The home team shall submit (mail) the scoresheet to the Chairperson of Scheduling within 72 hours of game completion.
  9. League Standings: Standings will be compiled by the BTHL Scheduling Chairperson and distributed to league members. 2 points for a win and 1 point for a tie. The tie breaker will be as defined by USA Hockey Rules & Regulations.
    Len Holtgreven, Conduct Committee: bthl@mail.bright.net