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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 1997/98 season by the following members:
| Bowling Green | Columbus, IN (Flames) | Columbus, OH (Capitals) |
| Cincinnati Amateur Hockey Assn | Dayton Bluehawks (DAHA) | Findlay Amateur Hockey Assoc |
| Fort Wayne Youth Hockey | Hamilton (Golden Triangle) | Indianapolis Blues |
| Indianapolis Racers | Louisville | Northern Kentucky |
| Oxford | South Bend (Irish Rovers) | Toledo (TOYHA) |
I. 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 USA Hockey registered team from a member Association.
II. League Administration:
A. 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.
B. 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.
III. Team Registration:
A. 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.
B. 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.
C. 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.
D. Teams will be organized at the "A" and "AA" levels, BTHL A & AA play is based on the team's talent rather than the player's age. While team officials initially classify their team as an "A" or "AA", the league reserves the right to assign a team to a specific classification based on factors such as the previous year's records, etc.
IV. League Games:
A. Team Responsibility: Each team shall be accompanied at all league games by an adult coach and/or manager.
B. 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.
C. 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.
D. 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.
E. Referees:
F. Game Rules: League games shall be played according to the rules as set forth by USA Hockey except as modified herein:
a. 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.
b. 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. All teams should have a balanced schedule with as much as possible, an equal number of home and away league games.
c. With 10-11 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, east, west), estimated talent levels and/or randomly.
d. With 12 or more teams sub-division must occur.
G. Cancelled games:
H. Scoresheet Procedure:
I. League Standings: Standings will be compiled by the BTHL Scheduling Chair and distributed.
J. Complaints/Protests.