Review Committee Recommendations

Below are the recommendations from the Review Committee established this spring.


First recommendation, strongly endorse not having three players return - names withheld.

Second recommendation, as due diligence, the Review Committee has identified a list of players with prior incidents (e.g., suspensions, serious incidents, ongoing incidents, etc.). The League will retain this list and the Review Committee suggests that the Disciplinary Committee take it into consideration in the event of new incidents. Note that these players would NOT BE TOLD-- the intention wasn't to serve notice or put them on warning; rather, it was to note certain players who have been suspended or who are on the verge of causing incidents and to keep this in mind if they face the Discipline Committee in the future. The Review Committee is not recommending they be expelled from the league and they will not be informed of their "noted" status.

Although not being asked to address rules a set of general "regulations" were addressed to be published on the blog. The intention was two-fold: a) to inform all players what will happen if they engage in certain kinds of conduct, and b) to help the Disciplinary Committee respond to incidents so that their "judgements" aren't seen as arbitrary. We also weighed in on the ever-present problem of attendance.

Fighting
Both players will be sent off the ice immediately and will be suspended upon review of the incident by the Disciplinary Committee. Suspensions will be mandatory, the length of which would be determined by the Committee. Repeat offenders may be kicked out of the league.

Serious On-Ice Incidents
Tempers flare and on-ice incidents are part of the game. However, following an on-ice incident that stops the play, should the players involved continue their altercation after the intervention of other players, they shall be sent off for the duration of that game. No further action is usually warranted. However, if the players are repeat offenders, the Disciplinary Committee will review the incident and determine whether further action is warranted.

Abuse
The league is supposed to be fun, and while competitiveness might lead to some type of “abuse” (such as trash-talking or as a result of tempers), excessive abuse—verbal or physical—will not be tolerated. The Disciplinary Committee will review incidents.

Lottery System
The Review Committee supports a move to a lottery system as previously outlined to establish teams. This could be repeated mid-way through the season.

Attendance
It is recognized that work schedules change, family lives are busy, and players take vacations. Obviously, players might not be able to make all the games, and sometimes advance warning is not possible. However, uneven attendance remains one of the biggest challenges. Not showing up for games is unfair to team-mates. Also, the optimal Saturday time slots, level of competitiveness and players make this league very attractive to guys looking to play.

Team captains are responsible to monitor and manage attendance of their teams. Captains should make a point of asking their players if they plan to be away for upcoming games and arrange with the league for spares. Players are to inform their captain and/or league of upcoming absences.

Players will not be punished for being away, but persistent absences without having informed the captain and/or the league in advance may lead to players being replaced by others wishing to get into the league as regulars.

The league will maintain a list of spares.

Goalies are responsible for arranging their own spares by first asking another league goalie to play for them.

NOTE: From the PHL - Thank you to the Review Committee for taking the time out of their schedules to convien and develope this document.

Team Update - Updated August 27 11:00 am

After sending out emails the responses are slowly trickling in. Here is a list by team of who has not responded. Please note that eleven players (skaters and goalies) have expressed interest as a result of the ads placed in the Sun and Citizen. Read between the lines here.

Those that we have yet to receive a response from:

Yellow Team
All repsonses recevied

White Team
Saome

Black Team
All responses received

Red Team
Dewan

Healthy Heart Hockey Tips

Hockey is an intense, vigorous sport that can put more strain on your heart than other aerobic activities.

Did you know that several middle-aged men have died from heart attacks while playing hockey in Ottawa in recent years?

Do you?

.Play hockey once or twice a week
.Consider hockey as a way to stay in shape
.Stay on the ice for long shifts
.Huff and puff getting off the ice
.Still have a fast heart rate for your next shift
.Have high blood pressure
.Have high blood cholesterol and take medication to control it
.Take other medications for diseases of the heart and lungs, such as angina or asthma
.Live a lifestyle that could put you at higher risk for heart disease

For more information navigate to the following site:
http://ottawa.ca/residents/health/living/activity/adults/heart_hockey_en.html

Please do it now!!

News and Notes from the PHL

• Advertisements in the Sun and the Citizen

It’s that time of year when we place an ad in the Sun and Citizen looking for players. Over the past several years this has brought in several newbie’s to our dressing rooms. It’s already worked got two new guys lined up already.

• Captains Needed

It appears that we’ll need a captain or three. As the Black team was ‘captainless’ for most of last year and there is a little uncertainty on the Red and White. If you’re interested please let us know.

• Team Composition

It appears we may go the route of the Lottery. Here’s a proposal on how it will work. During the first three or four weeks all players will be graded into four or five categories. The team captains will blindly draw from the varying categories. Around Christmas or shortly there after the lottery will take place once again.

Remember the guy you hated to play with or against…. Guess what!!!!

• The Google Group and the Blog

Here again the league will be using these two vehicles to distribute information. Google Groups gives users the capability to discuss online any topic. As for the Blog – kindly keep yourself up to date.

• Are you in? Will you be returning? Please let us know so we don’t keep beating at your door.

• Although IT’S NOT WRITTEN IN STONE circle September 8th as this may be our start date.

Thanks