Affiliations
How to Affiliate a Player
As per Hockey Canada rules, during the course of the season players may only affiliate up to ten (10) times to play a regular-season or playoff game. However, if the player’s registered team completes its regular season and playoffs before the player’s affiliated team or teams, the player may thereafter affiliate an unlimited number of times.
Exhibition and/or tournament games, which are not part of regular league games or playoffs, are excluded from the maximum number of games.
The purpose of player affiliations is to ensure that teams have the opportunity to always dress the number of players officially registered with the team for each game. In addition, it’s an opportunity to introduce kids to a higher caliber of play through games and practices that encourages player development.
For goaltender exceptions, ODMHA “Emergency Goalie Rule” can be exercised with approval.
Affiliated Players for teams at the House League level may be used to affiliate up to a total of 15 skaters and two goalies regardless of the original team roster size.
At the competitive level, or house league teams playing a tournament or exhibition game, teams can affiliate and dress players above their official roster number up to a total of 15 skaters. Minor house league players may not be eligible to be affiliated to Rep B teams for games or tournaments played outside of the GHA boundaries; however, they are permitted to be affiliated for league games.
At the competitive levels where there is body checking, the affiliated player must practice with the affiliated team before the player may be used in a game.
Procedure
The coach or manager initiating the call-up shall first notify the requested player’s coach or manager. In the event that the coach or manager of the affiliated player cannot be contacted, the coach or manager initiating the call-up should contact the LMHA Vice-President (Competitive or House League).
All call-ups require the approval of the player’s parent(s) and the player. The player does not report if he would miss a meaningful game, as defined in the ODMHA Handbook, with his substantive team except with his coach’s permission.
Reporting Requirements
All call-up requests for league or playoff games are to be reported via the GHA Affiliation Database before the player is used in the game through: GHA website affiliation tool.
Consequences
If an affiliate player participates in a regular season or playoff game beyond the 10 game maximum, the player may not return to their home team for the remainder of the current season, and the head coach of the affiliating team will receive a five (5) game suspension. Exception to this rule is if the player’s registered team completes its regular season and playoffs before the player’s affiliated team or teams, the player may thereafter with GHA approval affiliate an unlimited number of times.
The Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association (www.odmha.on.ca) and Hockey Eastern Ontario (www.heo.com) can be referenced for further information on player affiliations.
Club Affiliation
The LMHA follows Club Affiliation. When participating in tournaments outside of the GHA, proof of club affiliation may be required. Please print and bring a copy of the LMHA Club Affiliation Letter.
See below for Competitive and House League Affiliation charts: