This Code of Conduct was approved by the league’s board of governors which is not a real board of governors, just a bunch of guys that are giving their time to make this league fun to play in.
As a player of this league I will commit to follow this code of conduct to the best of my abilities. I understand that playing hockey is a privilege and that even though I have paid my dues, it does not give me the right to act foolishly.
Having said that, and in addition to all the above I will:
Act with Respect and sportsmanship. All players are to provide respect on and off the ice to their team mates, opponents, officials, and all the University of Ottawa Rink staff. Everyone should also expect to receive respect from your team mates, opponents, officials, and the facility staff. I will take no action that could be interpreted as an attempt to intimidate or demean my opponents, teammates or officials
Pass the puck. You might be the best player on the ice. You might be able to stick-handle through the other team at will and score, but nobody likes a puck-hog. Give it up.
Not kill the goalie. During the warm-up. No goalie ever asks to have his head warmed up. Nor do they need to work out kinks in their neck or collarbone. There is no need to shoot the puck above the goalie’s belly button. If you want to wire a few high hard ones, or test out your new composite stick, do it against the glass. The purpose of the warm-up is to allow the goalie to get a feel for puck, and for you to practice your accuracy. So, start by hitting the goalie in the pads, then move on to hitting the trapper and blocker.
During the game, when the goalie puts his glove or pad on the puck and you hear the referees whistle, stop hacking and poking. The play is dead, skate away. If you are driving the net and must choose between running through the goalie and going around the net or stopping beside it and waiting for a rebound, opt for the latter, that goalie has a job to get to tomorrow morning. We can’t play without them.
Pay the man. The guys that collect the money need it to pay for the ice – you need these guys more than they need you. Don’t make them chase you down for money you owe.
Get off the ice. If you are tired, get off ice. If you are resting your stick on your knees and sucking for air, get off the ice. If you’ve been on the ice more than a minute, get off the ice. If your line mates head for the bench, get off the ice. When in doubt, get off the ice. Twenty 1-minute shifts is equivalent to five 4-minute shifts but long shifts slows the game down for everyone.
Keep it clean. Remember none of your opponents are pros. They all have something to get up for the next day – jobs, families, trips… Also, if you trip or hit somebody, apologize. If somebody trips, hooks or holds you, assume it was an accident.
Air out my equipment. When you were 13 it was cool to bring tears to your team mates’ eyes just by opening your bag. That time has passed. Keep it clean.
Not whine about the teams. The same shmucks who collect the money also, with the help of team captains attempt to create balanced teams from a wildly unbalanced talent pool. If the odd game is a little one-sided just shut-up and play harder. A team will finish last every year – you will still make the playoffs. Shut up and play harder.
Give up my dream. You are not going to the show. You will not be discovered by an NHL scout while playing in the Bytown Hockey League on Sundays or Thursdays. Play hard but remember the dream is over.
Be like Mike. Despite being a deadly, highlight-reel goal-scorer, Mike Bossy was always humble. Any time he scored, which was very often, he deflected attention away from himself by crediting his team mates with great plays and great passes. Running after the referee begging for assists is not very Mike-like either. No one cares.
Remember the Cauthers Corollary. Every year Bill starts off the season reminding all his players that we are a beer league. We are governed by beer league executives, officiated by beer league officials and guess what – we are all beer league players. With that in mind, communicate with league executive members and officials in a reasonable fashion.