League Guidelines 2025-2026

MPHL Guidelines/Rules

Revised & Distributed Via Email to all League Members: November 12th, 2025

Division/Schedule Format:

The MPHL will consist of 8 member schools from the USA and Canada spread out in 2

divisions (see page 5 of this document) based on geographic location. All teams will and

must play a minimum of 8 Regular Season League games plus the play-off weekend which

will be a round robin format. Teams cannot play more than 15 regular season games.

Teams are allowed to play MPHL opponents as much as they want but only 8-15 pre-

determined games will count towards the league playoff standings. Teams can choose to

play more games either through an MPHL showcase or independently scheduled flex games.

The playoff seeding is determined by win percentage as teams will have different numbers

of games played.

Game Format:

Game length will be three 17, 18, or 20-minute periods, 20-minute periods are allowed for

flex games or weekends where there are 3 or less games being played or 1 game per day

being played that weekend. The playoff weekend will have all games be 18-minute periods.

An ice cut after every period if possible is preferred. If it is not possible every two periods,

there should be an ice cut. There will be a 5-minute warm up for all games played. The

Home team wears dark color Jerseys. Away team wears light/white colored jerseys. The first

team listed on the schedule is the home team. Home teams in the playoffs will be the

highest seeded team. For regular season showcase weekends the home team and away

team designation for each game will be evenly distributed as much as possible. For

exhibition games the two teams playing against each other will have coaches from both

teams determining who the home team and the away team is.

Game Summary:

If the MPHL Showcase/Playoff Weekend host team or flex game designated Home Team

does not have an IPAD in the scorer’s box or strong Wi-Fi to record the game stats via

GameSheet as the game is being played, it will be the Host team’s responsibility to record

the game statistics into the website/platform immediately following each game.

Playing Rules:

USA Hockey High School/Midget & Hockey Canada Federation rules. There is no limitation to

coaches/staff or dressed players/goalies on a bench though as a supplement to these rules.

At any point the coaches as a committee can meet in person or via zoom to alter or

determine if a ruling on anything should be changed, this includes officiating calls for a

Major or Match penalty after the game has concluded. If it goes to a vote the majority vote

will win. In the case of a tied vote the original call or ruling made will stand.

Regular Season and Playoffs Overtime Format:

Overtime - 5 minutes of 3 on 3 sudden death play, if still tied, the game will go to a 3-man

shootout with no player shooting twice until the entire team has shot. Players in the penalty

box, ejected or undressed at the time of a shootout are not eligible to shoot.

Game Misconduct:

If a player receives a game misconduct or any suspension, that player must serve it in the

next scheduled MPHL league games. Unless agreed upon by the league members’ head

coaches to make any changes, all reported suspensions per the official scoresheet will be

followed.

Officials:

Three man officiating system will be required for all MPHL games. With two referees and one

linesman or one referee and two linesmen being utilized. A four-man system with 2

referees and 2 linesman is acceptable as well. A 2-man officiating crew is NOT allowed

unless it is an emergency or extenuating circumstances.

Eligibility:

• The policy for adding players onto an MPHL team roster will be as follows. If a student

enrolls into a school after January 15th

, that student will not be eligible to play any

remaining MPHL regular season or playoff games that season.

• Each team will submit a player roster to the MPHL Website by January 15th and only

those players will be eligible for the rest of the season. The coach should have all

these players listed on the website roster.

• Students/Players cannot be older than 19 years of age at the start of the school year.

Discipline:

If there is a complaint filed by a school about a player’s/coaches conduct or a league

violation including an attempt to injure another player, we can ask that the host team send

out a copy of the game or ruling to all the other schools to look at the incident and form a

committee meeting to determine if the complaint warrants disciplinary actions.

League Annual Dues:

The MPHL annual dues will be $3,500 per school. The dues will cover the cost of officials,

scorekeepers and medical coverage for all MPHL Games. It will also pay for the plaques,

medals and trophy for the Playoffs plus the cost for each school’s use of the

Website/GameSheet and any other miscellaneous and administrative expenses the league

may arise. If a school hosts showcase a weekend that program will not pay dues that season

and will get some costs covered. Independently scheduled flex games will not be covered as

those will be handled among the two playing teams.

Allotted Cost:

The MPHL will budget an allotted cost amount for schools hosting MPHL Events for the

purpose of paying for operating costs. (*Subject to Change*)

League Meetings:

There will be 3 minimum league meetings throughout the season. An alternative to in-

person meetings is to have zoom meetings if necessary. Regular communication via email

and on the MPHL WhatsApp Group chat will occur thought the year.

GameSheet Rosters:

Schools should have their complete team rosters and team logo updated prior to the first

scheduled MPHL Games. Player Head Shots are encouraged to be uploaded.

MPHL Weekend Host Schools:

Each League Member School has a potential option to host one of the MPHL Showcase

Weekends. It must be agreed upon by all members in the league through a league meeting.

The host team will be responsible for the following:

• Paying for and securing necessary ice. Scheduled ice times cannot start before 8:30am,

end after 10:30pm and there must be at least a 5-hour gap in between games on the

same day from the first game end time to second game start time. No team should play

more than 2 games in a day or two games in less than 12 hours on back-to-back days.

• Paying for and securing Trainer/EMT/Medical Professional coverage, scorekeepers,

necessary signage and officials.

• It is preferred there be a scout/coach’s room or space provided throughout the weekend

where programs/schedules or team rosters can be on display.

• Passing along the weekend’s schedule to scouts.

• Game summaries are being programmed into the website/scoring during or immediately

following each game.

• Programs or ability to have line-up sheets/rosters available to spectators/scouts.

• Ability to live stream all the games (FLO Hockey, YouTube, Facebook, LiveBarn, etc.)

League All Stars:

Coaches will nominate players from their own team, including the player’s name, position,

and grade. Each team will also be able to nominate players from their own team to be

awarded Honorable Mention to the All-Star teams. Also, the coaches will vote for a Coach

of the Year for the whole league.

MPHL League Patch:

MPHL patches must be on both the Home and Away game Jerseys or Pants. All patches must

be on your Jerseys/Pants for the first MPHL games. To order MPHL patches call Bob at 847-

584-0305. Jog Athletics at: www.wwwjogsportswear.com can also accommodate this

request.

Playoff Format:

It depends each year on the number of teams in the league. In an 8-team format it will be a

round robin format spanning across 3-4 days.

Tie Breakers:

Division standings and Playoff seeding will be determined by Winning Percentage. If any

teams are tied with the same winning percentage the tie breakers will be as follows in this

order: Head-to-Head among the tied teams, best goal differential among the tied teams in

only the games they played each other, best goal quotient among the games they played

each other. If still tied a coin flip will determine the higher seeded team.

2025-2026 MPHL Divisions Alignment

Malloy Division Bowers Division

Shadyside Academy (PA)

Wyoming Seminary (PA)

Gilmour Academy (OH)

Lake Forest Academy (IL)

Bowers Division

Ridley College (ONT)

Academie Ste-Cecile (ONT)

St. Francis School (NY)

Rice Memorial (VT)

2025-2026 Schedule Format

Showcase #1 - November 14-16, 2025:

- Hosted by: Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, PA. 7 of the 8 teams will be in attendance.

Showcase #2 - December 5-7, 2025:

- Hosted by: Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills, OH. 7 of the 8 teams will be in attendance.

Showcase #3 - January 9-11, 2026

- Hosted by: St. Francis in West Seneca, NY. 7 of the 8 teams will be in attendance.

Scheduled Exhibitions (Flex Games):

- Each team can schedule independent flex games with other teams in the league if necessary to meet their

minimum game count. 8-15 MPHL league games are what is expected of each team. Any flex games being used

need to be determined among the two teams in advance.

League Playoffs to Determine the Winner of the Semplice Trophy - February 13-15, 2026:

- Hosted by: Ridley College in St. Catharines, ONT. All 8 teams will be in attendance.

(8-15 Regular Season Games total, plus the round robin format play-off tournament)

MPHL Rules Cheat Sheet

USA Hockey High School/Midget rules when games are played in the United States, Full Hockey Canada Federation rules

when games are played in Canada. All teams must adhere to the neck guard rule as both sets of rules require it now.

3-Man, Ref System or 4-Man Ref System will be used (1 Ref/2 Linesman or 2 Ref/1 Linesman or 2 Ref/2 Linesman system is acceptable, host team’s discretion). It is preferred that the same refs/linesman do not do multiple games back-to-back in the same day. A 2-man officiating system is not allowed unless it is an emergency or extenuating circumstances.

You can dress an unlimited number of players/goalies.

There is no limit to the number of coaches or staff members allowed on the bench.

Home team wears Dark jerseys. Away team wears Light/White jerseys. The first team listed on the schedule is the home team.

5-minute warm-up on clean ice before each game.

Games are 17, 18 or 20-minute periods with an ice cut after each period if possible. (Playoffs in a round robin format are 18-minute periods).

Winning percentage will determine the playoff seeding.

Overtime/Shootout Format for All Games:

Overtime play will be 3 on 3 sudden death for 5 minutes; goalies will switch ends.

If still tied following the 5-minute overtime period, the game will go to a 3-man shootout.

If still tied it will be a sudden death format shootout without re-using the same player until the entire bench has shot.

Players in the penalty box, ejected from the game, or not dressed at the start of the game are not eligible to shoot.