2026 Season is Upon US

Hello Ball Hockey Families:

See below for some important information for the upcoming season starting this Saturday!

• Season Starts April 11 and finishes with Championship Weekend on June 20 & 21
  • No games on May Long Weekend
  • No games on June 6/7 weekend except 9U

• max 2 games per week (Sun-Thur):
  • 6U: Teams will be assembled on April 11 at 10:00 at the Moose
  • 9U: Plays only Saturday and Sunday
  • 11U: Plays Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday
    • Every Sunday
    • Teams not playing on Saturday play Tuesday
  • 13U: Plays every Saturday and Wednesday
  • 15U: Plays Saturday, Sunday and Thursday
    • Teams playing Sunday play Saturday OR Thursday
  • 18U: Due to lack of players registering in 18U this season, there is no18U division.  Players have 2 options:
    • Request to play in 15U division (Several slots open)
    • Play HBHL as 'underager' on an adult league team or Thursday night drop-in (with parental consent form signed and filed)

• Opening weekend on April 11:
  • Loaner goalie equipment will be available onsite - Email gascityballhockey@gmail.com to let us know you'd like to borrow equipment and we'll make sure sizes are brought to the rink
  • Teams will be posted on Ramp after the draft on Wednesday April 8 and coaches will reach out by the Team Ramp App
  • Arrive about 30 minutes early to meet your coach and new teammates
  • Saturday and Sunday games will be half practice, half scrimmage (except 15U)

• Mandatory equipment:
  • see https://gcbhl.com/content/equipment
  • Goalies - may wear regular player helmet but goaltender helmet is recommended
    • Helmets and facial protectors must be CSA approved and in good repair with no missing parts, clips, straps, etc.
    • Street hockey helmets cannot be used and goaltenders removed from play immediately - look for the round CSA sticker on the back.
  • Sticks must be standard ice hockey sticks
    • No street hockey or floor sticks, or any other multi-piece sticks are permitted
  • Gloves must be protective and in good repair
    • Lacrosse gloves are permitted but must have closed wrists (no missing straps or laces)
  • Shin pads are mandatory
    • Hard plastic pads must be covered with wind pants or sweat pants
    • Sock are not required for league play but pads must be secure and not flapping around
  • Elbow pads are optional but generally not necessary
    • If elbow pads are worn, they must be covered (League jerseys are t-shirts so a long sleeve shirt must be worn under the league t-shirt jersey)
  • INDOOR RUNNING SHOES ONLY!!
    • to prevent debris from entering the floor, please do not wear outdoor shoes
      
      
• There are a handful of new rules for the 2026 seasons
  • Deletion of 4-minute minor penalties
    • Slashing, Cross-checking and High Sticking are now 2 minute minor penalties, similar to Ice Hockey
    • Spearing, Butt-ending, Slew Foot Tripping and Head contact revert to double minor penalties - 2 power play goals can be scored on a double minor.
  • To begin a power play, the faceoff will be in the offending team's end, and the attacking team can chose which side they wish to conduct the faceoff except after goals, start of periods, after icing
  • High sticking the ball and the offending team immediately playing it will result in a faceoff in the offending team's zone and not being permitted to change (a pulled goalie may return to the floor)
  • At Provincials, Westerns and Nationals, a team committing a Flooring will not be permitted to change (No-change flooring).
    
    • GCBHL will NOT use no-change flooring for league play
    • Hybrid flooring is NOT used in any youth ball hockey in Canada
  • After a ball is shot or otherwise unplayable, the ensuing faceoff will be at the nearest faceoff dot in the zone of the stoppage.
    • Zone will remain set regardless of which team caused the stoppage.
  • Each team is only permitted 1 timeout during regulation time plus one in overtime
    • GCBHL only uses overtime in Championship Games
    • Tied regular league games end in a tie

Your board and league manager have worked very hard over the past few months, so if you see them at the rink, please remember to give them a thank-you and pat on the back.

Please email us at gascityballhockey@gmail.com if you have any league questions or comments.  For rules or game play questions or clarifications, email referee@gcbhl.com.