Gateway Hockey HS League Policy Document

ST. LOUIS HIGH SCHOOL DEVELOPMENTAL LEAGUE

JV DIVISION OVERVIEW & POLICY MANUAL

Revised June 2025

SECTION 1- LEAGUE CONSTRUCT

A. Junior Varsity Division

The Junior Varsity Division is constructed for the following purposes:

1. Create a league for St. Louis programs that have the participant base to field an additional Junior Varsity team.

2. Provide a memorable hockey experience for a group of athletes that likely will not play varsity hockey.

3. Support the efforts of area programs to maintain participation at the freshman, sophomore, and junior levels.

B. Developmental Division

The Developmental Division is constructed for the following purposes:

1. Create a league for St. Louis programs to introduce athletes to HS Hockey programs by encouraging participation in addition to and in support of youth club activity.

2. Help area programs develop and maintain a pipeline of players for the future through providing opportunity.

SECTION 2- ROSTER REQUIREMENTS

A. Junior Varsity Division- The League Director has the right to exercise control over all roster decisions based on the best interests of the league with an affirmative vote of 4 or more members of the division.

1. Each team in the Junior Varsity Division may roster up to 28 players. For any game, teams may dress up to 18 players and 2 goalies.

2. Each team will be allowed to roster a maximum of 3 seniors.

3. Tier I Youth players are ineligible for competition in the Junior Varsity Division.

4. Senior Tier II CSDHL (excluding Prospects Division) players are ineligible for competition in the Junior Varsity Division.

5. Each program must disclose the total number of players in the program each year from grades 9-12.

6. Each team may roster up to two (2) Tier II CSDHL (excluding Prospects Division) players that are allowed to be dual rostered on Junior Varsity teams within the MO Hockey Affiliate. In no case shall any player be rostered on more than one team in the Junior Varsity Division.

7. Goaltenders- Once a Goaltender has played in more than 3 Varsity games, the Goaltender is ineligible for Junior Varsity competition.

B. Developmental Division- The League Director has the right to exercise control over all roster decisions based on the best interests of the league with an affirmative vote of more than 60% of the members of the division.

1. Each team in the Developmental Division may roster up to 25 players. For any game, teams may dress up to 18 players and 2 goalies.

2. Juniors and Seniors are ineligible for competition in the Developmental Division.

3. Tier I Youth players are ineligible for competition in the Developmental Division.

4. Once a player has scored more than 15 points in MSCHA Jr. Varsity or St. Louis High School Developmental League JV competition, the player is ineligible from further participation in the Developmental Division.

5. Clubs with only Varsity & Developmental Teams- Teams that have only Varsity & Development teams may dual roster players in the Developmental Division. All players in the Developmental Division that are dual rostering players must submit the list of dual rostered players prior to league competition for approval. In any case, players that are dual rostered between Varsity & Developmental will lose Developmental Eligibility after appearing in enough Varsity games to become playoff eligible.

C. Roster Submission Requirements (Gamesheet)- All teams must secure a USA Hockey Roster listing all team members. Using the approved USA Hockey Roster, each team will be required to upload their Official Roster to Gamesheet using the link provided by the league.

No player will be allowed to compete in a league game that is not on the stamped USA Hockey Roster and entered in to Gamesheet.

SECTION 3- GAME RULES

A. Junior Varsity Division

1. All games will be curfewed to a length of 75 minutes.

2. Each game will consist of three (3) thirteen minute periods.

3. Minor penalties will be 1:30 in length. Misconduct penalties will be ten (10) minutes in length.

4. RUN CLOCK RULE- If at any point in the game after the start of the 3rd period there is a goal differential of five (5) goals or more, running time shall commence until such point that the goal differential is reduced to 2 goals.

5. Referees, scoreclock operators, and general supervision will be provided for all games. Each team is required to provide a volunteer to serve a penalty box attendant. Failure to provide a volunteer prior to the start of the game will result in a 1:30 minor penalty to the offending team to start the game.

6. All USA Hockey rules apply.

7. Tag up offsides will be played at the Junior Varsity Division.

B. Developmental Division

1. All games will be curfewed to a length of 60 minutes.

2. Each game will consist of three (3) twelve minute periods.

3. Minor penalties will be 1:30 in length. Misconduct penalties will be ten (10) minutes in length.

6. All USA Hockey rules apply.

7. Regular offsides will be played in the Developmental Division.

SECTION 4- SUPPLEMENTAL DISCIPLINE

All Divisions

1. Any assessed penalty for fighting will result in an automatic additional two game suspension.

2. Any ejection of a Head Coach, Assistant Coach, or other rostered team personnel from a game will result in an automatic additional game suspension, and a $200.00 fine payable to the Bill McKenna Scholarship Fund.

3. Any player that accrues two fighting penalties will automatically be removed from further participation in league play.

4. All players, coaches, managers, and attendees are subject to additional supplemental discipline as described by Missouri Hockey, Inc. rules.

SECTION 5- REGULAR COMMUNICATIONS

On Tuesday of each week during the regular season, league staff will release the Weekly Operations report via e-mail, website update or other medium at the discretion of the league.

The weekly report will contain but not be limited to:

· League Standings

· Active & Completed Suspensions

· Upcoming Games

· Player Eligibility Notices (Pointed Out players, waiver exceptions)

· Important League Announcements

SECTION 6- LEAGUE CALENDAR

DATE ITEM

6/27/2025- League Registration opens for Junior Varsity and Developmental Divisions.

8/25/2025- Early Registration ends for Junior Varsity and Developmental Divisions.

9/10/2025- Initial Rosters Due- JV

9/15/2025- Schedule Published- JV

10/10/2025- Initial Team Rosters Due- B

10/10/2025- Schedule Published- B

10/12/2025- Games Begin- JV

11/15/2025- Games Begin- B

1/17/2026 - 1/18/2026- No Games- MLK Holiday

2/1/2026- Regular Season Ends- JV

2/9/2026 - 2/12/2026- JV League Playoffs

2/14/2026- Regular Season Ends- B

2/17/2026 – 2/27/2026- B League Playoffs

SECTION 7- LEAGUE CONTACTS

League Director Lloyd Ney 636.262.9938 lloydney@aol.com

League Liaison Sean Hazelton 314.309.5292 hockeystop@sbcglobal.net

Operations Director

Website: www.gatewayhockey.org