CJHL Makes New Rulings For Junior A Governance:

This is posted on the BCHL website:

CJHL makes new rulings for Junior A governance

Thursday, May 30, 2013 - Submitted by CJHL Media

The Canadian Junior Hockey League held its Annual General Meeting on May 23 in Charlottetown, PEI.

The CJHL Board approved several new policies aimed to strengthen the national organization for its member leagues, teams and athletes.

The CJHL will enter the 2013-2014 season with several new regulations and initiatives, including the following:

Stronger dispute resolution and appeal procedures for application of CJHL rules and inter-league disputes

Sanctions for payment of players in any manner that jeopardizes or potentially jeopardizes their (or their teammate's) eligibility to participate in college or university hockey at any level

Sanctions for violating rules on the amount and type of consideration payable as part of a CJHL Player Transfer Agreement

Creation of a "not-in-good-standing" list for players refusing to report to a team after a CJHL Player Transfer Agreement

Introduction of a "return-to-team" rule for players returning from other levels of hockey, including NCAA, Canadian university and college and CHL

Adoption of a CJHL inter-league player transfer freeze from 9:00 EST on December 10 to 12:00 p.m. EST on January 1

Formation of a committee to review the USA Hockey - Hockey Canada Transfer & Release Agreement

Formation of a committee to review the proliferation of junior leagues which are not sanctioned by Hockey Canada

Additionally, a new ruling was made on what determines import status for players. From now on, the following applies to Junior A hockey in Canada:

(a) No player having Canadian citizenship shall be classified as an Import;

(b) Any player who meets the definition of Import in his first season of Junior A hockey shall continue to be classified as an Import when registering to play Junior A hockey in any subsequent season;

(c) The maximum number of Imports that can register and play on a Junior A team at any given time shall be seven (7) in the 2013-14 season, and shall be six (6) beginning in the 2014-15 season. A review of that maximum number shall occur prior to the 2015-16 season.

(d) If a team requires special assistance through any unusual situation which develops, the Chair of Hockey Canada or his designate may permit a team to register and play Imports in addition to the number of number of Imports permitted under Regulation K.30.1(c), using the same criteria set out in By-Laws 1214(a), (b) and (d).