Rusty Blades C & D Leagues

General League Information

 
For the schedule, game results, and standings, click here.
For the rosters, click here.
    
D-league (or Developmental League) is for players who are true beginners to the sport of hockey. This league is welcoming players from our introductory adult hockey program, as well as others who just want to jump in and try the game itself. While there are more experienced, better players in this league, these players have been chosen for thier willingness and ability to help teach the newer players the fundamentals and nuances of the game, and will help provide structure and somewhat of a challenge to the game. D league, with fewer players, may be a 3-on-3 or 4-on-4 game which generally allows more puck time and time to think for individual players. There is a "Two Goal Rule" in effect in this league (see Rules below). We ask that C level players do not drop in to D league. If a C level player would like to play D league, he or she must roster on a D team.

C-league is for players of lower to average skill who have played little or no truly competitive hockey, or who have played for less than approximately 4 years. This is the next step up, and a feeder league to our more competitive "men's" league.
Men's league players are allowed to play, but players who have played on travel teams, college, juniors, or professionally are not eligible to play.

For both leagues:
Players must be 16 or older.
Rosters and benches for any given night are limited to 10 skaters.
Rostered players MUST be signed in at least 15 minutes before the official start of the game, or they may lose their spot to drop-in players. If a player is running late to a game, he or she MUST call his or her team captain to be signed in before the cutoff to secure his or her spot.
Drop-in players are allowed on a first-come-first-serve basis, if there is room on the bench (up to 10). There is no guarantee that there will be room for a drop-in player on any given night. Drop-in fees are $22.00 per game ($1 is for jersey rental, $1 for the scorekeeper--see below).


Jerseys:
  • All players will be assigned a jersey. Each player will be responsible for keeping up with and maintaining his or her jersey.
  • At the end of the season, jerseys must be turned in to their team captain.
  • If a jersey is not turned in at the end of the season, players will not be allowed to play in future seasons, tournaments or other events without paying a $20 jersey replacement fee.
  • The $5 rental fee is to cover initial purchase, wear-and-tear, and replacement costs of worn out/lost jerseys.
  • The reasons we are assigning jerseys are:
    • Team unity.
    • It will make identifying players much easier for the refs and scorekeeper.
    • Less confusion, because teams won't be wearing multiple different colors each.


If you would like more information to play on the men's league, which is a mixed A, B, and C league, please contact me or visit www.arkansashockey.org.

Current Season

  • Fall:
    • D league (Mondays): Aug 23 through Dec 13
    • C league (Wednesdays): Aug 25 through Dec 8
    • Inseason pickup games (extra cost to play): Sep 6 (Labor Day), Nov 22.
    • No game: Wednesday, Nov 24.
    • Full 15 week, 10 game season, cost $165.
  • Offseason Pickup: Dec 15, 20, 22, 27, 29

Upcoming Seasons

We are anticipating having 3 teams in each league in 2011. Therefore, they will be 15 week seasons, with each team playing 10 games.

Rules

We play by USA Hockey rules.

Two Goal Rule:

  • No player will be allowed to score more than 2 goals per game. No exceptions.
  • If a third goal is scored by a player, that goal will not count, and play will resume with the face off at the nearest face off dot.
  • This rule should hopefully keep the teams even and force the better players to get their teammates involved.
  • It will also challenge the better players to be more creative and develop or refine new skills other than shooting.

We use automatic icing and tag-up or delayed offsides.

Slapshots are allowed.

Run time may be utilized in order to stay within the curfew, if applicable.

In the event of a tie after regulation play, the game will remain a tie.

The referee is the authority and has the final say in all matters.

Goalies rotate teams throughout the season.

We have a ZERO TOLERANCE policy. Abuse of the referee or others or fighting will not be tolerated. You will be asked to leave.

Please view the USA Hockey video on the new standards of play. It's only about 11 minutes long and shows examples of legal and illegal plays, like hooking and slashing. The link to the page is:
USA Hockey Standards of Play.